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No. 1065344
>>1065340same
nonnie I also feel like this site has affected my life a lot and that a lot of negative things from here have slipped into my subconscious
No. 1065381
>>1065340>>1065344>>1065352Can relate to all of you. It's not that everyone here is
toxic, some of you are quite nice, but we are a place with a lot of tension. We bask in another's misery and loneliness. It's a conditional thing, an intangible air about it. We're at the end of it all an alternative form of social media. Bunker fever made me realize I should leave this place for good. I was once strong enough to leave a whole month and only come back to lurk the celebricows thread, I don't pride myself for coming back in a fuller capacity than that. I succumbed.
>>1065367Pre pandemic nona was actually doing things, she had a social life, she could focus, she was to some degree happy, trying to recover and move on with her life and future. Now, hopelessness permeates me. Even when I do things I can't feel any pride in them. I have cried nearly every day for the past week. It's finally beginning to hit me and there's no way to stop the dominos. It's curling in on me. To think you had something, only for it to either strangle you, or for you to watch it die before your eyes. When you hit rock bottom people say there's no choice but to ascend, I dare to challenge them with the assertion: there's nine levels of hell.
No. 1065568
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My addiction is shameless. This isn't wasted time, it's time spent doing whatever I wanna doooo.
No. 1065572
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>>1065569Pretend that ot never came back, we are still in the bunker and you're in a coma and your family misses you
No. 1065583
>>1065363>twitter was basically my vent diary at the end of it all, a digital haven free from the physical touch of people. I'm still hesitant to write fully in a physical vent diaryI did this same thing and deleted twitter, now I'm trying to write things on a private wordpress blog. Also had someone go through my diary once and will never keep a physical one again.
>>1065569It's hard but simple; stop coming back here. Whatever benefits this site has, you know the negatives outweigh them. What value does lolcow (entertainment, feeling less lonely) does it bring to your life? How can you get that elsewhere, or accept you won't have it anymore? Work through the emotional aspect, then break from the physical habit by using a site blocker and structure time so you won't be tempted to come here. Limit yourself to specific threads, maybe choose max 3 to follow, and only allow yourself to check them every so often (daily, once a week, etc.)
No. 1066399
>>1065326Why are you calling me bitter for simply saying a relevant thread exists? There is a lot of good advice, check it out.
>>837722Something that helped me personally is getting the app Freedom. I currently have internet blocked from 22 to 10, for a calmer evening and morning.
No. 1066546
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>>1066532Same symptoms as any behavorial addiction. Basically, you can't stop and it ruins your life. If you're a neet it could be even worse.
https://www.verywellmind.com/addictive-behaviors-4157291 No. 1066555
>>1066546>>1066532Here's more on the matter
"Behavioral addictions (sometimes called process addictions) describe behaviors that become compulsive and
problematic. The telltale sign of addiction is the continuation of a behavior after it has had negative impacts on a person. These impacts might show up in their work, their relationships, or even in their physical or mental health. Part of the reason that people continue behaviors even after they become
problematic is explained by the brain chemical dopamine. The release of dopamine is largely responsible for the “high” that people experience when they use drugs, and is also in response to specific behaviors."
https://www.choosingtherapy.com/behavioral-addictions/ No. 1066563
>>1066532>>1066546>>1066555Posting more
Signs and symptoms of Internet addiction might include:>excessive Internet use (i.e. spending a majority of time online)>staying online for longer than intended>lying about the extent of one’s Internet use>unsuccessful attempts to limit Internet use>neglecting relationships with others due to Internet use>experiencing disruptions in work or academic pursuits as a result of Internet use>experiencing guilt, shame, or frustration about one’s Internet use>continuing to spend the majority of time online despite negative effects on physical or mental health>Psychological withdrawal symptoms have also been reported by people with compulsive Internet use. For example, feeling very on-edge, hostile, or anxious when unable to access a computer.I would add stuff like not bathing, not eating, not sleeping, or even not going to the bathroom in extreme cases.
https://www.addictionresource.net/behavioral-addictions/internet/ No. 1066571
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>>1066563One last post
What Causes Behavioral Addictions?"Like substance addictions, behavioral addictions can be traced back to a number of contributing factors, including childhood experiences, one’s environment, and interpersonal factors."
