It has to be really hard, feeling like everyone is doing for you without feeling like you can return favors. Yes, you are using "vent" in the right way :-) Can you think of things you might be able to do to help friends and family that help you in ways they might not otherwise have time to help themselves with? Can you help them use/learn their computers or phones, make phone calls for them to get information, wait for repair people, etc.?