I don't act out in real life, only online...

There is something about being online that brings out the worst in me. I don't know what it is exactly, but all I know is that I'm a really shy person in real life and I don't like attention.

Here in the online world, my emotions still go insane, only I act on them. In real life I keep them all inside. I release my emotions online and this causes problems.

Would it be better if I left? I assure you that the real life me and the online me are almost totally different persons in terms of behaviour.

I think it is the online disinhibition effect that is causing me problems.

Any ideas on how to deal with this?

Knowing this about yourself is a great first step. You have the insight.

You can develop new habits. Some ideas:

use a timer of some sort, there are even free online timers you can find and download, using music or light cues, set the timer for a specific amount of time and then make sure to get up and walk around, do something else, each time it goes off

before posting or using any other type of online communication, get out of chair and move around, go to another room if possible, even outside, break the usual connection and give yourself time to think

each time you successfully do something different towards creating new habits, reward yourself somehow, small rewards can reap big gains

Good luck!

Maybe it's just that the consquences don't seem as real online. You can remain fairly anonymous and turn off the PC anytime you feel like it.

I get really upset for real after negative online interactions. I get very very upset sometimes.

Maybe it is one-sided...maybe I cannot see how much I hurt others even though it hurts me very much??

I dunno. All I know is that I hate negative online interactions and they upset me a great deal. It upsets me a great deal when I learn that I've hurt others.

that is why people have asked you that you think, step back and maybe even do something else, before you post online.