"Several types of behavioral addictions, including internet addiction, have been associated with changes in neurotransmitter activity—that is, changes in brain chemicals that can reinforce compulsive behaviors. Some behavioral addictions have also been associated with:"
>a history of trauma>sexual abuse>lack of social support>a family history of drug or alcohol addiction or mental illnessCauses Of Internet Addiction Disorder"Increased use of mobile technologies and the Internet for everyday activities is not by itself a cause for Internet addiction."
"Although this is an ongoing subject of research, researchers currently believe Internet addiction could be influenced by genetic, biological, and interpersonal factors. For instance:"
>abnormalities in neurochemical processes>history of mental illness or a personality disorder>personal or family history of addiction>Internet access and availability>One theory underlying Internet addiction, the quality of real life theory, suggests that people who experience difficulties in their offline lives may turn to the Internet to escape or avoid reality.https://www.addictionresource.net/behavioral-addictions/https://www.addictionresource.net/behavioral-addictions/internet/ No. 1070313
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If there's a Russian cyber attack and the internet gets shut down, how are you going to fill the time?
No. 1070336
>>1070320Samefag, but if we can still use our computers
My dumbass assumed this question meant no computers at all, then I would probably play Sims. Also just going outside in general and talking to friends/family. There's tons to do with no internet.
No. 1447577
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Resurrecting this thread because I need motivation. I have been thinking and I feel like I am literally just addicted to sitting in front of my computer.
I'm not addicted to my phone because I'm too retarded to type on the tiny screen. I don't have social media.
I think I am just so used to spending my life in front of the computer, since the late 90s when I became addicted to playing games on it. Then I became addicted to the internet because it was such an exciting and comforting form of escapism from the real world. But now the internet sucks and makes me miserable.
This place is one of the last few places I get any enjoyment from but not enough to justify how much time I spend here. It's just habit.
I have hobbies but I have less energy and motivation to spend time on them anymore. If I didn't need my computer for work I would be tempted to just get rid of it and go cold turkey. I need to get a life nonas.
No. 1447587
>>1447577>late 90sI genuinely find it hard to believe some people were alive in the late 90s. That’s crazy. Like the dark side of the moon.
I think socialising will fill the gaps that going low tech will create. It would help you a lot.
No. 1447604
>>1447587Are you serious? They're not that old and this is coming from someone who was born at that time.
>>1447577I can relate to this very much though, the internet feels smaller, I click through the same few tabs and don't do any actual surfing anymore. I can't remember what it was like to actually go and find something on the internet without Google but I miss it all the same because it had to be better than this. I still think my time on lc is better spent here than on most other rotten sites (Reddit's front page is the worst, shits all over my ADD) but I take these feelings as a sign it's time to find another hobby where I create something rather than consume it.
No. 1447720
>>1447577Go on a little trip somewhere without internet or cell reception. Camp in a national forest or rent a cabin in the woods or go to an island. Just for like three days. I'm always shocked at how boring the internet is after I lose access to it for a short period,; inevitably not much happens while I was gone and meanwhile I was having fun touching grass or whatever.
When you come back from your trip have a few alternative mundane activities planned and don't sit at your computer (move the chair somewhere else so you literally can't sit).
No. 1447778
>>1447764>crying about not living your life to the fullest during a specific 4-year-periodThis is the regular narrow-mindedness that comes with being barely past childhood and thinking that 4 years matters in the grand scheme.
>I’m doing nothing to change this for the futureThis is your own brand of moron, though.
No. 1447804
>>1447764It's okay, anon. I'm 25 and only stopped "wasting" my time in favour of living in the real world (going to events, volunteering, connecting with new people, etc.) this year and it's still extremely fulfilling. However, had I started at your age I fear I wouldn't have been ready. The mindset and motivation I needed came in the twilight of my 24th year and that's fine. Some of us are just slower to socialize.
Only venture out into the real world when you feel ready, or else you will upset yourself and remain a hermit for even longer. In the meantime, constantly work on your self-esteem, mental health, self-improvement, finding fun in your personal projects, etc.
Also, good news: people are less insane and extreme in person than online.
No. 1448542
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>>1447587nona is this how you see me
No. 1448543
>>1447604>the internet feels smallerthis is a good way to describe it. yep, it now feels so restrictive and circular. like everything always brings you back to the same places, the same topics.
>create rather than consumeexactly how I feel too. I feel very aware that I am just consuming garbage most of the time. I used to actually learn things online, eg. craft projects that I would actually then go and create. but I don't get the same inspired feeling anymore. I really think it's designed to be this way. I've started making a list of the things I used to spend time doing (and enjoyed doing) so it might inspire me a bit…
No. 1448978
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>>1448542I was born in '91, this is how she'd see me. And I've been addicted to the internet since about age 9-10. Save yourselves, nonnies. Don't waste your life life I have.
