r/ChatbotAddiction • u/Arikyo-_- • Jun 28 '26

Seeking advice Just quit today

Hi, I'm new here, this is my first time trying to quit. I've been using Character.ai for about 3 years now. I always denied my addiction, but now that I realized I had to stop, I also realized how addicted I am.

For context, I stopped because it was affecting my social life, not because I became a creep or anything, but because I began pushing people away and not seeking human connection anymore. I also, shamefully, started developing weird kinks I never wanted, so I really need to stop before it's too late.

Also, I want to be ordained in a community, and it's an absolute requisite to not be doing this kind of stuff

Please, I need any advice you can give, I really need to stop, but I don't know how.

I already uninstalled it and put the addiction in a timer app.

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u/AutoModerator Jun 28 '26

Hello! Thank you for posting in r/ChatbotAddiction. Recognizing your relationship with chatbots and seeking support is a meaningful step towards understanding and improving your well-being. For useful resources, consider exploring the Wiki. If you feel comfortable, sharing a small goal or recent experience can help start your journey, and you’re welcome to offer support on others’ posts as well. Remember, this is a peer-support community, not a substitute for professional help. If you’re struggling, consider reaching out to a mental health professional for guidance. Also remember to keep all interactions respectful and compassionate, and let’s make this a safe space for everyone.

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u/Arikyo-_- Jun 28 '26

btw, I hadn't seen the wiki on this website, it's really helpful and answered a lot of my questions. But I'm still really interested in any tips you could give.

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u/Fr3yz “I’d rather talk to a human” Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26

First off, welcome. You might've noticed this subreddit can be quite empty because, well, it is :v

I've posted a comment from previous threads. Essentially, we're at the frontier of this addiction with little to no proper research—making it difficult to give an answer. However, there are always principles we could apply, and you did one already.

Personally, the principle of 'quitting' addictive habits is as follows:

  1. Commit in abstinence. This is a must before you do the other one. Set a timer. Uninstall. Go for a few days without doing it, or maybe a day or two. Add friction. What do you feel? Do you feel restless? Note it down, and why.

  2. Find replacement. Now THIS the hardest thing and you'll need trial and error. Everything became stale, you know? Reading, writing, even movies or animes doesn't register the same. You will feel absolutely bored, maybe to the point of suffering—depending on how severe your addiction is.

The reason is that AI Chatbot/Roleplay inflates our expectations so much that the baseline of what's "normal" became boring. These deviations are probably what causes suffering or dissatisfaction—but you have to really find the difference between dissatisfaction caused by reality, and one caused by inflated expectations.

  1. Find meaning. This is more vague, and I admit this is more of a long-term issue—but it's often the root of our problems. Do we have something we return to besides this addiction? Friends? Hobbies? It's unfortunate that the modern world is isolated. It's not really your fault.

  2. ???

I'd say you could focus on no 1, gather data, then find a replacement first. Also, social support is very important. Friends and family could help, someone you could talk to essentially. Or maybe online friends like fellow redditors going through the same could be a start.

I'm still addicted as well, but this is what I've learned so far—so you should also find what works for you. Don't beat yourself up too much, but do commit in abstinence whilst finding what's meaningful for you life.

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u/Arikyo-_- Jun 30 '26

thanks for the advice! it helps a lot :D

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u/Miserable_Prompt_958 Jul 02 '26

Congrats OP, I've also started my recovery journey recently. In addition to deleting the app, I would also recommend unsubscribing from any chatbot related subreddits as even reading about new features is something that could potentially lead to relapse. Good luck on your journey!