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psychological addiction?

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evenifigoalone

Fare thee well, Felicia
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I've spoken about this here and there, as something I once experienced. For most of the time I've been here, I've referred to it as depression. Because that is the label I first gave to it, and because that is easier than explaining it for what it really was or trying to get people to take the conclusion I came to seriously. I've also referred to it as simply a mental illness.
I was addicted to a tv series. Something seemingly innocent, even childish. Even so, it caused me serious problems. It made me suicidal.

I never saw a professional about it, and in the end I was (eventually, after many many, many failed attempts) able to resolve it on my own. Even if it hurt a lot, and I felt the damage it had caused in me for over a year afterwards.
Back then I labelled it depression, because my experiences seemed very similar to those suffering from depression. And it was, as a lot of the symptoms I experienced were the same as those listed in the DSM's entry on major depressive disorder.
I've also looked at the DSM's entry on addiction--though that entry only acknowledges drug and substance addiction. But psychological addiction exists, too. We've heard of video game addiction in recent years--that is similar to my own experience. I also recall hearing stories of people committing suicide over anime and rock music "obsessions"--so I'm not alone in my experience. It's a thing that actually exists, that actually can kill people, even if it's not as widespread as drug or alcohol addiction.
Even back before I labelled what I experienced was addiction or even as mental illness of any sort, I remember calling it an "unhealthy obsession". I realized it was causing me serious problems. But I couldn't stop.

I'm no longer suffering from it, and I've long since healed. I dealt with depression and stuff for a while after the addiction left, I think it messed up my brain for a bit and it had to have time to heal. But it did eventually heal and the depression left.
It no longer affects me, I guess I'm just trying to come to a better understanding of what happened to me. That includes reading up on addiction and whatnot. I'm loathe to explain it to too many people because of the stigma. Most of the time it's easier to just say it was depression.
 
Hi. I wouldn't get too caught up on DSM stuff. Its...they vote these things into there, and sometimes vote them out. The DSM is really more for billing/insurance and a rough guide to treatment than for anything else (not that you'd know it by the way many pros use it...).

Compulsive behavior and thoughts often link in with deep depression. I've been there. My official diagnosis is (severe) Bipolar I, most recurrent psychotic depression...plus "obsessive traits." When my mind loops around things too much, too tightly, I get melancholy, sometimes straight up depressed.

I'm glad you're doing better now. I know sometimes it can be helpful to have a name to put to a problem, but...be careful w/ self-diagnosis. Its not good to internalize labels, and that's something I've seen a lot of with people who end in Mental Health, Inc. "I AM Bipolar," "I AM Schizophrenic," etc.

Me? I have something that right now they're calling a form of Bipolar I. Fair enough. The diagnosis has guided my treatment, and now I'm on Rx stuff I can tolerate and that gets the job done. For more severe problems, that's about all you can hope+ask for.

I enjoyed reading your post, btw. :)
 
Yeah, self diagnosis is something to be careful with. There are things you can't diagnose on your own. And that is another reason I'm kinda careful with explaining things. But seeing as I was suicidal, something was definitely wrong there. You don't get that way just for no reason.
But it would be pointless to seek help now that I'm fine. Heh. I look at it more as something I overcame.
 
I hope I didn't come across as critical or anything. I just...I don't like the way Mental Health, Inc. seems to encourage defining yourself thru your disorder(s) or problems.
 
Nah, I get what you mean. For many people it does define them in that it takes over every aspect of their lives. But it's not good to say "this is who I am", either. It's not something to build an identity around. That's not a health mindset.
 
While I do kinda wonder if I'm dwelling on this too much, part of my reason for talking about this is to bounce it off other people. It's healthy to test your logic at times. And I don't want to claim something that isn't true--even if I'm very certain in this case, I don't see what else my problem could have been. (Though there are people whose opinion matters little to me, because they don't know what they're talking about.)
That and relating my experience could help others, maybe.
 
Hi. I wouldn't get too caught up on DSM stuff. Its...they vote these things into there, and sometimes vote them out. The DSM is really more for billing/insurance and a rough guide to treatment than for anything else (not that you'd know it by the way many pros use it...).

Ditto. I believe this is right.
 
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