The classic key to a habitual addiction is when you begin doing it as a mood altering experience. Sexual addiction, gambling, excessive thrill seeking, etc can all fit into this category if and when one begins doing it not for the pleasure of doing it, but rather to pull themselves out of reality. Doing it becomes a mood altering experience just like taking a drug.

From the way you describe this it definitely sounds like it fits the bill as an addiction. I'm not sure if specialized therapy is avalailable for internet addiction but it would be worth seeking, if not some sort of therapy for addiction and other issues may be able to help you with this.

-- The world is what we make of it --
-- Dave
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