Hello, I am a TV addict. Watching TV has always been something that I have loved. I didn't realize how much TV I watched until a few friends had told me that I had a problem. In my house, the TV is constantly on, so it has become a background noise to me. Every day of the week I have different shows (yes, plural) that I watch each day. My friend once told me while I was watching one of my many shows, that she didn't even know people watched so many shows. That is when I knew I had a problem. Therefore, I decided to give up TV for a week. This is my story.
Stage 1: Denial
I told myself I didn't have a problem at all, that I only gave up TV so people could stop telling me that I watched too much TV. I told myself I could do it, and it would be easy. I wasn't going to wonder which housewife was going to start the drama this week. I didn't need my weekly dose of "The Bachelorette." I could do without the Food Network and HGTV. I denied and lied to myself to survive the next grueling week.
Stage 2: Anger
I was irritable the whole week. I didn't get my TV fix. It was like caffeine, I needed my daily dose. I told myself I didn't need it, but the reality was I craved it. Jealousy filled me with every person who got to watch TV. I rolled my eyes at the very sight of my brother watching his shows. "If anyone has a problem it is him," I told myself.
Stage 3: Sadness
I would hear spoilers left and right. I was upset that I couldn't watch all my favorite shows. I love reading, but even that couldn't fill my flatscreen hole in my heart. I missed watching "Chopped" and looking for a show on Netflix. Nothing could fill the void that was missing in my heart.
Stage 4: Bargaining
I told myself if I could go a week without TV, I could binge watch any show on Netflix when it was all over. I started to bargain against myself. Maybe if I just did the dishes, I could watch an hour of TV. I didn't know if I could make it.
Stage 5: Acceptance
I accepted that I was an addict, and understood that I can't change that -- nor do I care. I love my shows, every single one of them. I accept that I am addicted to TV.
As most of this is an exaggeration, it is still true. I watch my shows daily and religiously. It is just something that is mind numbing. When everything else is stressing me out, I will turn to TV to just shut my brain off. Science shows that you are using close to none of your brain when watching TV. I do believe I watch TV more than the average person, but I am OK with it. I do go out and exercise and hang out with friends and family; I sometimes even watch TV with them! I do make a conscious effort to go out, and smell the fresh air and get away from the TV, however, I will not stop watching my shows. I just love it too much. So, for all you TV viewers out there, go binge watch a show for me. Because sometimes we just want to be TV addicts.
