is there an addiction to wanting attention from others?

I'm asking, I have little to no available friends and people who love me around a lot. On top of that my parents my family pretty much black sheep me for coming off as "annoying" from past behaviors.

Alot of people get tired of me, I've done everything to cope with this. So it translated in my teens of very poor boundaries, unusual behavior, and just too much talking.

I like to mess with people but not in a not mindful way rather certain friends and appropriate people. I come off as very likable, but people hate me or ignore me entirely.

Rather I'm more starved emotional that the other emotionally starving people I know as well, but they even shun be for being weird and too different.

I like being me, now I just change my outlook. I don't talk to people much anymore. I've gotten back to starving myself for attention for girls to think I'm more attractive muscular and skinny. I try to make my presence known and perform and make people happy, even if it brings me misery.

I am always walking alone and I'm content of how free I am when I'm having friends. I get too attached worked up depressed when they leave.

I've gotten better now a lot, but feel very dissociated from friends reality and anything that feels recognizable if they love mr or are the just saying it.

Many days I just never want to feel this lonely. So I go out try something new its not making friends or being social is hard. I just hate doing it and ruining it later. So I avoid people so I don't get hurt. I've done a lot worse with than without for certain even though regardless I feel empty but rather pretend the void isn't there and feel perfect the way I am all ****ed up... Yeah

Hi Yismymindblank

Thank you for asking this question - I personally believe that this is a really important question as I have been thinking of this for a while now -

"Is there an addiction to wanting attention from others?"

[I really don't know enough about you to comment on where you fit into my answer].

My personal response to this question is -

YES - I have personally witnessed people in real life constantly seek out attention seeking behaviours in order receive (affirmation?) (comfort?) from others.

It's almost as if they DEMAND this.

So they start displaying behaviour out of the norm that's bound to get people noticing them.

Because it's so repeatative and "in your face".

They're only really doing it because they're ANTICIPATING positive responses in return to make themselves feel better.

They WANT to hear this from others:

"You're not a bad person."

"We all love you."

"Please don't do that."

Disclaimer: really I think that my response may be triggering and seem a bit "off" for others when they read this.

Really this is not meant to be the case and I apologise in advance if this is the case.

But I do believe that there is a lot of substantial evidence alluding towards a YES in response to your question. In my personal experience only.

Humans are by nature social animals, they need company without it pain is felt, loneliness.
I have been very lonely, particularly when I was younger. My parents had no interest in me, I was never cuddled, spoken too, kissed, no love, no comfort. Oh. How I use to long for a hug, a warm caring hug, I ached for one. Never got one.
Didn't have many friends (well none most of the time) I got bullied pretty bad.
I was very shy/socialphobia.
Its normal to want attention, its about being 'seen' being valued, feeling part of everything.
People can be thoughtless and selfish A thick skin is essential so any perceived rejections bounce off.
I think you should work on your self esteem which sounds low, you must think yourself as special, you are special we all are x

I feel much better now, I have worked hard on positive thinking and raising my selfish esteem. It works. Eventually.

Well, sorta. I used to get attention like that as of now it's more positive, but I don't really care if its anything, just I've eliminated most negative attention from my behavior. Regardless hasn't changed anything rather people don't care regardless which isn't bad all the time, but even if get compliments or smiles whatever laughing that's all I want. I like making others laugh before me.

I really only do negative things at my worst times in life and during a relationship between another girl.
Rather I feel really dissociated and I don't care much about what goes on around me. I just want to have fun and sometimes some of my behaviors which led me to this question, I subconsciously do question if dome of my behaviors strive to achieve what it's not getting enough of. So I am not saying you're wrong for others I used to do and be like that but not so much now. My ways are different than trying to get those responses alot, I only do that I think with my anorexic and body image issues.