I don't know if you've noticed, but I haven't been on this forum in a VERY long time, when I used to come here often. Well, this is going to sound stupid, but I really need you guys to help me here.

Lately, I have gained a complete and utter obsession with Neopets.com. Badly enough to where when something bad happens to me on there, it causes me to lash out at my family at the slightest acknowledgement. It has started many fights between my husband and I, and has DRAMATICALLY decreased the amount of time we spend together, therefore decreasing the amount of, well...."alone time" if you will, which bothers him a great deal.

This is the part that's going to sound a little insane. I want to be showed that I can be loved places elsewhere than Neopets. I need to feel like I am accepted, and wanted here. This place was a MUCH healthier obsession than there, because first of all, you people here are literate and have no reason to try and steal my account. You guys are honest, and actually care, I mean really care about your friends on here. I miss being here, and I want to come back. I just need some advice on how to overcome this odd obsession. It's getting to the point where I don't have fun doing ANYTHING else. I don't enjoy anything else at all. In fact, it has even come down to the point that if I can't go to Neopets for some reason or other, I am negatively affected, in a rather disturbing manner. I mean it is just plain BAD.

Please, PLEASE help me. I am crying, upset, and I really feel alone. This is a serious addiction to this place, it courses through my blood like heroine through a drug user. It's almost as if I need it to survive. I feel insane, stupid, childish, and disgusted at what I have become. I've gained a lot of weight, and lost a lot of friends that I once cherished. I've just lost all hope in real life. I quit the first job I ever had on my second day because I couldn't stand the pressure of facing real people. I must sound like a damned idiot to you. :(

As with any addiction, and it certainly sounds like you have an addiction, you'll have to fight to break the habits you've formed. I suggest a complete break from the internet for a minimum of four weeks. Make sure you keep yourself occupied. Try a new hobby, start walking, read real books, etc. After that, if you feel like you can handle it, set a strict time schedule of when you'll allow yourself to browse, but do not go back to sites that you've had problems with before (neopets).

If doing it yourself doesn't work, seek out counseling from a professional. Good luck. (Now go turn off that computer - now!)

I don't necessarily think it's the computer as a whole, it's just that site.

However, I do believe it is addiction. Not the internet, but as previously stated, just neopets.

The problem is, I live in small town. Everybody knows everybody. Except for me. I come from a COMPLETELY different environment. I interact with another human being face to face rarely. It's not my fault nor that I don't want to, but nobody here accepts you if you weren't born and raised here. Diversity scares people here, therefore I am shunned out. All I have left to do while my husband works is play games, go on the computer, stuff like that.

I am beginning to believe that stumbling across neopets was the biggest mistake I have ever made in my life.

Step 1: Admit you have a problem. [done]
Step 2: Eliminate the problem; cut yourself off from neopets.com [to do]
Step 3: Move away from the backwater where you find yourself living to a more receptive environment. [to do]

I have deleted EVERYTHING on my computer that was neopets related {excluding a few blogs because they were only made to put on there, and have nothing to do with neopets themselves}. I have told everyone I halfway liked on there that I was NOT coming back, and I have NOTHING to go back to. My accounts have been cleared of anything nice or useful, I have deleted and blocked all MSN contacts that are on neopets {the ones that are as obsessed as I}, I have yet to cancel my 15 day free trial for premium neopets {PS}, and I have ended all relationships with people on there. I am going to do this. All I need is a good old welcome with open arms back to Evboard. I don't care if I have an obsession with this place, because at least it's a healthy one where I can express my opinion freely, post my art {unedited and uncensored}, and even talk about my favorite band and people know who they are. Well, no shit, look at the name of the website. XD

My husband minded it a lot less when I was here. Besides, ah miss j00 guys liek whoa. -teer-

All of my friends on here, don't at all feel shy to PM me, I'm back!

So I guess step 2 is complete. Step 3? Yea. Um, that takes money I don't have.

And my husband would never leave his hometown, because, you know, I never made that sacrifice for him. Nope. [/sarcasm]

OMG, I'm glad to be back. Have you ANY idea the amount of n00bs over there? It is INSANE.

I think I'm starting to feel better about this. :)

Cancel your internet connection.

No obsession is healthy, especially not an internet obsession. You seem to get addicted to certain places in general, why not cut out the entire problem and don't get online for awhile?

I kind of know how you feel...:( Except I don't necessarily have an addiction to Neopets, it's more like the internet itself. My mom's always bugging me to get off, but I do know it's unhealthy to be on it practically all day. I don't have many hobbies to begin with, but I'm not very motivated or ambitious to get new hobbies either. Sometimes, I even think the internet pushing me away from my friends and making me even a duller person to be around! And it's not like I'm that anti-social!

Aside from it being unhealthy, it also keeps me from doing things I have to do! I have a bunch work to do before school starts in a couple of weeks, yet, I'm procrastinating because I'm usually online! It's frustrating!! In reality, the internet is good only when you use it sparingly...Why didn't the person who invented it tell all of us the side-effects of it dammit?!