No. 1451539
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>>1448978ayrt. kek '89 baby here and got addicted around the same age. however, i don't necessarily feel like i've wasted my life… I do understand why you feel that way though. But it's never too late to start living life differently! I'm not sure if I would have been any more or less happy without the computer, it's impossible to say. I got a lot out of it, including making money form my hobby job and still managed to achieve other things in my life, despite spending so much of it in front of this screen. It's just reached a point where I feel trapped and hindered by it.
Also 30 is still young, we're not even half way through life. Despite what that other anon thinks.
However, I certainly do not recommend spending ages 10-30 in front of a computer. Especially not in this day in age. At least we got to experience the internet when it was cool.
No. 1451568
>>1447587Just how young are you?
I was born in the 80s btw. You mind must be exploding right now.
No. 1515532
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I want to start trying an internet-free day maybe every weekend since I have to use the internet on work days. what are some ideas of how to fill my time and avoid giving into temptation?
so far i've got
>going for a walk, maybe go to a museum or something
>bake or make something
>watch a film
>play an instrument
>read books and magazines
>bath + beauty care
>listen to music (and boogie)
>play with my cat
>clean, tidy, chores, organise things
>puzzles and crosswords
>video games (maybe, but not pc ones)
I'm also going to switch my sim into my dumphone so I'm not distracted and use my old mp3 player to listen to music instead. I'm hoping if I can go a whole day on a regular basis I can build my attention span and give more energy to hobbies and creative things.
anyone else want to join me or got any activity ideas?
No. 1515658
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My anti-internet addiction-strategy consists of three components: Firstly, I need something else to default to that isn't my phone. My phone is something easy to default to because I can carry it everywhere and I can use it in pretty much any situation. So those are the requirements: easy to carry (almost) everywhere and socially acceptable to use (almost) anywhere. For me that's my e-reader or a book but you can probably think of other things. In the few situations when it isn't acceptable to read a book, I probably have other things I can do or people to talk to.
The second thing is having a list with alternatives on hand: basically a list of activities I can do instead of browsing the internet (be it on phone or laptop.) A general list of activities/hobbies, not a to-do list. For me that's stuff like sewing, journalling, garden-related stuff, going outdoors with the dogs but you can pretty much put anything you like on it. I keep a list in my phone but you can also put a physical list in your phone case, on your wall, on your fridge idk anywhere you think you might need it. For me it's important to have it easily on hand because I WILL forget in a mindless default-to-phone moment.
The third thing is blocking myself from the internet. On my phone I have de-installed google chrome and I use firefox instead because it lets you use an extention called LeechBlock that blocks websites, as far as I know you can't do that on phone Chrome. Same extention I use in the Chrome browser on my laptop. That way, even if I accidently mindlessly end up trying to browse, I get blocked from it. Technically I can turn those off but just reading it is usually enough to keep me from browsing. I deleted my social media apps and games, if I want to browse social media I have to do it in-browser during a timeframe I allow myself to browse the internet. I do alot myself some time to mindlessly browse every day.
For me this works as long as I stick to it, but I can't deny I have my periods of weakness and don't give a fuck.
No. 1515677
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I'm late 20s, been using the internet full time since I got my first laptop at 15. I've been trying to quit the internet on and off since before covid. My methods were included unplugging and boxing up my desktop, arranging my computer in a way where it was physically uncomfortable to use, putting a website blocker on lolcow, plain old self control. None of it worked for me.
I live with my parents in my hometown and it makes it tough because I have very little else to do. I have a few hobbies like drawing and writing and I've fallen into the trap of feeling like I need my environment to be "perfect" in order to be creative. I also have a lot of anxiety over the state of my room, it's messy but nothing disgusting, but I have so much stuff that it makes me feel overwhelmed? I mention it because it feels like the daily progression of my addiction is
>try to do something productive
>get overwhelmed by physical sensation (noise, environment)
>go on internet and scroll
>feel relief
I hate it because I know I'm using the internet to feel numb. Literally the comforting thing about my addiction is that I'll scroll lolcow or recently kf and I can shut my mind off completely. Literally my better days on the internet involve watching a youtube essay that I can at least learn something from, or a TV where I can engage with the story. I don't do either of those things most of the time because typing in an url other than my chosen numbing websites feels like work. I'm in a very weird rut. I am taking steps to improve/radically change my life outside the internet, but in the meantime it just feels impossible to break out of this cycle. I fear that if I don't stop my internet use cold turkey, and get used to living my life that way BEFORE I make my big life-changing move, I'm going to get overwhelmed by the change and end up turning back to scrolling forums to cope. My newest scheme is to not even sign up for internet service in my new apartment, and stay off the internet at least long enough to detox fully(6 months?). I'm hoping if I can get enough real world activities to fill my day(other than work) I won't have any desire to use the internet ever again.
