There is no doubt that all of you here at PC contribute to a wonderful, kind and supportive atmosphere in which to 'heal'. It is also a place to bond with others, and to make a difference in each others lives. I have nothing but praise and thanks for everyone who I have interacted with on my two profiles for these last 18 months now.

Does the time come though, perhaps due to the amount of time spent, or improving health etc etc, where PC becomes an addiction rather than a help? How do you tell? Personally I just think I am addicted and love the interaction with others. But is that a good thing?

[Crazy Hitch]

I think I spend too much time here .... for a number of reasons ....

I enjoy reading other's posts and responding where I can but I admit that for me, personally, if I consider how much time I spend here versus other things I could be doing in lieu of being here as frequently, it's not a proportionate balance.

When I start working again I definitely wouldn't spend as much time here.

[ninetyone]

I think it starts to become an addiction if socializing or helping others hinders your health and/or goals.

I do agree with PC being a safe and supportive community, though. Just don't lose sight of what brought you here in the first place!

[Ripose]

I spend hours daily on PC just reading and I don't post much considering all the time I spend on here. I learn a great deal about myself, BP, and how others live with a MI. Without PC I would spend far more time reading books and studies of BP but they lack the personality that this place has. I don't have a pdoc or t and PC has become those things for me.

So in short I am addicted and I need this place to help keep me on an even keel.

[wiretwister]

good question .... maybe ... a dependence ... not an addiction ...

[wildflowerchild25]

A true addiction only becomes an addiction when you start to experience negative consequences for your behavior. Other than that it's not a true addiction. So unless you experience negative things from being on the forum it's not an addiction. So rest easy!

I come here a lot because I don't have anyone in real life to talk to about this stuff. I come here every day but I don't spend hours here. It's more like something I do when I'm bored.

[gina_re]

I realize I'm on here a lot as I try and heal from my latest episode. I'd like to say I'll still be here when I feel better. I think many of us generally feel lonely and this is a place for us to be able to interact with other people rather than feeling alone.

[vjdragonfly]

I feel like it is the one place I can be myself, no judgement and when things are bad it is my life line. I've always been thankful for everyone here.

a bit of both, i think.

needed- because i've litirally no one else to talk to (i originally joined when my whole family told me to get lost), and addicted- because i need to come here every day to talk to the people who understand and who are supportive

well i'm not sure i'd use the word addicted.. i'm pretty sure if someone else offeredm e that support then i'd be okay.

but hmm, still nice to come on here and talk to people i don't know about things.. mainly because we don't know each other- so they can't be as judgemental and ruin my life

[raspberrytorte]

I like coming here because I don't know any people in real life who have similar problems. I don't think it's an addiction though. Mostly I come on here during my breaks at work.

[Nammu]

I tend to go in waves. There's times I'm on for long periods of time, other times I check in now and then and there's the times I'm away for various reasons including I'm on a book marathon. I consider my time here a lot more healthy than those book marathons. I read day and night don't talk to anyone, I chain read books. Pick the next one up as soon as I'm doing with the book I'm reading.

I think this place is a forum of positive social interaction. It is for me....of course if I'm neglecting the basics I might need to time my use. This is Memorial Day weekend here in USA, since I have no one here to hang out with and because I just got back after a month I gave myself a permission to reconnect and have been here for 4 days without much of a break. Tomorrow it's back to mundane stuff like cleaning, paying bills, getting the mail in, and getting rid of junk around the house that I don't need. Of course it helps that the temperatures are going down.....hopefully. I hate 100 degree weather.

[Captainc]

I feel like the Internet is an addiction for me and I feel I'd be better off without it for the most part. I think it literally desensitizes dopamine pleasure receptors like drugs and porn causing less pleasure from more simple things in life.

This is only my theory from my own life and all the time spent reading about this stuff on the Internet. Go figure

I tend to come here at least once a day, most days I come here during my lunch break and then at night time. I find myself coming back again and again because this is the only place where I can get interaction with others with an MI like mine. I don't know anyone who has a dx similar to mine. I also have a connection with several members and like to know what is going on in their lives too feel closer to someone.