I am becoming fed up with my Facebooking habit, need thoughts (please serious answers)?

[StormLover93]

Hello all,

This question and information following may come across as awkward or over-hyped to some viewers, so in advance, I apologize in case this is the worst reading you ever spent 5 minutes on lol.

I'm a 19 year old female, who activated/created a Facebook profile back in 2009. I simply made it in order to keep in touch with family, close friends, and high school classmates. Additionally, as a couple years passed by, I began to add photography enthusiasts as well as severe weather fanatics due to the fact that I thought it was cool to interact with other well-known peoples whom shared the same interests as me - living here in a small town gets boring and I find escape in photography, music, chasing thunderstorms, as well as discussing things related to these subjects, hence why I decided to add photography strangers lol. Although here during the boring months, I have made a steady and pathetic habit...

Likewise, as the past several months to a year have gone by I continuously have to check my Facebook. It's this very weird urge I feel rushing in me as soon as I step out of class, or whenever, to whip out my smartphone and check this pathetic little social media application to simply see who comments on my status, or to see which duck face profile picture some girl has for me to see next (and laugh hysterically at haha.)

I cannot help but laugh at myself sometimes, because here I am...a college student, with a good head on my shoulders (I don't party, smoke/drink, or even dare go by "social norm,") although one thing that interrupts my life constantly is Facebook. I cannot go for a couple hours or longer without checking it - whether it be on my laptop, on my phone, or on college campus between class. I suppose, you could say I have poor time management; bad, to say the least. It interrupts my schoolwork, and I am quite boggled down with classes this semester (which begun early this week actually) and therefore this constant little urge to check Facebook needs to stop for me. The only problem is when I don't log on I fear that my loved ones will hate me, or those who like to keep in touch with me will be disappointed as I really have no other way of contacting them.

In all honesty I am sick and tired of Facebook and there are times I deactivate my account - abruptly that urge to check it yet again occurs, so I re-activate my profile and it begins all over again. I only have a few friends and many acquaintances in real life, and I tend to use Facebook as an open diary, when I constantly tell myself that this is absolutely rude and degrading to my generation - which I cannot even tolerate on my behalf lol. Strictly what I need is to just shut up and quit ranting my emotions online, I make everything such a big deal when people delete me and hate when folks ignore my private messages - like what is it about that damn website I like so much, really? My emotions are sensitive as is, as well as my social awkward stages become phased to the point talking to some of my friends at college feels weird. Anxiety controls me some days and I am naturally nervous, outspoken, and a huge tomboy who in no way, shape, or form, wants to be the same as the rest of students/peers my age. I feel like 19 going on 30, I am told I do not even think like a 19 year old and seem to be very mature for my age.

If anyone who actually reads this could give me some advice or ways to dumb down and quit my stupid online habits, you will make my day. If you hate Facebook or social media websites in general, please do not waste your time with trolling my question, I would greatly appreciate the tips, from anyone.

Thank you all very much, and have a great day!

[Kathleen]

It is an addiction. I have the same problem with Y!A, feeling like I want to come here any spare moment and it is truly interfering with my life. I wish I knew the answer, I have tried things like just telling myself to stay away for a day or so but that doesn't seem to work. Maybe it is like with alcoholics where you have to give it up completely and even then it will always be kind of in the background of your thinking.

[JustWondering]

I think a lot of people have that problem. I am in my 30's, married, a mother, graduated college a long time ago, smart, spiritual, etc. But Facebook got the best of me too. It was an addiction, plus it was dragging me down emotionally because of all the drama I would read about all the time. So I "fasted" from Facebook and Twitter, and ended up closing them both because I decided the negatives outweighed the positives. Then I ended up opening a public page (the kind you "like") and now I can pour out my heart, without having to read everyone elses. Sounds selfish, but I did what I had to do and I don't force anyone to like my page lol.

[Ali]

everyone checks their faceobook alot. maybe you should deactivate your facebook for a couple days. i felt addicted to facebook too, constantly checking the newsfeed for more information and more notifications. but you have to just keep yourself busy with other things, delete the icon off your phone and deactivate it you will start to forget about it, then when you think your ready activate it again and you wont care about it as much

[Fay]

There are people out there that hate Facebook more than you do. For example, me. Facebook ruined many relationships I had with people I cared about including my ex boyfriend, my best friend, and even my sisters.
The drama was unbearable and it never stopped. Facebook has made my life a living hell and I've lost a lot of close people because of the idiotic immature unessesary drama it stirs up. I had the same problem you did until I got to the point where I deactivated my account and broke my phone into a million peices just so I would never be able to get on that horrible social media bullsh*t.
It's been 3 months now, I have a new iPhone 5, and Facebook is NOT one of my apps.
If you truly want to stop using Facebook you will find a way out, it's easy and all you have to do is hold out for 2 weeks and your profile will be gone forever.