How to break a computer addiction?

I would suggest disabling your computer. You can do anything from unplug the mouse to disconnecting all the cables, or perhaps putting the cables and power cords in a closet, or even have a friend take custody of the entire thing (easier if it’s a laptop, obviously). There was a time I played far too many computer games, so in order to stop I destroyed the dvd’s . Good Luck!

Hm yeah the thing is I need it to do work and communicate with people overseas, so I don’t know if I could do that.

Break the computer.

You can disable your internet connection temporally. It’s easy on a mac. Could you compose your correspondence offline or do you need to check your email frequently?

If you can’t recognise a problem you can never resolve it. No one becomes addicted to computers.

Yeah… totally barking up the wrong tree. I’ve heard that there are some programs that will block sites for you for a set amount of time. That might help if you apply it to your ‘time killers’.

Restrict your non-business use for a certain time span during the day or a set total duration (use a timer). Never go over the reasonable limits you have established. If you break it once, you will continue to find excuses to repeat that behavior. Stay tough….you can do it! See ya….Gary/wtf

“Just say No!”

You mean that doesn’t work?

When was the last time you took a walk? I’d recommend taking a dog with you, but just get out of the house any way that you can. Better yet, ride a bike. That’s an addiction you won’t mind having.

@DarkScribe: Says the 8k of lurve…

Also, if anything you do on your computer can be recognized by you as an achievement or pleasurable you will release endorphins, which over time you can become addicted to the release of as I understand it. Besides that, he’s asking for help for his recognized problem… just what exactly was your answer helpful for?

@LKidKyle1985: As for you. Take out the power cord, mail it to yourself. In the meantime, walk around, read books, call friends. It’s shocking how much more time you have when you just get up and go to do stuff.

@asmonet if anything you do on your computer can be recognized by you as an achievement or pleasurable

Sure, and driving to McDonalds and pigging out on junk food is a motor vehicle addiction – that’s what’s putting the weight on – the car. What I said stands, the computer is not the problem.

@DarkScribe Sure, and driving to McDonalds and pigging out on junk food is a motor vehicle addiction.

That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, even if it is sarcastic. Driving to McDonalds and pigging out on junk food is a junk food addiction. Driving for the sake of driving because you find it fun would be a motor vehicle addiction.

Anyway, the computer is not the problem, no, technically not. Going from asmo’s post, the enjoyment one gets from the computer is the problem. But removing the computer will remove the problem so that’s basically how this is treated.

I suggest setting yourself certain times and time limits- make a schedule if you must- for when you are on the computer. Give yourself say half an hour here to check e-mails then do something else for a while. Then half an hour here to surf the net then something else for a while. For the things in between pick things that you either need to do or enjoy doing as well rather than boring things so you’re not so inclined to stray back to the computer. Reward yourself if you stick to the schedule. Say chocolate or something :)

@shrubbery That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever, even if it is sarcastic.

You really can’t understand it?

I use a computer for at least six days a week. When I am out of my office there is NO WAY that I will voluntarily turn a computer on unless I have to. I have a BlackBerry to monitor essential email and that’s it. My normal social interaction is with real people, my preferred pastimes are doing things in a real world. The computer is a tool – a very use tool, not a substitute for a life. I would much sooner be out on the water, working around the gardens, taking photographs or socialising with friends and family than using a computer. When I don’t have those options available, and I am stuck in my office, things like Fluther offer a pleasant distraction. I also blog and write – all require a computer, but none could be regarded as addiction or obsession.

This is a normal attitude and response to computers. Those who regard a computer as the doorway to their only social interactions do have a problem – but it isn’t the computer and as long as they regard their problem as computer related, they aren’t going to be able to solve anything. As said in my first response, if you can’t recognise a problem you can’t fix it.

@DarkScribe good for you, but not everyone is like that. But I agreed with you on the computer not technically being the problem, so what’s your point? You have yet to provide anything helpful for LKidKyle1985.

@shrubbery You have yet to provide anything helpful for LKidKyle1985.

I pointed out that he is looking in the wrong direction – the computer is not the problem. Beyond that it is up to him. I have absolutely no way of knowing what his problem is – even a therapist dealing with such things often requires a good many sessions before isolating the underlying problem. I am not silly enough to even try within the limitations of a web forum.

