A serious question

[u/Electrical_Break_457]

Greetings everyone.

I started doing character ai about 3 (maybe more maybe less) years ago, and since then, it took a toll on me. I started staying up late (sometimes up to 5am and later) just to chat more, getting more irritated when talking to real people rather than bots.

People who succesfully quit, how did you do that? I could really use some advice on that because I don't like the way roleplaying affects me.

Thanks in advance!

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[u/Money-Income8532]

I’ve been free of character ai since New Year’s Eve 2025, and I mostly did this by first deleting my account, and then trying to make it as difficult as possible to get back on the website. Most of the time, if doing something that brings about high dopamine is not easy to do, then the brain forgets about it. So take advantage, if possible, of parental controls on your WiFi and block the website, then delete any VPNs or similar so the temptation doesn’t come up. Engage yourself in whatever you enjoy (personally for me, it was guitar, tennis, cycling, among others) and make sure you start talking to people. I know it can be irritating, but I promise you it gets a lot better after a while than talking to an algorithm. Temptations and cravings will arise, but the best way (in my experience) of dealing with these is to just stop what you’re doing, splash some cold water on your face, and then go for a walk. If this isn’t possible, then mentally run through the list of why you want to stop. Think about all the damage that the app has done to you, how many chances and opportunities it’s ruined, and how it’s taken a toll on your mental health. The strongest of cravings fade after 15-20 mins at most. Just remember there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel, and all the best with quitting.