This brings us to the topic of unhealthy celebrity crushes. Psychotherapist Jason Ward defines this as losing a grip on reality. It’s when you realize that your crush can never be reciprocated and it leads to “feelings of emptiness, low self-esteem, and even depression.” Your celebrity crushes shouldn’t interfere with your ability to complete your responsibilities. In fact, it’s been stated that celebrity crushes may be a sign of burnout. This is intriguing because as a college student, being exhausted is an understatement. I wonder, are my celebrity crushes ways for me to escape from my daily life? In some ways, consuming media with my celebrity crushes does allow me to relieve stress after a long day. However, I’m not saying I’m losing a grip on reality because I am able to focus on my priorities. (Michael B. Jordan if you’re reading this, I promise I’m super cool and chill.)
Celebrity crushes are often a product of isolation and loneliness. These feelings have been reinforced by a lack of social interaction during the pandemic. Are my celebrity crushes a reflection of my non-existent love life? Is my love for Zendaya and Tom Holland speaking to the lack of romantic love in my real life? Perhaps I invest too much time in looking at their pictures and wondering, “When is it my turn?” I’m starting to think that this needs to be unpacked in a therapy session, instead of this article.
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