No. 1515722
>>1515677>I hate it because I know I'm using the internet to feel numbthis is it for me too. and it wasn’t until I started trying to limit my internet use that I realised how many negative emotions I was trying to numb. so… much… dread.
I remember life without the internet (i’m in my mid 30s), even though I started to become addicted quite young. I was not happy and I worried a lot, I just watched a lot of TV, played video games and listened to music to take my mind off it. I also had hobbies that I managed to spend time on and create things. But the thing about the internet is it’s filled with so many things that make you feel even worse and constant new and unplanned distractions. And I don’t even use social media or read news shit - mostly just LC and hobby forums - but there is still a collective feeling of doom online. and everything is corporate and homogenous now, not to mention insanely controlled and manipulated. this is what i choose to spend the overwhelming majority of my time being subjected to?
so for now i’m just trying to find, or rediscover other slightly healthier things I use to numb my emotions and take it from there. i’d rather be slightly too obsessed with knitting or learning an instrument as a distraction technique. when it comes to mindless entertainment, I can use TV, video games, puzzles, magazines. but I'm starting slow.
good luck to you with your new life changes nonna!
No. 1520641
>>1516062>would rather spend hours and hours playing video gamesI never thought I would be using more video game playing and TV watching as a
healthier way to spend my time but here we are. It's crazy how even those two things - which used to be the main culprits for what was rotting our brains and killing our attention span - are no longer enough to keep us entertained. i find it hard to focus on TV or a film for a long period without wanting to pause and google or check something online, and the same even with video games sometimes.
No. 1520839
>>1520753fucking hell that's terrifying, that bit about turning up at your grandma's house is unbelievable. i'm glad you are finally free from that stalking.
one of my main reasons for being off social media is because of my
abusive ex. I don't want him to know where I live now, just in case. but social media stressed me out anyway so I don't miss it.
No. 1520872
>>1520851>deleted spotify and youtube for goodnice one
nonnie! I got rid of spotify a year ago because it was expensive if you didn't want ads and the algorithm was really starting to unnerve me. it felt like i was just being fed a taste in music instead of the opportunity to organically discover things anymore and it was depressing. I took a screen recording of all my saved songs and just downloaded them to listen to on an old mp3 player. i deleted youtube around that time too and honestly don't have much interest in it since.
>but now I can't be bothered to play at alli've heard a lot of people say this lately and my theory is it used to be an easy form of escapism, but now - when you compare it to how easy and instantly accessible mindless scrolling is - it's actually a fair amount of effort. turning on the console, setting up, waiting for it to load and then
committing to that SINGLE activity for the next hour or so. our brains have been trained to jump from one easy thing to the next and it's getting worse.
I've been thinking that a return to video game and TV addiction might unironically be a good stepping stone. it's still numbing and escapism but at least it's concentrating on one thing at a time and you don't get that rebound effect from the lack of stimuli. then from there, replace games and TV more with reading and hobbies or whatever. I was obsessed with games and TV in the 90s/2000s but didn't feel like my brain was fucked, plus I still managed to spend time on other hobbies and be somewhat productive. It's the internet that has a special kind of attention-robbing mechanism that prevents you doing anything else.
No. 1520886
>>1520874>used to be a huge filmfag and would watch artsy moviessame. it's hard to imagine how that was something I used to do. just sit through a 2 hour film fully focused on what was going on and feel totally immersed in the story. but now it's like an itch i get every 15 minutes. and even if it's not to open my laptop, it's to do something else like just get up and play with (annoy) my cat or make some tea. the ability to just sit and focus on something has been damaged.
>>1520879exactly, I would be so addicted to a game but then the game stopped when i stopped it and that was that. around that time, i used to play instruments every day and sew, knit all kinds of stuff. but when you're on the internet or your phone, nothing really stops, it is still open in another tab for you to flip back to so you can never move on or "end" that task fully. not to mention there are always things to check back to like unlimited replies and updates on whatever you are following.
