Russian psychiatrists: ‘Selfie’ addiction may soon be classified as illness

Russian psychiatrists: ‘Selfie’ addiction may soon be classified as illness

Мое интервью Российской газете - номер для США.

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http://rbth.com/society/2015/06/08/russian_psychiatrists_selfie_addiction_may_soon_be_classified_as_illn_46741.html)

As the craze for publishing self-portraits, or “selfies” as they have become known, continues to spread on social networks, a backlash is beginning to develop against a practice widely seen as narcissistic. Russian psychiatrists have now waded into the debate, arguing that not only is selfie-taking a sign of insecurity and self-centeredness, but in extreme cases it can also be considered an illness.

На фото: здесь я ничего не смог разобрать

Harmless at first glance, the desire to constantly share pictures of yourself in the anticipation of attracting “likes” from friends and admirers can lead to dependence and the necessity of psychiatric treatment. According to leading Russian psychologists, internet addiction could soon be classified as a mental illnesses, and then such a diagnosis will be given to those addicted to online games, social networks or selfies.

На фото: здесь понятно почти все. По крайней мере, свое имя я отыскал без труда.

However, for Lev Perezhogin, a senior researcher at the Federal Medical Research Center of Psychiatry and Addiction at the Ministry of Health of Russia, there is nothing intrinsically wrong with the act of taking a selfie. “A selfie is essentially a self-portrait," says Perezhogin. “Self-portraits were present in the work of almost every artist, this is self-expression."

However, he explains, it can reach the stage at which a person cannot live without selfies, making a show of their every step. When taking and posting selfies becomes an obsession, then treatment is needed.

На фото: а здесь китайские журналисты оставили подсказку

"Doctors are now faced with a total enthusiasm for mobile devices in general, and selfies in particular," Perezhogin continues.

"Selfies manifest themselves as a form of dependence on electronic devices. For example, a person cannot post photos when there is no internet and starts to experience withdrawal symptoms like they would with heroin. Of course, this is an addiction, and it should be treated, including with medication."

Статья вышла в США, во Франции, в Сербии, в Китае, в Греции, в Македонии и на арабском языке в газете, распространяющейся на Ближнем Востоке.

2015-07-02