They are everywhere.

You can’t turn on the radio, click on a website, or flip through the channels without hearing about what celebrity went where, did what, or dated who.

The need to know obsession with celebrities is becoming ridiculously annoying.

Fans are becoming more rabid then ever, stalking is increasingly popular and celebrities are thriving off of it all.

But really, why are people so obsessed with the fame?

Theories vary. Some people believe it’s because it’s easier to get lost in someone else’s life and problems then to deal with their own. Others think people can feel better when finding the people that are perceived as perfect are in fact flawed. Then there are people who strive to be apart of the famous social circle just to be accepted in society. Because deep down inside we all want to be adored, right?

Whatever.

Their are people who have taken this “Celebrity Obsession” to a whole new level. The term “Celebrity Worship Syndrome” is used to describe such people that engage in obsessive-addictive behavior of the celebrity/Hollywood nature.

The term was first used by James Chapman in an article he wrote entitled, “Do you worship the celebs?” In the article he explains the difference between different classes of Celebrity Obsessed people, based on a study done in the UK. It is a very interesting article, going on to state that these celebrity obsessions are psychological, and that celebrity worship can be a severe psychological issue.

Dr. John Maltby, the researcher conducting the study stated the following of his findings:

“We found that 22 per cent of our sample had the low-level form of Celebrity Worship Syndrome, while 12 per cent showed signs of the moderate form which meant they had an intense personal type relationship with their idol.”

Read more: here.

So you have a few posters of Brad Pitt and a secret desire to touch his chiseled sweaty body someday. Does that make you pathologically insane? Well, only if you wake up hating Angeline Jolie every morning for waking up next to him and believe with every core of your being that you and him will get married someday. In fact, you have chosen the wedding colors and already have a few honey moon spots picked out.

Sounds ridiculous, right? Well, even more ridiculous is that people actually believe this about their idols. Most fan bases refer to this group as “Fangirls.” We make fun of them and their obsessive behavior, and shake it off. But this is actually a really serious psychological issue. There are people who actually believe they are in a relationship, or destined to be in a relationship with their favorite celebrity. And women are not the only people unhealthily obsessed with celebrities. Men are too. Do you remember the guy who killed John Lennon? Mark David Chapman? He was obsessed with Lennon and look how that turned out. So was Yolanda Saldívar, the murderer of the singer Selena.

Let me make one thing clear: I am not saying every person obsessed with a celebrity is going to turn into a murderer. I am just trying to shed light on this unhealthy behavior and hopefully help to put an end to it.

I know, that last part was an impossibility, but one can dream right?

Anyway, if you happen to know someone who is unhealthily obsessed, calmly try to talk to them about their obsession. Maybe help them get involved in activities that will distract them a bit. Get them involved in a strong, genuine, NOT media obsessed social circle. Studies show that the anti-social are more likely to engage in such behavior. I disagree, I think anyone can fall into the celebsessed pit but it still helps to have a thriving (if not thriving then somewhat existent) social life.

Its not bad to be a fan of a celebrity, but taking it too far can be….dangerous. For both you, and them.

So chill out.

Admiring isn’t the problem.

It’s when you say things like, “I would kill for a vile of John Travolta’s sweat” or “I can’t wait for Zac Efron to ask me to marry him already. This hard to get business is exhausting. And pretending to date Vanessa Hudgens to get me jealous is getting old.” Those are little red flags that scream “GET HELP NOW.”