Anyways, this is about YOU, and not about me, so I'll add my $.05...Does your husband use the internet much? If he does, do you know his password? If you don't, maybe he could just block the site for you, like a parental block. Or, you could just block the site from yourself? Sorry it sounds stupid, but that's the only thing I can think of, even though I shouldn't be talking because I probably wouldn't take my own advice myself...But Dhamma's advice is probably the more reasonable way to solve your problem.

Good luck :)

Is there a good library where you live? You could join a reading group or something like that. Libraries always seem to have stuff going on. :)

Also, say to yourself I am going to spend (e.g.) 1 hour online today. And when you shut down the computer after that do something to reward yourself like going to see a movie you've wanted to see, or buying an album you've wanted for a while.

Try and get out of the house in the outside world too, away from computer in general, so you don't feel the temptation to go back to neopets.

Btw I know almost exactly what you're talking about. It doesn't sound wierd or insane, well.. not to me.

I found this (http://www.stresscure.com/hrn/iaddict.html), maybe it'll help. :)

EDIT: ooh, and I also have some books to reccomend. Terry Pratchett books are wonderful. There's this great book, by a different auther (can't remember his name) called the portable door which is a good read. They're both humour/fantasy. And there are LOADS of terry pratchett books to read. Start with hogfather. I'd say it's the best. :)

Well, you're certainly welcome back here anytime :) I was wondering where you were.

You can also set up your Internet Security program, if you have one, to prevent you from coming to the site.

The internet is addictive...I'd spend some time away from it in general if I were you. I agree with Dhamma's advice; it sounds harsh but sometimes harsh is the best way to deal with something like that.

Also try to get back in touch with the friends you've lost contact with. Keeping a semi-active social life draws you away from the computer and into small social situations.

I would get into reading. I love to read, so once I pick up a good book, I'll sit with it for hours until I'm done. Reading is addictive, too ;) I recommend the Harry Potter books, and books by Tamora Pierce. Tamora Pierce's books are fantasy, and she's an amazing writer...she can be incredibly funny and witty in an otherwise serious situation and it works. :) I'd start with the 'Song of the Lioness' series. I think it's her best. And the books aren't long, either, by the way.

I agree with Katya block the site so that you can't use it anymore, and delete everything that has to do with Neopets, which it looks like you have done from your post. I'd spend more time away from the computer and read, The Harry Potter books are good, or maybe learn how to play an instrument like piano or guitar or something? Once ya get started on that it might occupy you and won't have to think of Neopets..and finally Welcome back to EVBOARD!!

I know how you feel. I'm like that with greatestjournal...and this site, haha.

Is there anyway for your husband to block the site for you? Because I know if you do it, you'll just unblock it since you are addicted. That way if your husband does it for you, you won't know the password or whatever.

Maybe take a day off and plan a nice date with your husband...Or go away to a hotel for about 2 days so you can see how much fun it is with him.

I wish I could be of more help.

Or when you block the site and you have to put the password in just hit a bunch of keys like: lskdjf;asldkjg;adlk That would almoste be impossible to figure out.

Thank you guys for the welcome backs. I was watching my husband on neopets today {he plays too}, and all the time I was thinking, "WTF did I like about that place?"

I'm thinking maybe obsessed and addiction were a bit strong words to use with this situation, as were some of the things I previously said. I was probably just a phase that affected me strongly for a few months. Nothing more.

I do appreciate the honest opinions and advice offered, though. I'm not addicted to the internet, I assure you. I spend 2 hours a day on the internet itself, and post here when I have some free time. Which is always, but I do do other things, like singing and writing. I read a lot too. I like Christopher Pike a lot. I did spend 10 hours a day on Neopets, but I haven't been in 4 days. And I don't even miss it.

-insert triumphant music and cheering here-

Thank you guys for the welcome backs. I was watching my husband on neopets today {he plays too}, and all the time I was thinking, "WTF did I like about that place?"

I'm thinking maybe obsessed and addiction were a bit strong words to use with this situation, as were some of the things I previously said. I was probably just a phase that affected me strongly for a few months. Nothing more.

I do appreciate the honest opinions and advice offered, though. I'm not addicted to the internet, I assure you. I spend 2 hours a day on the internet itself, and post here when I have some free time. Which is always, but I do do other things, like singing and writing. I read a lot too. I like Christopher Pike a lot. I did spend 10 hours a day on Neopets, but I haven't been in 4 days. And I don't even miss it.

-insert triumphant music and cheering here-


That's awfully selfish of your husband, I must say. If he knows you've had somewhat of a problem with being on the site, he too should make the sacrifice of not going on NP/the internet for a while to help you.

I used to have that same problem, I had to go on atleast once a day. I still go on a bit but not even close to as much evboard is my new obsession XD When i had my first account I was seriously obsessed. I think thats what neopets does....I dont know.....I wish you good luck :D you seem to be off on the right foot! welcome back too! :D

That's awfully selfish of your husband, I must say. If he knows you've had somewhat of a problem with being on the site, he too should make the sacrifice of not going on NP/the internet for a while to help you.

Yeah, true, but you could also think of it as a test, to make sure she's completely off the site rather than taunting or egging her on...