How to Quit Anime Addiction

Did you find yourself so addicted to anime that your whole life now revolves around it? Do you spend all your pocket money on DVD sets, manga comics, character models and fairs? What’s more, have you started to decline in your studies and don’t care about the outside social life just to catch up with all the series that you love? You know you have to fix this, but don’t know where to start? This article will present you with some great tips and useful tips that can help you overcome this problem.

Table of Contents

Know the signs of anime addiction

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Think how much your happiness depends on anime. If you don’t know if you’re really addicted to anime or just love it, remember how frustrated you were the last time you couldn’t watch anime. Are you thinking, “It’s okay. There’s nothing to make a fuss about,” or do you snap, “What?! You must watch this episode! What if my favorite character dies? I hate you!” One of the signs of addiction is feeling irritable when you can’t get what you’re craving. ^{[1] X Research Source} If you got mad at your fine and missed an episode or a new episode was delayed, then you’re probably addicted. And if just thinking about not being able to watch it makes you upset, then you are addicted.

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Consider your emotional connection to anime. Does your whole life revolve around anime? If you really don’t know, maybe you have to take a step back and try to see things from the outside. Ask yourself the following questions to determine how much you love anime:

Do you feel more attached/infatuated with anime characters than real people? There’s nothing wrong with liking a character, but when your feelings for a fictional character are so strong that you refuse any relationship with real people, it becomes unusual. . If you find yourself buying anime pillows or crying all day over the deaths of those characters, you’re in this category. A fictional character cannot give you the same feeling of love and care as a real person.
Have you ever been caught up in a violent argument over anime? You can completely disagree with someone or argue with them, as long as you maintain a mature and proper manner. On the other hand, if you find yourself so attached to anime that you defend it, get mad at anyone who doesn’t like it, and decry it, then you’re probably over-obsessed. This behavior can even cost you relationships.

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Recognize when anime affects your social behavior. Do you find yourself talking and acting like anime characters or overusing Japanese words to be more like them? Anime cartoons, like cartoons, often have exaggerated expressions; Unfortunately, what is acceptable in anime or cartoons is not acceptable in real life. You don’t mind being treated like an anime character, but other people might get annoyed when you treat them that way. Suppose someone approached you and talked with the lines of the characters in the movie “Rescue Dogs”, how would you feel? Doesn’t seem very good, does it? Some people may find your behavior confusing and odd, and they will also treat you with less respect.

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Calculate how much you usually spend on anime. Are you spending so much money on anime items that you no longer have enough to pay for essential expenses like food, clothes, school supplies, or rent? Draw a chart on paper and divide it into sections like “Anime,” “Food,” “Clothes,” and “School Supplies.” Every time you buy something that falls into these categories, write down how much you spent, then review it to see how much you actually spent on each item.

If most of the items you shop for are in the “Anime” category, you’re probably addicted.
If you find yourself skipping food, clothing, and other essentials to fund your anime purchases, you’re almost certainly addicted. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Separate yourself from the anime

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Try to limit the time you watch anime. ^{[5] X Research Sources} You don’t have to completely give up the pleasure of watching anime; instead of daily viewing, you can watch every other day or once a week. If you find yourself watching for hours on end almost every day, try the following:

If you often watch multiple episodes in a week, even overnight, try to limit your viewing to just a few episodes per week.

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Only follow a certain number of anime shows. If you have an urge to watch there’s no shortage of shows, try to resist that temptation; some shows span multiple seasons and are horribly time consuming. Pick one or two really good shows and just focus on that. You don’t have to watch all anime shows to be an anime fan.

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Consider taking a break from watching anime for a while. You can also try to separate from anime by not watching anime or reading manga for a certain period of time. Try it for 2 weeks and see how you feel. You may be surprised to discover other interests and hobbies to fill that gap.

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Just watch anime as a bonus. Choose to do tasks that you don’t enjoy so that you can sit back and watch anime movies with peace of mind. This will not only help you reduce your addiction but also make your experience even better. Consider the following suggestions:

Don’t watch anime until you’ve finished all of your homework – but don’t get so caught up in it that you even forget to go to bed. This way, not only will you try to do your homework faster, but you will also not want to delay the task. Don’t get upset if you haven’t watched enough for the night – you can watch it the next night.
Save anime for the weekend. The excitement and anticipation will last throughout the week – but you will also get a lot of work done that week.
Complete the housework first. Tell yourself that you won’t watch the latest episode of your favorite show until you’ve finished the housework (cleaning the room, folding the clothes, washing the dishes, etc.) You’ll get everything done faster, and when it’s done you will be well rewarded.

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Discounts on souvenirs. Do you buy anime brooches, character models, bags, stickers and other items just to add to your collection or because you really like/need it? If you’re just buying to complement your collection, ask yourself the following questions:

Do I really need it? A bag printed with your favorite anime character might come in handy when you’re shopping for school supplies, but the new Funko Pop model out there probably isn’t what you need. If you don’t have a lot of money in your pocket, don’t waste it on unnecessary things.
Do I like it? Instead of buying a souvenir just because it’s in your favorite anime, go through it and save that money for something you really, really like.
What will I do with it? Certain items like mugs, watches, bags, and t-shirts are practical. Other items such as character models, stickers or lapel pins are for decoration only. You can control this habit by only buying things that can be used (not just for viewing).

