Re: Are you addicted to Chatterbox?

in reply to Are you addicted to Chatterbox?

In order to determine if you are addicted to the CB, you must first determine the criteria for such an addiction. While I am sure I have not seen "ChatterBox (CB) Addiction" in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), I think criteria could be determined by examining the criteria for other impulse-control and substance abuse disorders (such as pathological gambling, or several of the substance disorders). An example of some of the criteria (based on the above) might be:

Persistant recurrant and maladaptive ChatterBox (hereafter referred to as "CB") behavior, characterized by several of the following:
- is preoccupied with the CB (e.g., preoccupied with reliving past CB experiences, or planning the next venture into the CB, or thinking of ways to use the CB from other media)
- needs to use the CB in increasing amounts in order to achieve the desired excitement
- has repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop using the CB
- is restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop using the CB
- uses the CB as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression)
- lies to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the CB
- has committed illegal acts in order to access, or during the use of, the CB
- has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of CB use
- relies on others to provide help to relieve a desperate chronological situation caused by CB use
Behavior not better accounted for by another disorder.

While I would suggest professional help in the diagnosis and treatment planning should such a condition be suspected, I think a support group for such a thing (much as AA or GA) might be a good thing, as long as it does not become an excuse to feed the cycle with more use by scheduling the meetings thru or in the CB...

I applaud you in recognizing and seeking help for your problem, and in trying to help others who may also be affected by it.

Update: Fixed typos.

Update: Fixed typos. (Thanks for letting me know, allolex.)

Comment on Re: Are you addicted to Chatterbox?

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Re: Re: Are you addicted to Chatterbox? by castaway (Parson) on Jun 08, 2003 at 04:58 UTC
That's a relief, I'm not addicted then.. I just live there :) C.	[reply]
Re^2: Are you addicted to Chatterbox? by planetscape (Chancellor) on Jul 03, 2005 at 14:20 UTC
You know you're addicted to the ChatterBox when... you begin writing fanfic about your fellow denizens... Not that I have ever done that... planetscape does her best to radiate innocence... then smacks her halo a few times, muttering "damn lightbulbs..." planetscape	[reply]
Re^3: Are you addicted to Chatterbox? by ambrus (Abbot) on Feb 16, 2008 at 11:46 UTC
Do you mean like Life at the Monastery. Chapter 1, Life at the Monastery Chapter 2?	[reply]
Re^4: Are you addicted to Chatterbox? by planetscape (Chancellor) on Feb 16, 2008 at 20:21 UTC
Ah, somehow, I'd not seen those before... but yes, much like that. ;-) ambrus++ HTH, planetscape	[reply]
Re: Re: Are you addicted to Chatterbox? by Itatsumaki (Friar) on Jun 08, 2003 at 03:01 UTC
++atcroft, and I wish I could vote twice. :) -Tats	[reply]
Re: Re: Are you addicted to Chatterbox? by kutsu (Priest) on Jun 08, 2003 at 20:09 UTC
/me is glad he has yet to post like this, though he occasionally uses it in conversation "Pain is weakness leaving the body, I find myself in pain everyday" -me	[reply]

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