Addiction And The Internet: 6 Online Things To Avoid During Recovery
The internet has made it easier to stay in touch with friends and family but also poses a problem for people who are trying to break out of addiction. Addiction is difficult enough to manage on its own, but the internet only makes things worse. We all know how often we find ourselves looking at our phones or browsing social media sites when we should be doing something else. But there are 6 online things you should avoid during recovery because they can easily trigger old patterns, or even worse, to create a new one.
Adult entertainment
Pornography is easily accessible online and can be a major trigger for addiction because it can be so addictive and stimulating. It’s also easy to spend a lot of time watching pornography without even realizing it, which can easily disrupt your recovery. There is a phenomenon known as porn addiction withdrawal meaning that if someone tries to stop watching porn, they can experience withdrawal symptoms such as irritability and low mood. In such a state, the individual can become easily agitated and can turn back to their old habits.
Gambling
Like pornography, gambling can be highly addictive and stimulating. It’s also easy to get carried away with gambling and to lose track of time and money. This can be extremely damaging to your recovery and can easily set you back for weeks or even months. Gambling addicts often experience a rush when they gamble. This is because the brain releases dopamine, which is a chemical that makes you feel good. This can be addictive and lead to gambling problems. Many online gambling platforms can easily be accessed from your phone or computer. It’s important to avoid these sites during your recovery.
Gaming
Gaming can be addictive for the same reasons as gambling. The dopamine rush combined with the excitement of playing can be a dangerous combination. Some gaming addicts have been known to play for days on end, not stopping for food or sleep. This can be extremely damaging to your recovery and can set you back for weeks or even months. It’s important to avoid gaming during your recovery, especially if it’s causing you problems. There are plenty of other ways to spend your time that won’t harm your new and positive habits.
Social Media
Social media can be a huge trigger for addiction. It’s very easy to get sucked into the world of social media and to spend hours scrolling through your newsfeed. This can be damaging to your recovery as it can take up valuable time that you could be using to work on yourself. It can also contain uncensored content related to drug abuse, gambling, etc. which can easily trigger old habits. Social media sites are incredibly addictive, which makes it dangerous to spend time on them during your recovery. This practice is highly discouraged as the temptation is too great for many addicts.
News stories about other people’s addiction-related problems can be real triggers for some addicts who are trying to stay clean. Even though you may be using it to stay in touch with friends and family, there is a high risk of even contacting old ‘connections’ like drug dealers through social media. This is why it is advisable that you either reserve your contact information for a family member in person or have a locked phone that only allows you to call the number you and the family agree won’t be harmful during your recovery.
Marketing ploys
Even if you aren’t struggling with addiction problems, marketing ploys are designed to target us and grab our attention even when we don’t want it. This is why it’s important to always be aware of your surroundings and take a look at what you are being exposed to. This will help you resist the temptation, even if only for a short while. Many advertisements that we see in the media today influence us in many different ways without us knowing. It’s important not to become a victim of these marketing ploys and to stay strong in your recovery. Resist the temptation to buy things that you don’t need and remember that these advertisements are only designed to make money.
Shopping addiction
As with marketing ploys, it’s very easy to get caught up in the world of shopping. This can be particularly dangerous during recovery as this practice can trigger old habits that you are trying to leave behind. You mustn’t fall into the trap of consumerism. Avoid spending money on things that you don’t need and remember that buying things doesn’t make you happy.
These are just a few of the online things that you should avoid during your recovery. If you find that you are struggling to stay away from certain websites or platforms, it might be helpful to talk to your therapist or addiction counselor about it. They will be able to give you some tips and advice on how to stay away from potentially harmful websites. Remember, the most important thing is that you stay focused on your recovery and don’t let anything get in the way of that.
