I feel better if I spend my time reading. I do often feel sad when I've finished the book but I think that's more from being sad that it's over rather than depression. I don't know why reading feels ok when TV doesn't - either way you're following the stories of people that aren't actually a part of your life. Maybe because reading was much more valued in my family than TV? Or it feels more active?

I don't always feel guilty. If I've worked all day I sometimes feel like I deserve it. It's mostly on my days off, I feel like it would be much more productive or helpful or fulfilling to do yoga or go for a walk or meet a friend. But if I let myself get sucked into a show the likelihood that I can stop and do anything else decreases.

Other than the guilt, I'd say the worst thing that happens is sometimes i get so sucked in (this only applies to certain shows) that I stay up way too late to keep watching and then it screws up my sleep schedule.

I tend to like detective shows because it still has the excitement and mystery but the story is wrapped up in less than an hour. So I have an easier time stopping. I just started watching Homeland (for those not familiar, it's about the CIA and their fight against terrorists and the protagonist is bipolar so it's pretty interesting). Every episode ends with a cliffhanger so I feel like I have to keep watching.