12 Steps to Recover From FB Addiction!

1. Admit you have a problem. Say it out loud! Admit you are powerless over the effects of FB – that your life has become unmanageable since all you do is log on to FB first thing in the morning and sit in front of your computer all day. 
How do you know if you have a problem? 

Here are some signs: 
a. Do you lie to your boss? “No, I wasn’t goofing off on FB, really I was working!! I was looking for potential clients and leads and work groups to join. I’m trying to increase sales!” Do you frequently look over your shoulder at work and have one of those little mirrors on your computer monitor so you can see who is coming up behind you to afford yourself plenty of time to minimize the window?? 
b. Do you lie to your spouse/sig other? “That picture of me on that boys page? What? I’m sure that was taken a really long time ago BEFORE I met you!” But honey, it looks so recent, like the picture was taken yesterday. “It does? Let me see the picture… oh WOW, I wasn’t there recently… it’s amazing what Photoshop can do these days!! ” 
c. Are you secretive about your FB behaviors? Do you find yourself going to the library just so that no one can see you on FB? Do you lie about the hours you spend online? “What, 4 hours? No, I wasn’t online… I must have forgotten to close the browser when I walked away from my computer!! “ 
d. Do you find yourself skipping meals in order to spend your ENTIRE lunch hour on FB? 
e. Have you upgraded your cell phone just to allow you FB viewing privileges so now you can get FB ANYWHERE and at ANYTIME?? 
f. Do you freak out when your internet service goes down and immediately look for other sources to access your FB page? 
g. Do you spend the majority of your day thinking about FB? Do you find it hard to focus on anything else? Do you often daydream and wonder WHO has written WHAT on your wall? Have you lost interest in everyday things which used to make you happy, such as a favorite song playing on the radio or a really good meal? 
h. Do you have FB health related problems, i.e. carpal tunnel, insomnia, hypoglycemia (lack of food), Rapid Eye Movement, high blood pressure (too many friends to keep up with), inability to tell reality from imagination? 

If you answered yes to 6 of the 8 above, you have a problem! 

2. Make a decision to restore your sanity. Believe in yourself and realize others have recovered from the debilitating effects of FB… YOU CAN DO IT TOO! 
3. Know that you are not alone. There are plenty of groups and discussion boards there for you. It’s just a matter of finding the one which works for you… Facebooks Anonymous is a good start! 
4. Seek out a buddy Find a FB friend who has been on there longer than you and has learned how to successfully juggle their life and FB at the same time. Try seeking out help from your children. We can learn from them for a change! Unlike us, they had FB in highschool… they grew up with it…they know how to manage FB! Call up your buddy when you feel overwhelmed and have the urge to FB and know you shouldn’t. 
5. Switch over to MySpace. You will be bored by it within weeks and it will help wean you off the online social networks. 
6. Make new friends. Do not allow yourself to have online friends. Do not email your friends, IM your friends… this will remind you of FB and you may feel the need to cheat and “just go on FB for 10 minutes, that’s all.” DON’T DO IT! Find friends who ONLY like to talk on the phone! Do not hang out with the old friends whom you met or hooked back up with on FB. They will mislead you and convince you that you don’t have a problem (after all, THEY are on FB, and THEY don’t have a problem!) Hang out with OLD people who still live in the 19th century and are not internet savvy. 
7. Delete your profile. I know it’s a drastic measure, but it has to be done!! Otherwise, you will tell yourself it is rude to NOT reply to your friends and rude to NOT IM them. 
8. Get out of denial! Sure, there are people who NEVER log off FB and are online 24x7, but just because you only spend 8 hours a day on FB, does that REALLY make you better? Do you really want to compare yourself with THEM? 
9. Find a new way to connect with friends. “But my friends are all on there!” If your friend were to jump off a bridge would you do it too? For this issue, please refer back to Rule #6. For example, take up texting. It takes longer, is more time consuming, and not nearly as interesting as FB… therefore, it is not addicting and you will find yourself not engaging in hours of this behavior. 
10. Find something else to do with your fingers. Try knitting or darts. Take up photography. On second thought, skip photography. It would make you want to upload those pics to FB! How about court reporting? That way you can type and keep your hands busy, get in on all the gossip and find out who is going to jail, when and why! 
11. Stay away from all places which tempt you to FB. This includes the library, Starbucks, Borders and anywhere else with internet café’s. No borrowing your friend’s mobile smart phones either!! We know ALL the tricks! 
12. Announce to everyone you know that you are a Facebookaholic and in recovery. This will help you maintain accountability. All your friends, family, acquaintances and long lost high school mates will understand and try to support you. So many others before you have been there, done that, and got the t-shirt. The first step is admitting you have a problem, and step 12 is admitting to EVERYONE you have a problem! Good Luck!!