How can I manually block websites?

How do I block these websites and how can I figure out my compulsion to visit them?

• I love tumblr, but there are a few specific tumblrblogs I need to stop reading to keep my own sanity. I compulsively read a certain set of blogs dozens of times per day. I have unfollowed them, but keep compulsively going directly to their blogs to read them. (This question is one part about software and one part human relations) My first question is- is there a software I can get where I can block my computers from visiting these Tumblrs? I don't want to block all of tumblr, just a few specific blogs. other than these blogs, tumblr is a happy place for me where I mostly just look at pretty pictures. Ideally I would like the software to be password protected so I can give the password to my husband and he can hide it from me. My second question is about why I keep doing this to myself? I feel like have a compulsion to seek out negative blogs by people. These are political "social justice" blogs that deal mostly with race/gender. The more oppressed/despairing/angry/vengeful a blog seems to be, the more I am drawn to it. I'm a lefty (politically) but I almost feel like I am addicted to the contant clusterfuck of anger/outrage/victimhood, even though my own life is just peachy for the most part. Are there any resources that I might use to find out why I am so drawn such negative and angry people? I am seeing a therapist for the first time in a few weeks, so I have that covered. Thank you!

• Answer:

  If you use firefox, you can try the https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/blocksite/ or https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/leechblock/ extension. For the non-technical bit : you don't really need to understand why you're drawn to it. You just need to figure out a way of doing it less. There are various approaches : If you can just stop doing it, and substitute another activity whenever you feel like going there - preferably something physical like taking a walk, stretching, etc - if you get past the first few minutes, sometimes the compulsion leaves. After a while (maybe a week, maybe a month), you'll notice that the need is not that strong anymore. If you can't stop altogether, try the same method, but by setting reasonable goals and recording your success : say for example - only 30mn per day, and keep a journal of each day, and wether it was succesful or not, and why. Then every two weeks or so, when you feel comfortable with your current limit, try reducing it until it remains manageable. Good luck