[constantdreamer]

Somedays I crave attention so bad it hurts... It's like I don't feel like I'm real (I know, I never really do because of my chronic depersonalization) but some days I need some attention to validate my existance... I wonder if other people ever feel this way...

[madisgram]

no constant, i don't have this concern. it must make u feel concerned. i'd talk with your T or pdoc if you have one. they may have some tools to cope that you can use when u feel like this.

[mlyn]

getting sober does not take it away just helps us be more aware. yes it is real, no you are not weird or different. when we get sober reality hits.

[racee]

Originally Posted by constantdreamer

Somedays I crave attention so bad it hurts... It's like I don't feel like I'm real (I know, I never really do because of my chronic depersonalization) but some days I need some attention to validate my existance... I wonder if other people ever feel this way...

It is possible to be addicted to anything, you can only imagine the strange habits some people have, if it is not hindering or harming yourself or any one in your life than i don't tend to worry bout it too much, but if it is stopping you from growth, if your thoughts about it are consuming your life every second of everyday, if you feel like something might be wrong but your just not sure, but you know something doesn't feel right and this just isn't you. than it's something you should look into finding some tools to help you change.

i'm glad you have taken a step to reach out, personally i do not have this issue, but my best friend does, she knows she has this problem and we actually talk about it and are finding out why she craves attention more so at times than others (and usually it's more) , the more you talk about it all the pieces will start falling into place and you might begin to understand why you are this way.
There is no easy fix and no time frame in which you think you should get better.

[Christina86]

I think we can feel like that from time to time. Derealization sucks though! Wanting someone to validate your existence and to show they care is totally normal as long as it's not getting in the way of other things or becoming too much of a distraction or annoyance for you.

[HalfSwede]

Originally Posted by constantdreamer

Somedays I crave attention so bad it hurts... It's like I don't feel like I'm real (I know, I never really do because of my chronic depersonalization) but some days I need some attention to validate my existance... I wonder if other people ever feel this way...

I think I get that way, yeah. When I'm stuck at home alone doing schoolwork and my wife's working in a different city all week I definitely feel starved for attention. I get attention at school, which is nice, and then I come back to the empty house and try to keep the good feelings going by staying up all night net surfing. I tell myself I do that because I don't want to bother anybody.

I don't know, I think it's a really good question you've brought up. It seems like there's a normal human need for contact, and there's nothing wrong with that, I don't think. It's probably all in how you handle it. Calling or emailing friends seems like a healthy response, while my response of surfing the net for hours probably isn't.

[justacountrysweetie]

I have found that over the years, I seem to be addicted to anything that makes me feel really good. That being said, I believe that attention was DEFINATELY my first addiction! I was the baby of my family and I got plenty of it and it made me feel good. And guess what? I will still go out of my way to get it!