Here are the first 3 psychological issues of the Top 20 issues of being a celebrity. Click here for the previous article.
1. “Everyone uses me” – Parasites and enablers – paranoia
It is true. The majority of the people that surround a celebrity are parasites; they exist and hang around the celebrity for only one reason – something that the celebrity can give such as money, favors, preferential treatment, significance and so forth. (Read my article “Whitney Houston – addiction, enablers, parasites and the Impostor Syndrome” https://patrickwanis.com/blog/whitney-houston-addiction-enablers-parasites-the-imposter-syndrome/ )
Unfortunately, those same parasites can also be enablers; in order for the parasite to get what he/she wants from the celebrity, the enabler will do anything to maintain the relationship and stay in good favor with the celebrity.
Accordingly, the parasite becomes an enabler and often buys, supplies or acts as a middle man to give drugs to you, and/or somehow keeps alive the your self-destructive behavior. (Read on CNN.com my comments and insights into “Michael Jackson and the extreme price of Fame” https://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/06/26/michael.jackson.spotlight/index.html?iref=24hours ) Often, you aren’t consciously aware that the trusted people are parasites and enablers but, when it becomes apparent, then paranoia sets in and you believe that everyone is out to use me.”
“You have to be careful every day because of the book and the money and the ‘it’ factor of who you are. They’re not coming at me to be my friend. They want what I have.” – Michelle Knight, former kidnap victim, held hostage in captivity for 11 years by Ariel Castro, speaking about price of fame; crowds gather around her when in public, snapping cellphone photos; people from her distant past have reappeared, feigning friendship but ultimately seeking money: https://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/07/13/michelle-knight-freed-after-11-years-captivity-says-her-new-fame-comes-with/
2. “I can have it all” – Temptation – parties, drugs & sex
Being famous and being hounded by parasites and enablers also results in constant invitations to events, parties and galas. Some organizers want you there to make a deal or endorse their product; others want you there to garner attention for their event and cause. Sometimes, you are expected to attend because it is an industry party or promotion. At most of these parties, there is pressure to meet the expectations and to be accepted. Just being there at so many parties and events takes you away from your family.
However, the greatest pressure you will face is the constant temptation, in the form of drugs and alcohol, while girls (or boys) are also offered to you like a banquet. Outside of the parties, there are always women and groupies throwing themselves at you.
There is also a strong influence to engage in drugs and illicit sex because other fellow celebrities are doing it and this behavior as seen as a way to demonstrate celebrity power and success. There is also an unconscious competition to be able to either keep up with the others or dominate them by displaying the most extreme behavior.
Of course, once beginning the dive into drugs & other tempations, it becomes a quicksand that swallows you up.
3. “I have no privacy” – Fear of the Paparazzi and the swarm of eyes always on you
While this might be a given, the cost of the loss of privacy is incalculable; your anonymity is gone. You cannot hide and you cannot venture out in sweat pants because you will be noticed and judged. You cannot hide, except at home, and you have lost all personal space. When you are out, people invade your personal space and behave as if they know you and you are their best friend. You live in constant fear of the Paparazzi.
“You can say, ‘This (invasion of privacy) is part of my job and this is going to be a reality of my life,’ but what you don’t expect is how your body and how your emotions are going to react to it.” – Jennifer Lawrence, Nov 15, 2014 https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/celebrity/jennifer-lawrence-privacy-loss-takes-heavy-toll/ar-BBe7Lk4
“The other day, literally I didn’t tell anybody this, I really thought I was about to die. Like, I was saying my prayers to die. And I didn’t even want to call the ambulance because I thought, `Well if I call the ambulance, it’s going to be on TMZ. And I would rather sit there and die. And it made me realize – I don’t care anymore what anybody gotta say.” – Nicki Minaj speaking at the BET awards, 2014 https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2014/06/30/nicki-minaj-describes-near-death-experience-in-bet-awards-speech/
“You always think, ‘If I’m successful, I’ll have opportunities.’ You never figure the cost of fame will be a total loss of privacy. That’s incalculable. What a burden that is for anybody. It was unanticipated and I’ve never enjoyed it.” – Harrison Ford, Crushable.com “10 Celebrities Who Hate Fame” https://www.crushable.com/2010/06/01/entertainment/10-celebrities-who-have-complained-about-fame/3/
“It’ll definitely make you a little weird if you’re constantly being stared at.” – Johnny Depp, Esquire Magazine, January 2007 https://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20071212/people-depp/
“I knew the paparazzi were going to be a reality in my life. But I didn’t know that I would feel anxiety every time I open my front door, or that being chased by 10 men you don’t know, or being surrounded, feels invasive and makes me feel scared and gets my adrenaline going every day.” – Jennifer Lawrence, Nov 15, 2014 https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/celebrity/jennifer-lawrence-privacy-loss-takes-heavy-toll/ar-BBe7Lk4
“I am one of those people who fiercely guards their privacy, so I hate doing interviews.” – Megan Fox
“I predict that some things will never change. There will always be an increasing fixation on the private lives of musicians, especially the younger ones.” – Taylor Swift https://online.wsj.com/articles/for-taylor-swift-the-future-of-music-is-a-love-story-1404763219#printMode
“They say, well, this is part of it, you should have known — but you can’t know. You don’t know how hard it is to lose your anonymity until it’s gone.” – Josh Hutcherson – co-star of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1”
“I picture myself drowning. Outwardly, I look like I’m having a blast, and I am, at least on some levels. There I was — burp, burp, burp — just a little gal from Kentucky getting discovered by big ol’ Hollywood. But inside I’m terrified. In an instant – boom – everyone’s listening, everyone’s looking.” – Jennifer Lawrence speaking about her foray into Hollywood https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/jennifer-lawrence-can%E2%80%99t-pretend-she-doesn%E2%80%99t-care/ar-AAe7epD?li=BBieTUX
For the next top celebrity psychological issues – number 4 and 5, click here.
Anointed “The Woman Expert” by WGN Chicago, Patrick Wanis PhD is a renowned Celebrity Life Coach, Human Behavior & Relationship Expert who developed SRTT therapy (Subconscious Rapid Transformation Technique) and is teaching it to other practitioners. Wanis’ clientele ranges from celebrities and CEOs to housewives and teenagers. CNN, BBC, FOX News, MSNBC & major news outlets worldwide consult Wanis for his expert insights and analysis on sexuality, human behavior and women’s issues. Wanis is the first person ever to do hypnotherapy on national TV – on the Montel Williams show.