I know Melissa, you've just said it. It's reward dependence and enough to do one's brain in sometimes. It is like being at school. Can you imagine back in those days going up to another student and showing them your story to read saying "read this, I read yours" and then sulking if they didn't and writing a story about it. It feels like age regression instead of maturity. I think we are being reduced to immaturity, trying to please an algorithm, and everyone else. It feels a bit crazy. I even started noticing claps and thinking "hmm..that person only gave me 1 clap, another gave 20, etc".😂 We really have to stand back from all this craziness to keep our minds. The problem is it's very reinforcing. Thanks for reading! We need a good sense of humour on Medium. I think in another way however, although it may seem bizarre to write about being blocked or whatever, it maybe more writers do this just to write about their EXPERIENCE, which is a good thing, as there is a reason why things happen and its a kind of problem solving exercise and cathartic to write about our experiences. I think that's why some do it.