Guide · when self-help isn't enough
Getting help: real people, free to reach
Most screen habits respond to friction and defaults. Some don't — and struggling alone with something engineered by thousands of professionals to hold you is not a fair fight. Here is where actual humans help, mostly free.
Peer support fellowships (free)
| Who | For | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Internet & Technology Addicts Anonymous (ITAA) | Compulsive internet, phone and media use | Free 12-step fellowship; daily online meetings across time zones — you can sit in and just listen. |
| On-Line Gamers Anonymous (OLGA / OLG-Anon) | Gaming, plus family members of gamers | 12-step meetings and forums for players — and separate support for parents and partners. |
| Game Quitters | Quitting or moderating gaming | Structured programs, large forum, hobby-replacement tools; founded by a former compulsive gamer. |
| Communities: r/nosurf · r/StopGaming · r/digitalminimalism | Accountability & shared tactics | Free, anonymous, active — yes, using a site to leave sites; set a timer. |
When it's bigger than a habit
Compulsive use often travels with depression, anxiety or ADHD — treating the screen symptom without the underlying driver rarely holds. A therapist who works with behavioral or technology-related compulsions is worth one exploratory session; most countries' psychology associations run a find-a-therapist directory.
If you or someone near you is in crisis right now:
- United States: call or text 988 (988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), 24/7.
- US text option: text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line).
- Elsewhere: Befrienders Worldwide maintains a directory of crisis lines by country.
LessPix is not a medical or crisis service and this page is not a diagnosis of anything. It's a map to people whose job — or calling — is to pick up. Full disclaimer.
For the household
Supporting someone else? Two practical starts: OLG-Anon (above) runs meetings specifically for family members, and a family screen agreement turns a personal battle into a shared set of rules — which is lighter for everyone to carry.