When I was 13, my bedroom walls were covered with posters of the Monkees and Beatles. I wrote fan
letters and daydreamed about meeting the objects of my affections. I begged my parents to attend every rock
concert and watch every TV show featuring my favorite celebrities (名人) ; my friends and I discussed for
hours all the things we would say and do when we met our favorite movie stars and pop singers. I drove my
mother crazy! But after a few years, my obsession (迷恋) stars faded as I matured and gained the confidence
to socialize with "real" boys.
In the 35 years since I was a teenager, celebrity worship (崇拜) has increased among teens due to the
explosion of television celebrity gossip shows, and instant access to celebrity news on the Internet. It's no
wonder that many teens are obsessed with stars when news programs often are filled with entertainment
stories and the lives of celebrities.
Celebrity worship syndrome (综合征) is now considered a personality disorder. While it is normal for
teenagers to follow the lives of their favorite stars, parents should try to monitor everything their child finds
interesting. Parents should take action if they suspect a teen is too obsessed with celebrities and showing little
interest in school or withdrawing from the family.
When teens talk a lot about celebrities and view them as just means of entertainment, this is considered
normal celebrity worship. However, when a teenager is obsessed with a star and often expresses a desire to
have a close personal relationship with a celebrity or feels they have a special connection to a star, this may
be the time for concern. Recent studies have shown that teens who develop an unhealthy obsession with
celebrities often suffer from low self confidence and depression. Teens who are overly obsessed with stars
often have damaged relationships with their parents.