Technology creates and brings an artificial layer in our lives. This artificial layer acts as a protective wall between us and the brute forces of nature, but at the same time prevents us from experiencing nature and reality the way they really are. And growth mostly comes from directly experiencing reality. If you’ve lived all your life warming your place through electrical, gas or other means of modern heating technology, you’ve probably never experienced real cold and don’t understand its impact.

Even more so with techalcoholism. A techalcoholic embraces this protective feeling of technology so much that he can no longer do without it. He sees everything through this lens, he does everything through this artificial appendix. We all know people who are completely lost without their phone, or Internet, or their TV set, or favorite slippers, or whatever.

Most people don’t need to give up on technology altogether. Or wouldn’t be able to even if they wanted. A techalcoholic unhappy with his situation can reverse the trend by starting to do more activities which are toward the natural end of the spectrum. If you are socializing only via phone apps, go out and talk to people on the street or in a bar. If you’re addicted to e-games, go and find an engaging physical activity like gardening or do sports. If you spend the whole day inside in front of a computer screen, try to take as many possible breaks to be outside and spend the end of the day being outside or doing some sort of physical activity.