Is this an internet addiction?

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I feel anxiety when I am not reading replies to threads I made complaining about something wrong with some aspect of my life. I would love it if for every thread I wrote complaining about something, I received thousands of intelligent responses. I could spend all day reading such responses.

Is this habit considered an internet addiction???

i would think not.

it has nothing to with the internet at all, does it?

you are finding ways to learn and find different ways to focus on aspects of your life. they are things that you probably think about when you are not using the internet. its a coincidence that being on the internet allows for your thoughts to be something more than just an internal exchange with yourself.

I think it might be a "need for social interaction" addiction? I rarely write threads anymore because it hurts to much when no one response...are you looking for actual helpful advice or just proof that people think you are important enough to respond to or something else? I actually find the whole site addictive and spend way to many hours here. I keep having to kick myself off but I always get drawn back in. I think it's a need to socialize in the only way I know how.

It's sort of what passes for socialization for me... I don't get grumpy if I'm the 'thread killer'... but that's mainly because I keep commenting long after everyone else has given up...

I know how you feel. I have nights where I can’t sleep and I spend hours on here just hitting refresh every 2 minutes waiting for someone to reply to a topic of mine. I also get an anxious/sinking/depressed/lonely feeling when I don't see enough feedback/responses to me.

I sometimes feel like I’m being glossed over, or I fear people have negative opinions of me and say nothing. I felt like this over the depression related threads I started a while back in the haven.

Nah.

Just means you're an attention-whore.

Back in my student days I was known sometimes to spend upward of 48 hours on the computer, getting up only to eat and go to the toilet.... then go to sleep... wake up in the morning... and get back on the computer.

Same here. But its not the internet im addicted to really... Its more of a need for validation and acceptance.

I think I am looking for both helpful advice and validation. I want someone to tell me it's ok for me to be the way I am and at the same time help me understand how a person with my level of functioning can get ahead in life.

Well, those seem like very ligitamate and helpful things for anyone. Most addictions are based on self destructive behavior. If you feel lke you ARE getting some of those things here then it is probably a better way to spend your tme then watching American Idol. I still haven't found any resources listed here that have helped me find a better job but it does help me stay calmer then if I just sat around worrying about things. I guess it is a matter of trying to find a balance of validation+advice+positive actions....it's the last thing that I need to spend more of my time and energy on...but here I sit.

Mw99, as others said you're seeking validation and acceptance, anxious to see if they agree with you, or will flame you, etc.......I've done it and probably still will, to be honest.

But is that more of a bad than a good habit?

I wouldnt say its bad. Its pretty normal to do this i think.

I don't really put a good bad value on it I think we need it and it serves a purpose for us. I know I would have been much less depressed when I was a kid if I had this place and may not have ended up getting into drinking as much if I had another, more positive way to get scial needs met.

The only problem I see with is and is true with every true "addiction" is ...does the behavior cause problems in your life. For example, my drinking kept me from doing m best at work because I was hung over. My smoking addiction costs me a lot of money and ruins my health. If an addiction keeps you from doing more positive things...it's bad but if you aren't going to do more positive things anyway...ie watch TV or play video games instead?...or if it keeps you from doing more destructive things...self harm or drinking to excess. See what I mean ?