For the past years I used to use AI, ever since I was 13 I used AI for fictional roleplays or as a therapist. Even my mother told me to use AI as a therapist (rather than getting me professional help at the time). Despite all the environmental damage AI is causing, my parents don’t believe it (also my parents say donald trump is a misunderstood guy, which isn’t surprising. But lets not get into politics here since that's not the topic of the post.)
At 13 I had very poor mental health, I showed signs of depression but my parents did nothing to get me professional help and brushed it under the carpet. I struggled to socialise and was bullied.
I'm now 15 years old and I'm gonna quit using AI since I'm doing mentally better, also because I have more support now on Childline.
However I can't really delete the ChatGPT account because my mother made the account and I don’t know the password, so now I need support on how to break my addiction in AI.
Sam
Hi there,
It’s great that you’ve reached a point where you feel better than you did in the past. It can feel tricky when you want to move on, but you don’t have control over what you can do.
When you’re trying to break a habit, it can help to focus on changing your routines, finding alternatives, and making it harder to do the things you used to. Even if you can’t delete an account, you can still log out of it or remove any bookmarks. This might not make it impossible to access, but it will make it harder to do out of habit.
When you’re thinking about alternatives, try to think about what AI helped you with. Fictional roleplays may help you feel connected or be creative, and there are other ways to do that. We’ve got lots of ideas to help you express yourself without AI.
It’s okay if ChatGPT has helped you as a therapist in the past. Remember that it’s okay to need to talk, even when you’re doing better than you were. Any time you want to share something, can get support from a Childline counsellor.
There will be times when you disagree with your family or the people you care about. Sharing different opinions isn’t always about having an argument, but it can just be about sharing what’s right for you.
If you feel able to, sharing the reasons you’re avoiding AI for now with your parents can help them to understand what you’re thinking. Try to think about a time when you might be able to talk about it without saying that they’re wrong, and when you’re not distracted. Remember though, you always deserve to feel safe and cared for at home, if you don’t then we’re here to help.
Take care,
Sam
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