No. 1520892
>>1520872>I took a screen recording of all my saved songs and just downloaded them to listen to on an old mp3 player.I did it too kek. It actually feels better listening to music this way, cause with streaming you just scroll endlessly without immersing yourself in the music and wait for the next catchy song. I love metal, but with streaming its actually worse listening to it. Like, with black you need really immerse yourself in the album to really appreciate it. Good luck doing it if you are endlessly bombarded with next hot album.
>i've heard a lot of people say this lately and my theory is it used to be an easy form of escapism, but now - when you compare it to how easy and instantly accessible mindless scrolling is - it's actually a fair amount of effort. turning on the console, setting up, waiting for it to load and then committing to that SINGLE activity for the next hour or so. our brains have been trained to jump from one easy thing to the next and it's getting worse. This is very true. With internet, you can just click on something and instantly get a video or a meme to fry your dopamine receptors. Games, on other hand, require some time investment and that instant gratification doesn't come. This is true with my favorite games, like RTS and RPG. For example, I love Crusader Kings. The problem is, you need to learn to play it first, read manuals, read a lot of in-game text and wait some time till you level your kingdom and only then all the fun stuff begins. Why should I do it all to have fun if I can go to YouTube and watch some memes and get my dopamine hit?
>>1520879Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. At the very least, games can be a pretty good and harmless hobby if you don't play them all day long. It can be even positive in some way. I like Morrowind and it really inspired me to draw more and I even learned to draw pretty ok landscape painting cause I loved the game so much I wanted capture it in my art. Same with people who code game mods etc. Vidya can be good rarely, meme consumption is always bad on other hand. You just consoom dopamine tokens endlessly. With vidya at least I can say I appreciate it as an art form and can get inspired to do cool stuff. But again, playing Sims or what have you every day all day is equally bad.
No. 1520925
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Thinking about the time my laptop broke and I had to reply on my raspberry pi (which I use as a server) for internet for a few months until l replaced it. First, my rpi was in a fixed spot in my room so I wasn't constantly on the internet whilst I was watching TV or eating dinner etc. Second, it was so fucking slow and painful to use that it simply put me off a lot of the time. Due to my very basic setup, the screen was small and I could only listen to audio if I plugged in headphones and even then the quality was awful. So I would only watch a youtube video or clip if I really needed to because otherwise it was a pain to load it and have to plug in my headphones. Third, I really had to think outside the box when it came to workarounds and was constantly problem solving and learning so at least my brain was working. At the time I really needed a decent computer for work though so I gave in and got a new laptop as soon as I could.
However, now my job has provided a separate laptop for work (which is heavily monitored so I can't use it for personal stuff) and I'm seriously considering wiping and selling my laptop so I would just have the pi + work laptop.
I still have my smartphone but am in the process of switching to a dumbphone. My plan is to create a fixed spot for my smartphone (possibly a wall mount so I can't easily pick it up or something similar) and remove all apps except for my banking app and 2FA app (+ anything else that is strictly necessary for now) and have the dumbphone for text and calls.
No. 1578222
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I downloaded Niagara launcher recently. This is how my homescreen looks now. It's a neat little launcher that adds your fav apps on the homescreen and hides apps that you don't want to use. I hided youtube and chrome so that I wouldn't browse imageboards or binge watch youtube now. Day one and it helps a little. Now I don't see useless shit on my phone and when it's away I don't have an urge to browse the internet. I will tell more about my experience next week and than see if it helps me.
Now I only need a mobile browser that lets me block certain sites. I still need a browser on my phone but I don't want browsing lolcow or 4cheens when I'm bored. Any recommendations? I use Chrome at the moment but had experience with Opera and Brave. I'm not sure if Brave can blacklist sites.
No. 1578255
>>1578222So, here is an update. I found a way to block sites. I downloaded Firefox and installed LeechBlock add-on. So far I blocked lolcow, the mines and 4chan, my biggest time sinks. It works just fine. Just a heads up for other Android anons. There is an app called BlockSite which is shilled everywhere. I didn't use it because it wanted me to grant acess on basically everything on my phone. Fuck that. Plus, the reviews stated that it was kinda broken.
>>1578225I'd like to help you but I know nothing about how IPhones work. I would be interested to hear what other nonas with Iphones have to say. It would be nice to help out other people struggling with phone addiction.
No. 1578275
>>1578222>any recommendations Read comics or manga I guess
Tempted to recommend reddit but it’s a time drain as well