About Tom M.

Hi everyone, my name is Tom M. I'm a metro-Detroiter, pickleballer, and recovering internet and technology addict. I've used the internet and technology compulsively for much of my life, but it really became a problem once I had a troublesome breakup. I use technology to cope with my emotions and it sent me into both many many relapses, but also many many attempts at recovery. In these cycles, I learned a lot about myself and how to help others.

 

I have been aware of my addiction for over 5 years and been working on it for the same amount of time. Through much suffering and persistence, I became passionate about this issue and want to help others in their recovery.

 

I have learned a few key points:

-We cannot resolve this addiction through willpower alone.

-We cannot resolve this addiction through half-assing it.

-We may have to let go of some technologies because we cannot use them non-compulsively (an example for me is smartphones).

-We ultimately use technology compulsively for deeper reasons. We discover those reasons through sobriety and connection to others.

 

I'm here to try to help anyone who is looking for help with this habitual addiction. I have not only many years of experience dealing with it, but also a background in mental health. I want to help people through both one-on-one conversations as well as group conversations. To do this, I want to meet people in-person in the metro Detroit area and start one-on-ones. I'm a part of the ITAA (internet and technology addicts anonymous) fellowship, and want to spread their message by organizing in-person meetings in the metro Detroit area.