I agree with @DarkScribe, the OP needs to do some digging to figure out the root problem.

@DarkScribe: I don’t think he’s looking in the wrong direction. I think you’re purposely being obtuse and ignoring the spirit of the question in favor of being picky about semantics.

@DarkScribe, then why bother being here at all? Any kind of self help/advice questions are hard to answer on a web forum, yet we do it anyway to try to provide whatever help we can in the hope that it will work for the better for the OP and anyone else it applies to who comes across the question.
I don’t think is is a full on clinical addiction type thing, it’s just someone recognizing that they spend a bit too much time on the computer at the moment. As I said, the computer is not the problem, but removing the computer will help to remove the problem.

@LKidKyle1985, remove the computer and you will be forced to find other things to do, maybe remembering how much you enjoyed them and will want to do them more often rather than going back to the computer. Make a schedule. Make a rewards system. Let us know how it goes (but only in your allocated computer time :P )

@shrubbery then why bother being here at all?

I answered the question – accurately. If you don’t like it – well I’ll try hard not to cry.

@DarkScribe: ”I answered the question – accurately.”

I’m sure you didn’t. Someone out there, undoubtedly, is quite literally addicted to computers. People are strange creatures.

@MacBean I’m sure you didn’t. Someone out there, undoubtedly, is quite literally addicted to computers

Ok, some people can be addicted to a fetish object – it could be a computer or a collection of toenail clippings. That was not what this question was addressing.

@DarkScribe: Your attitude towards addiction and your misinformation on the subject are rather offensive at this point.

Walk away from your computer, if you can.

@asmonet Your attitude towards addiction and your misinformation on the subject are rather Offensive at this point.

I don’t think so – on either count. Nor would most competent therapists.

Prove it.

This discussion has degraded into personal attacks. Please take them elsewhere and stick to answering the question here. edit :: actually wait, don’t take personal attacks elsewhere at all. Don’t take them anywhere. Play nice!

Terribly sorry, @LKidKyle1985

@asmonet @MacBean

I answered the question, I believe that I am quite correct. The poster’s problem is not his computer or an addiction to it – that is just one of the symptoms. You do not have to agree, but you could try to be a little more mature in your responses.

[mod says:] Calm down everyone. Let’s focus on trying to answer the OP’s question without degrading anyone else’s answer. I will be removing off topic/unhelpful answers.

@DarkScribe: I haven’t attacked you personally, merely responded.
I could care less what you believe is right, this isn’t a matter of opinion. I care which of your statements you can prove.

You’re dismissing addictions based on your opinions, not facts. If you have any of those that pertain the question, please share. We all love to learn here.

In answer to the question since it is easy and comfortable to hang out on your computer I suggest you get an uncomfortable chair, move the computer to a distant room with no heat like the garage. This way you will not want to hole-up with it. Also you need to get outside hobbies or volunteer at a senior center or other place where you are in direct contact with others.

@Dog Also you need to get outside hobbies or volunteer at a senior center or other place where you are in direct contact with others.

That is a sensible approach – building social contacts and obligations away from computers.

Here’s an interesting article on the topic: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/your-brain-work/200910/easily-distracted-why-its-hard-focus-and-what-do-about-it

go outside, fight off the shakes by playing frisbee, or riding a bike.

Alright come on guys, I don’t think anyone had a bad answer to my question. I think everyone had a good point that offered some insight into how I can break this cycle I am in. @DarkScribe I can see what you are saying, that for most people they are not actually physically addicted to the computer and there’s something else going on, Though, sometimes I do feel drawn to my computer and want to be on it.
And @asmonet I think you have something there with the endorphin thing cause I do feel pretty good when I’m competing against someone in a game, or just surfing the net reading about different things.
I don’t know if I need to do anything as drastic as disassembling my computer and only putting it together when I need it, @chelseababyy and if i broke it I wouldn’t be able to fluther with all my flutherites, but I think @Dog had a good point about the location of my computer, it is in my room, and living with room mates now I spend a decent amount of time in my room, and the only chair is my computer chair. I will have to make a habit of sitting some where else cause as soon as I sit down I am cruisin the net.
I think I will try reading a book and going for some walks, and I have to stop playing that damn game.