Computer addiction

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Firstly, I would like to say hi.

I hope that this is a genuine community.

I have had a rough life.

(And yes, I love hitting enter twice for some reason)

I am an Australian, and I am currently 13. I go to a selective high school.

I am strongly addicted to computing.

I used to be addicted to games but now the "nerdier" side.

My parents/grandparents continually accuse me of not using the computer for the right purposes.

Although at times, I must admit to this, I am still trying to control myself. As you can see from the subject, I am addicted to computers and find times flies by very quickly.

I have been bullied for ~7 years, and my school only recently has implemented a zero-tolerance policy, but let's not go there too much because this is about my computer addiction.

I also have been diagnosed with Asperger's recently.

I have gone for 3 hours once straight on the computer once, and get angry when critcised by my parents for going on the computer for too long. Is there any help on my computer adiction problem, as I desperately need help. My parents do not have a problem with me liking computers, it is the fact that I use it at the wrong time that is the problem.

I'm on my computer 13-16+ hours a day. I say you have a mild addiction. I have a TV card so I even have it on in a window.

Mild, you say?

During the holidays, 9:30 AM -> 5:30 PM with 3 hours in between that time as break.

I'm another junkie and have no advice on how to kick the habit.

Do you have a laptop?

When I feel like I'm going on the computer too much I unplug mine, wrap up all the cords and put it away. Then I know that if I want to use it there's going to be a lot of effort involved before I even start it up, and it gives me a chance my second-guess my impulse. Not that there's anything wrong with being on the computer but sometimes it keeps me from other things I enjoy like reading and going for walks.

After years of hating them I just got mine and I'm sure I've been on it for . . . well since yesterday . . .
When I was a kid and computers first became available there were magazines that taught about writing programs. Like most AS stories maybe you could take your intrest, make it into a hobby, then turn that into a career.Theres' certainly a demand.
I remember the first game I programmed. It was askiing game. The letter H represented the skis and a narrow series of is were the poles. At the end it tallied up how far you had went . .

10 print"H"
20 goto . . . .
So long ago . . .

I think this is a really good idea. Having a strong interested in computers, and the ability to focus on one activity for hours on end is an ASSET!
You should use this to your advantage and you could one day make a very lucrative career out of this!

As for your parents, I can't see what their problem is. Would they prefer that you were pregnant at 13? or out taking drugs?

I don't see anything wrong with what you are doing. You're not hurting anyone and you could use this interest to develop some excellent skills.

Perhaps you could learn some basic programming or web design (you may already have done this) and then make a really great web page or programme and show it to your parents and to teachers - once they see what you can do and how impressive your skills are, surely they must then realise that your computer skills and your focus are POSITIVE traits.

Games are the reason computers were invented.

Yea, I'd say I'm addicted. I spend majority of the day in front of the computer screen. It's weird though, cause most the time I'm just refreshing pages waiting for the to change and not really doing anything.

I used to have this problem myself -- I could only use the computer after I came home from work, and my mother always went on the computer just before I came home and played solitaire all evening. It drove me nuts. Is that what's going on, your parents want the computer after supper? Can you use it at another time of day? I agree with everybody, this is an interest they should be supporting since it could lead to an excellent career for you.

KaliMa

That would annoy the crap out of me. Back in the day (when I still had to share a computer) I always just waited for everyone else to go to bed then went online at night (I'm a night owl ). Of course this only worked on weekends or vacations when I could sleep during the day. I sometimes got my days and nights permanently mixed up doing this though and readjusting to getting up in the morning was always a b****.

I'm still addicted to the internet, but at least I have my own computer. I really have trouble when my hard drive or something else dies and I'm left without a computer for any length of time. I can't cope very well without my internet. I get really bored when I can't go online.

I'm such a computer addict that I actually brought my laptop to school in high school. They werent allowed in the rules, but they school allowed it as they noticed it helped me zone out if I was having a bad day.

I sadly smashed it when I felt I was to addicted.

I used to sit on the PC from 7AM - 10PM (and sometimes longer) fairly frequently when I was in high school / Uni. (Yay for weekends!). I don't get much time now other than at work (I'm a programmer, so I'm not really sure it counts!).

Is it the length that they're complaining about, or that it's done when it's inappropriate (during dinner times etc.).

Yeah if you have any interest in making a job of computers, software engineers / programmers or even IT and MIS guys who maintain networks are expected to spend at least 8hrs a day in front of a computer. Which would make your interest in them a strength. If their issue is the amount of time you might just mention to them that you're considering it as a profession. If their issue is bad timing because it's interfering with other things like dinner then you may just need to find a routine that works better for you. Maybe set up a timer / alert on your computer to let you know when to pause your game or whatever else you're working on for dinner or the like. I should probably know how to do that in Windows, it's just not something I've ever bothered to do for myself.

Zach - sorry to hear about your laptop.

If i have no other immediate responsibilities during the day i could stay on the computer from the tme i have my morning coffe to about noon, break for a shower, then continue until dinner time. then i could have a glass of wine & continue on the computer.

To help, maybe set an alarm which signals you to go do something else active, like go for a walk or something.

My advice is to chose new things to do that would cause you to become active... Every once in awhile I just get up and try to do something I've read about online. Like get a pet, or grow a garden, or work on cars...


What am I doing to try to quit? I'm going to start a small business. I hate working for other people, so I'm going to start a small house cleaning business. See if I can make enough to quit my current job.