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| Borderline selfitis : taking photos of one’s self at least three times a day but not posting them on social media. |
Like me, you might be thinking the APA has lost their freaking minds.
Selfitis is apparently the obsessive compulsive desire to take photos of one’s self and post them on social media as a way to make up for the lack of self-esteem and to fill a gap in intimacy, reports The Adobo Chronicles.
Apparently, and I can't say I'm shocked here, the medical community was quick to criticize. The suffix "itis" refers to an inflammation, such as bronchitis and the inflammation of bronchial passages. An "ism", such as alcoholism, is an addiction (selfism?).
However, the APA comes back by saying that it's an inflammation of one's ego.
All the while I'm still over here, dumbfounded, with a big WHAT?! written all over my face. Why do I feel like I've just been Punk'd? I'm thinking the APA board of directors all need psych evals so we can figure out what the heck is wrong with them!
Can someone please explain to these people that not everything is a mental disorder. If we're following what the APA says, I'm really certain that every single one of us might as well give up now; we're all doomed to some disorder or another.
If so-called selfitis were a mental disorder, I think it's more likely accurate that whatever makes a person have a mental disorder is probably linked to outlying problems. I just can't fathom taking selfies as a disorder within itself.
How many selfies have you taken recently? Do you think this new mental disorder is bogus or do you think the APA is on to something here?
Photo courtesy of Thomas Leuthard under Creative Commons. Text added.
Ha ha! I saw that, and I think every teenager I know suffers from this condition. :) But, when I was a teenager, I remember reading an article about how the amount of mirrors you had in your bedroom was a sign of your self-esteem. The fewer the mirrors, the higher the self worth. I do think there's something to that, and I think that selfies are the new mirror. I know my teen takes a photo of herself when she is worried about how she looks instead of looking for a mirror.
ReplyDeleteAs for those who post excessive selfies online? I do think that might be linked to narcissism or some other mental disorder. Like you said, the selfies can't possibly be a disorder in and of themselves ,but they could certainly be a symptom of another mental illness/disorder.
LOL. Yes to the teenager thing. I think selfies are trendy/trending, so I don't know if this is 100% correct. Teens especially like to follow the crowd and do what's "cool".
Delete^^ What Lara said :)
ReplyDeleteWe need to stop labeling EVERYTHING as a mental disorder. I think people with lower self esteem are more likely to post selfie after selfie, but that's not indicative of a mental disorder.
As a society, we are so quick to blame someone or something and not take responsibility for our actions.
"But I can't stop taking selfies because it's a mental disorder now!"
"Sorry, boss man. I can't come to work today because I just have to take a selfie and read the comments telling me how beautiful I am!"
I'm bitter because SPD didn't make it in the DSM-IV, and I have watched my son suffer for 8 years without treatment.
Bah.
Cari you lost me at SPD and DSM-IV. I'm not sure if I should google it or not.
DeleteA mental disorder...no, just an obsession with self.
ReplyDelete