When TV Shows Turn Into Addiction
Here I am again, still sitting on the couch. My eyes fixated on the flickering screen in front of me. It’s way past my bedtime, but Eve doesn’t seem to want to drive away after she rescued Frank from being chased by Villanelle. And Villanelle is walking up to them, her gun pointed at Eve.
Cut. The episode has reached its end. I’m offered the option of whether I want to see the credits or if I want to see the next episode with a timer, nota bene, before the next episode starts automatically.
Why is it so hard to hit the power button on the remote?
Why do we keep telling ourselves: ‘Just one more!’ ?
I have never been addicted to any substances, but I can see the addiction that is on display here. Literally.
And I believe I am not alone in this struggle.
Like any other addiction, TV shows offer the comfort of forgetting your everyday life for a short period of time. They numb the pain and the worries.
You can laugh, you can cry, or you can be part of an exhilarating car chase. The options are endless.
Had a rough day? — Watch a comedy!
Are you bored to death? — Watch an exciting Thriller!
There’s a pill for everything and everyone!
But like any other substance, once the high is over, you reach a new low. You end up feeling worse than you did before, and you wake up with a headache the next morning due to lack of sleep.
We neglect our duties the day before and wake up to an even bigger To-Do list the next day. The pressure’s even worse now.
But don’t worry. There’s a pill for that, too: Binge-watch some more!
It’s a vicious cycle.
I have tried everything in the past to find a better balance for watching TV shows, like setting a timer or limiting myself to one episode per day.
It didn’t work.
The balance thing…
Could it be that balance is non-existent after you have reached a certain point? Could it be that, like any other addiction, one glass of wine per day doesn’t cut it anymore if you have overstepped a certain line?
All that’s left is a radical ban on the substance if you want to heal and get your life back under control.
Currently, for me, not starting to watch TV is the only thing that keeps me from getting squared-shaped eyes. Because if I just take a zip, I won’t be stopping at only one glass.
Recognizing TV shows for what they are.
Sometimes, life is overwhelming. We need a short-term fix to make ourselves feel better.
But that’s really all a TV show-escape is — a short-term fix.
Keep in mind that when hitting the Power-On button, all you’re going to get is 40 minutes of relief. Don’t pretend that your problems will disappear once you start watching TV.
Focus on things that will help you in the long term.
If you need relief from your everyday life, rather than looking for shortcuts on how to feel better, indulge in activities that you will actually benefit from. Like taking a walk, hitting the gym, meeting a friend for coffee, or sitting down to draw.
You won’t feel bad after you come home from the gym. In fact, you will feel better and more energized. The contrary of the feeling of when your favorite TV show has come to an end.
I realized that I must treat my addiction to watching TV shows like any other addiction: Radically stop at once.
I will now try not to watch TV for the next month and want to see how my life and mood improve. I hope I will find the time, I currently pretend I don’t have on things that are more important.