When is that line crossed between hobby and addiction?

I come from a long line of people with addictive personality disorders - alcoholics, compulsive eaters, co-dependents, etc. But in the modern age of the Internet and instant gratification, have I crossed the line into a new addictive personality disorder all my own?

I am not really sure anymore where the line is between a recreational hobby and an addiction. I find that the hobby is less and less enjoyable, which my hyper rationalization has always processed as simply being that I am not in touch with what I want or that I am simply not in the right place for the experience. But to look at it from a different perspective, one could see it as something wholly unhealthy.

But how does one self recognize addiction? I have seen it in others, counseled my friends on the subject, but never put the spotlight on myself as to whether I need help. I have pondered from time to time based solely on silly criteria, but never took it all seriously enough. Is it now time to do so?

If I am truly on the verge of something new (which in and of itself scares me) am I simply looking for yet another excuse to not try? Am I putting up self imposed barriers to my own happiness by finding fault in myself that makes me unworthy of more? Or is this truly a situation which I need to address before it is too late?

Whatever the outcome of all of this, I know that there is no going back. Either road I take will certainly change me forever to my core being. Reflecting on the past 5 years, I then ask myself, is that such a bad thing?