A medical expert is cautioning social media users about the potential mental health risks associated with having an addiction to taking Selfies.
The Guardian Liberty Voice reports that Danny Bowman was diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder after he became suicidal due to his addiction taking hundreds of selfies a day.
Bowman told the Guardian Liberty Voice he would take about 200 pictures a day in order to get the “right” selfie of himself to post on social media accounts. He said he spent up to 10 hours a day taking selfies.
Bowman attempted suicide when he believe he failed at taking the perfect Selfie.
Dr. David Veal told the Guardian Liberty Voice that taking too many selfies may cause body dysmorphic disorder, which has an “extremely high suicide rate.”
Dr. Pamela Rutledge explained in an article for Psychology Today that taking selfies is indicative of narcissism, attention seeking behavior and self-indulgence.
A Selfie addiction is similar to other addictions that humans experience. One of the brain neurotransmitters responsible for Selfie addiction is Dopamine — the same brain chemical that enables our addictions to sex, drugs, alcohol, cosmetic surgeries, etc.
Dopamine is sometimes referred to as “The Kim Kardashian of neurotransmitters.”
Dopamine is released in our brains whenever we experience something pleasurable. Its primary purpose is to remind us that we like something (or someone) — and to reward us if we encounter what we like again and again.
Dopamine also causes our intense attractions to other human beings for the purpose of procreation. Problems begin when the Dopamine starts to fade. But I’ll save that for another post.
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