Guest Author - Lisa Angelettie M.S.W.

The announcement was shocking to celebrity watchers around the globe. Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston were separating! But the reaction of a lot of normally sane individuals was just as surprising if not more shocking. People wanted to know what happened. Fans and not-so-big fans wanted to know about the nuances of celebrity marriages. Why weren't they working? People wanted to do something to help Brad and Jen, or people just wanted to shake their heads in disappointment.

There is a global feeling of unrest. There is war and death and a sense that things are just not that fair in many, many countries around the globe. But with all that going on, there are some serious Michael Jackson fans that are in an absolute tizzy that he is being tried in court and in the media for something that he just 'couldn't of done'.

But why does anyone care about Brad, Jen, or Michael Jackson that much?

There is an obvious obsession with celebrity that is proven everyday by the sales of celebrity gossip and entertainment magazines. Mainstream magazines have even begun using celebrities on their covers instead of models. But when have you gone too far with your celebrity obsession?

If you need to have access to your celebrity of choice through a combination of media sources including: magazines, television, movies, internet, fan clubs, letter writing, phone call attempts etc., then you are spending entirely too much time trying to get closer to a celebrity.

The reason why this can be such a problem is because all the time you are spending researching, watching, and monitoring this person's life is just a simple subconscious maneuver to avoid dealing with your own life.

1. Are you happy at work or school?

2. Are you happy with yourself?

3. Are you having trouble with friends/family?

4. Do you have meaningful relationships?

5. Do you live a life of mediocrity?

6. Did you believe you would be at a different place in your life by now?

7. Do you like where you live? Do you wish you could move away?

8. Are you a physically active person? Or do you spend most of your time at home on the couch?

9. Do you think that celebrities must possess a certain special something to be where they are which you do not possess?

10. Are you or have you ever been mentally or physically abused?


The key to ending any unhealthy preoccupation/obsession is to try and recognize the bigger problem with you. What issue(s) are you avoiding? What is causing you so much pain that you need to escape on a daily basis? Once you have solved that mystery about your own psyche, you will find much healthier things to focus your energies on and live a much more rewarding life.

Note: If you know someone who is actually stalking a celebrity by sending threatening notes or whose obsession seems to be accelerating at an abnormal rate -- he/she could be dangerous, and you should notify your local authorities.

For a glimpse of how celebrity obsession can go bad, try watching this really good flick:
Paparazzi Starring Cole Hauser & Robin Tunney .


Lisa Angelettie is an author, counselor, & coach on mental health, relationship, and other life issues for women. You can also visit her at http://www.girlshrink.com Please visit us for more discussion on this topic in the mental health forum to talk about it further. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for topics in the news, new articles, website & book reviews, and other useful mental health resources. Subscribe below.