by Carley Litten
Let’s be real, being obsessed with a celebrity can be totally unhealthy and kind of weird. Yet, so many Americans and people around the world are enthralled by their favorite celebrities’ every move.
Some even take the obsession to a whole other level and become more of a stalker. As of 2002, there is actually a real diagnosis coined by Dr. Lynn McCutcheon for this called “Celebrity Worship Syndrome.”
Despite the fact that this is a fairly new concept, there is a Celebrity Worship Scale and a Celebrity Attitude Scale which measures how addicted someone is to a celebrity. So, why are people trying to find out where Shawn Mendes lives based on Instagram photos and stalking the Kardashian’s every single footstep? It seems to me that people are getting way too emotionally attached to a nonexistent relationship.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being a fan of your favorite celebrities, but some people take it a bit too far. Like when someone is spending every waking moment trying to find their favorite celebrities’ phone number and where they eat out on Saturday nights.
Since I personally never have had an overly unhealthy obsession with a celebrity or boyband, maybe I’m missing the main idea, but I can’t pull my mind away from the fact that this is definitely not normal under any circumstance.
I’ll admit that I have definitely gone through celebrities’ posts before, but I think there is a line that is crossed from normal idolization to a full on outbreak of obsession.
For example, I don’t constantly send Justin Bieber love notes and plot to kill him barbarically when he doesn’t reply. Yes, this actually happened.
On a more serious note, I feel as though over idolizing a human being can lead to more insecurities. Celebrities have this façade of perfection and many people who idolize these “perfect” people wonder why they can’t be just like them. This type of obsession can lead to some serious psychological problems such as stalking behavior and depression or anxiety.
I personally think it’s important to remain confident in yourself and remember that celebrities are loaded and can afford things such as facials every week or the most expensive makeup and care products on the market.
They aren’t actually perfect human beings, they are flawed like the rest of us, they just have an easier time getting rid of/altering such flaws. They live an above average life with many luxuries if they wish too.
In a study of 401 female undergraduates in the United Kingdom done by Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience through National Center for Biotechnology Information, it was found that those with a moderate level of celebrity worship were more likely to accept undergoing cosmetic surgery.
If altering your body and face to fulfill your obsession with a celebrity makes you feel secure and happy with yourself, then by all means, make yourself at peace. But as for me, there’s something a little peculiar about it. I feel much more tranquil away from the influence of celebrity obsession.
