Internet.

[Angelina.]

So i think It's to the point where I'm online TOO much.
My mom yells at me for it. But i would say I'm online for probably for more then 12 hours a day.
Aside from being in class and doing certain things at work. I can still use the internet at work. (I'm a secretary) So yeah.... I know it's not a big deal like drugs or what not. but its still something i need lol.

Help?

-__-

[Nicola]

Honestly, I've been where you are. I've had times (up until really recently) where I spent absolutely all my spare time online. It was getting absolutely ridiculous. But I've realized lately that I just seriously don't need the internet in my life. I had to start forcing myself away from it at first, but after a week or two of going out and just going places, meeting up with people.. I realized there's a heck of a lot more to life than my laptop. Just get yourself involved in things.. keeping yourself busy is the best way to keep yourself offline!

[Kate*]

The hard part for me is that I need it for school so much. I go on with the good intentions of getting work done and then get distracted for hours on end.

[Angelina.]

I barley have friends in real life.
So theres nothing else i can really do.
I'm not a social person and people just hate being around me i guess.

[bringontherain]

I can't imagine people hate you hun. You seem like quite a wonderful person. I know it's hard when you feel like you don't have a lot of friends in your life, but sometimes you just have to get out there and get to know people. Try getting involved in different groups or sports to meet people.

There is such a thing as too much time spent online, so if you feel it's keeping you from other things, definitely try and cut back on how often you are on your computer. I know that sometimes I spend wayyy too much time online too, but I find if I give myself a limit before I even get on, it's easier to control my time spent on here.

[cwkguy]

I too am somewhat addicted to my laptop (much as many people are addicted to the tv) but on the other hand I tend to do things that are constructive (I work on projects that I do at my school and also I spend a great deal of time here, so it's not really WASTED.

I don't think people hate you. You seem like a very nice person to me. Are you one of those people that is just extremely...different from everybody else? I know how that feels

[Angelina.]

Yeah i don't know anyone around here really.
People are so judgemental and just hate me. blah.
i wish i had friends to hang out with.
but as of now. i have NO social life what so ever.

[Sitting on the speaker]

I had this at one point. I just kinda, got out of it naturally when my social life peaked up a bit. If it gets to the point where more then 50% of the time, you'd choose to stay at home on the internet instead of go out and socialise, then maybe its time to re-assess a little bit.

[Konstantine]

I too have been in a similar situation and I seem to spend more time online when I'm happy and so not wanting to do much or to socialize. However, now I have some more energy it's been a lot more appealing to spend time doing things offline, it just seems so much more productive. Keeping yourself busy with other things is important and probably the best thing that you could do. Try doing more distracting but entertaining things offline, such as socializing or even just doing something you enjoy, like reading or watching a movie. I think that the best idea is to fully immerse yourself in doing things offline and enjoy yourself!

Take care.

[Angelina.]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your help!
I dont think i will ever over come this though.

[cwkguy]

You could make your user account just a standard account and then create an Admin and use it to restrict your access so that you can only spend so much time per day on the computer.

[Angelina.]

Originally Posted by cwkguy

You could make your user account just a standard account and then create an Admin and use it to restrict your access so that you can only spend so much time per day on the computer.

Thats a good idea Chris, thanks.

[Kmn483]

Hey, i just biked to the library with a foot of snow... addicted just the same. my parent's don't get it.

[Kikyo]

Like I'll say to everyone..

You can be on the internet as much as you like as long as it doesn't hurt your personal well being or stops you from reality.

[cz123094]

I'm having the same exact problem, I really like Chris's idea, how do you do that though?

[NightOfNyx]

Originally Posted by Angelina.

Yeah i don't know anyone around here really.
People are so judgemental and just hate me. blah.
i wish i had friends to hang out with.
but as of now. i have NO social life what so ever.

This is me completely... I have no social life whatsoever, except when I'm on the internet. It's my only form of sociality, and it doesn't seem like I can make any friends, even when I try my hardest. So you and I are really alike in that aspect.

I don't think I can offer the best advice, because I'm trying to gain a social life myself. I don't go to school anymore (I do cyber school) and I don't have many friends, or a job or anything.

