in my opinion, it's definitely a mental illness and for me it explains why i do some of the things i do, i don't think that it helps that i have never been close to any of my family, so i guess i try to make up for it in my relationships and it ruins them everytime. the loneliness is unbearable so i put up with stupid things to avoid being alone. it's like a great weight that is seeping into every part of my life