The Balancing Act

I evidently have a lot to say today, as this is my third post. 

I'm a Dr. Who fan, more commonly called a Whovian. I've seen every episode of the BBC cult show, both classic and modern and know the stories, enemies, and companions by name.  I am a bit of a science fiction nerd.  I stand alone in my family, who are all deeply grounded in reality.  With the return of new DW episodes last Saturday, I spent a little time on the Internet reading and looking at new stuff.  I liked several facebook pages and read several articles about the cult show and it's fandom. It was fun.

But a problem arises here that is all too familiar. 

Today, I find myself checking Facebook all the time -- posting, commenting and becoming a part of this online community of Whovians.  I get sucked into the feeling of belonging and acceptance I feel among this group of nerds, me included.

A few winters ago I started playing a Facebook game with teams and alliances and battles and stuff.  I got way too involved.  I talked on the phone to several of the players in my alliance and spent nearly all my free time playing.  I would time duties at work according to battles and how soon my troops would be rebuilt.  The only way to get myself out of it was to quit - cold turkey - done.  The same method I use to quit everything in my life. 

I behave similarly with reading.  I start a book and put everything aside until it's finished.
I do the same thing with work, with church, with yard work, with TV, with food, with therapy, with step work, with cleaning.  It's what I did with online relationships, with phone sex, with real life relationships, with nearly everything in my life. 

Why can't I seem to keep things more balanced?  Why can't I keep things in their proper perspective?  Why do I feel this compulsive need to belong to something -- anything?  How do I fix that?  How do I live more balanced?  Why do I want to escape my life and run into fantasy and online communities?  What am I running from?