I just had to let you know that I'm here for you through this, and that I'm struggling through it too. We'll find the answer together, eh? If you ever need to talk, I'm here. And if I were to live near you, we'd totally be buddies and be not social together.

Don't let this get you down, and just keep trying. You'll get through this! Don't stop believing, to quote my favorite Journey song!

[Angelina.]

Originally Posted by NightOfNyx

This is me completely... I have no social life whatsoever, except when I'm on the internet. It's my only form of sociality, and it doesn't seem like I can make any friends, even when I try my hardest. So you and I are really alike in that aspect.

I don't think I can offer the best advice, because I'm trying to gain a social life myself. I don't go to school anymore (I do cyber school) and I don't have many friends, or a job or anything.

I just had to let you know that I'm here for you through this, and that I'm struggling through it too. We'll find the answer together, eh? If you ever need to talk, I'm here. And if I were to live near you, we'd totally be buddies and be not social together.

Don't let this get you down, and just keep trying. You'll get through this! Don't stop believing, to quote my favorite Journey song!

Well Amanda, I guess i just will have to my way to Michigan one of these days.

[Brightest Star]

I'm definitely right there with you. I have more friends online then in real life and then when I just want to talk to someone who can physically be there for me, I get even more upset because I realize there isn't really anyone...

I'm on the internet from the moment I walk in the door after school until way past when I should be sleeping.

[LoopyLyd]

the internet is my drug in soemways, the internet is addictive, im addicted to the internet, i no i am, my parents banned me from the internet on sunday but without it i was really not coping and most sundays i was in tears from not coping without the internet. so they gave me the internet back. there was a quiz in a newspaper to do with internet addiction and in the newspaper article it said 'peoople who had experienced some sort of truama are more likely to turn to the internet for a world of online friends' and it also said ' when using the internet the people who are addicted to the internet feel increase euphoria' i cant be sure if that is exaclty what it said but it said something along those lines then went on to explain how the internet is used a coping mechanisim. it then went on to talk about bad internet addictions the person in the article had a really bad internet addiction and were using the internet 20 hours a day or more. they got sent to a farm where there was no internet and learnt ways to cope without using the internet and did activities and stuff.

[HappyLooksGoodOnYou]

I'm totally addicted to the internet, and I also have no social life. I'm really shy, and it's hard for me to make friends. I spend most of my free time on my computer, and it doesn't help that I now have my very own desktop in my room. I've made a lot of good friends online, but I spend way too much time logged it. I can go without it, and I've done so before, but only when I was forced to, like when there's power outages, and I wasn't happy about it. I love the internet, and without it I'd just spend my time reading or watching TV. I prefer the internet over television, but I do log off or set myself away or busy on my instant messaging programs to get some reading in. But, it hasn't gotten to the point where I'll put the internet above my school work. Sometimes it takes me longer to do my school work because it requires the internet and I get distracted, but I get it done and I usually get good grades on my work. However, I am quite addicted.

[EmiLeigh]

Well, being addicted for the internet can be a problem for so many people.
Maybe you can slowly decrease the amount of time you're on.
Perhaps try using an eggcounter, or a count down timer to set limits to how much you're on.
Another suggestion would to be to fill up your day with different activities. This way you won't have so much time to be on the internet.
It's great that you've realised that this is a bit of a problem. So now it's time to take the necessary steps to lean off of your dependency on it.
I think it may be helpful to also have a friend help you a bit. Sometimes it's easier to become unhooked if you have someone there with you.
Although you even acknowledge that this isn't like a drug addiction, you still recognise your need to stop your behaviour and that it's interfering with your life.
I really hope that these suggestions work. I wish you the best of luck.
Take care.

[Dragon.Kingdom]

Get homework or work done or whatever you should do first, find something better to do like go out and go to the movies or the mall, try not to spend too much time on the internet.
But more than likely you will get bored of it. I have, so I don't go on as often.

[Angelina.]

I only spend a lot of time on the internet because I'm currently in a hospital with my mom. But .. normally i would not have anyone to hang out with seeing as i lost all my irl friends after i graduated. I'm very anti social and i don't know how to break away from that.