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Stay away from fan sites and remove from your favorites. Just cutting down on watching anime is not enough for you to quit anime addiction. If you still visit fan pages and talk about your favorite shows, the more you think about anime. Help yourself resist temptation by not visiting those sites and not discussing your favorite anime shows.

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Know the difference between the real world and the imaginary world. You can totally give anime characters intense emotions and there’s nothing to be ashamed of about this. However, when those feelings turn into a passionate love affair with a fictional character, everything becomes ambiguous, messy, and disappointing. Do you mourn for hours when a beloved character dies; you buy a character pillow; you spend many hours just drawing pictures of your favorite characters when you could have spent that time walking in the park like when you were a kid. Do you remember? Remind yourself that anime is a work of fiction – something created by a group of writers and artists – it is not real. The world of anime characters is no substitute for the real world around you.

Step outside now and find what is beautiful in your eyes. Do you see that tree bark with ridges that look like apples? Do you want to pick up those funny rocks and take them home? Look outside and find something that you find magical. It probably won’t take as long as you think. Take a moment to feel the wonderful experience of being in the middle of nature with fresh air, seeing the beauty of the real world you live in.

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Consider dropping the collection. Sometimes, the only way to detox is to get rid of all the things that remind you of it. This doesn’t mean you have to sell or give away your entire collection of models, manga, t-shirts, bags, and more. Consider giving away or selling some items you don’t use and try not to buy new ones. The homeless kid you saw on the way to school would love the stylish anime character t-shirt you gave him.

If online anime movies are too tempting and distract you from studying, consider deleting video files on your computer or removing web pages from your favorites.

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Pay attention to your behavior. It will be difficult for you to successfully detox if you continue to imitate the behavior of your favorite character or add too many Japanese words (which you know make other people uncomfortable). Try to be aware every time you have such actions and stop. If these behaviors have become difficult habits to break, ask your friends to remind you every time you catch yourself imitating characters or using Japanese words when you don’t need to. Your friends will be more than happy to help you and your decision.

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Consider attending anime fairs. If because of your passion, you often go to anime fairs, now you should consider only going to one or two sessions instead of the usual five or more. That way, you’ll not only save money, but you’ll also be able to create a further distance with the anime.

Distract yourself with other pleasures

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Consider finding another hobby . You don’t have to spend all your time on something even if you like it. Explore other hobbies and interests that you used to enjoy but gradually lost as you became more and more immersed in anime. Here are some suggestions for you:

Martial arts. If you love anime and Japanese culture, you probably also like martial arts, especially Japanese martial arts like Aikido or Judo.
Play an instrument such as guitar or piano.
Activities like running, hiking and cycling not only help you stay healthy and fit, but also give you time to relax and enjoy the natural world around you. A visit to the gym is also very interesting. ^{[6] X Research Sources}
The hobby of crocheting also keeps your hands busy; You won’t have much time to think about anime anymore.
Photography will take you out more, meet people and see the world you’ve been missing for so long. Get out and enjoy nature.

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Join another fan community. Sometimes you can quit anime addiction by reaching out to another “non-anime” fanbase, which includes books, movies, and TV shows. Then you will find yourself gradually reducing the time for anime to switch to a new passion. If you don’t know where to look, try asking a friend or classmate; Let them know what genres you like, such as horror, medieval fantasy or vampires.

If you’re into role-playing, you might consider branching out into other non-anime-related communities, such as book and movie fan communities.

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Spend time with friends. Spending time with your friends will take your mind off the anime and also show your friends that you still care about them. The next time you need someone to talk to, they’ll be ready to come and support you.

If you don’t have any friends, try to find and make some by joining a club at your school, going to the school library or bookstore, or even going for a walk in the park.

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Ask for support from friends and family. Let everyone know that you want to quit anime addiction. They may be able to help you by not giving you anime related birthday gifts. If your friends are also anime fans, they may also avoid discussing anime in front of you or recommending you new series.

Advice

If you have a friend who is also addicted to anime, consider inviting him or her to detox with you.
If you need motivation to stop using Japanese words, remember that using these words without understanding what they mean can make people (especially Japanese) uncomfortable. It is seen as cultural appropriation and is often underestimated.
The words “Kawaii” (cute) and “Senpai” (senior) are very often misused and can upset many people if they have to listen to them too much.
You can experience withdrawal symptoms just like any other addiction. The jitters can persist for days, months, or years (if you’re always in a rush to engage in addictive activities, see your doctor).
People with disabilities such as autism or ADHD are often particularly passionate about certain subjects. This is not harmful and does not need to be changed – it is part of their brain activity.

Steps

Know the signs of anime addiction

Separate yourself from the anime

Distract yourself with other pleasures

Advice

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