Avatards Are the New Twihards: How to Tell If You or a Loved One Is at Risk
After experiencing Pandora's boundless pastoral and the perfect set of CGI breasts, some Avatar fans become depressed with reality—contemplating, even, suicide. Are you or a loved one suffering from Avatardation? Cautionary tales from the fan forums.
Recurrent Suicidal Thoughts
On fan site Naviblu, Mike writes,
Ever since i went to see Avatar i have been depressed. Watching the wonderful world of Pandora and all the Na'vi made me want to be one of them. I cant stop thinking about all the things that happened in the film and all of the tears and shivers i got from it. I even contemplate suicide thinking that if i do it i will be re birthed in a world similar to Pandora and the everything is the same as in Avatar.. I cant find joy in this world since Ive seen it, and the only thing that makes me happy is thinking about it or when im seeing it next, which is Saturday at the imax..
Diminished Interest in Formerly Pleasurable Pastimes
Over on Avatar-Forums, a five-time Avatar audience member confesses to abandoning an activity he once held dear:
I think watching [Avatar] takes away that depression, because when I am watching it, i dont know how to describe how I feel, but it feels good. I want to just forget about it all sometimes, take down my avatar wallpaper, stop reading about it and what not, but I just cant. I dont know if theres any WoW addicts out there, but after seeign Avatar I have lost all desire to play.
Body Dysmorphia and Feelings of Inadequacy
Tsyal Makto's personal hell is his own all-too-human face, reflected every day in the bathroom mirror.
Leaving Avatar I felt ugly, not only physically because the Na'vi are a beautiful people, but spiritually and mentally as well, knowing just how much blood is on our hands. [...] We let the corporate powers that be control us - I hate it when my parents shop at places like Wal-Mart. >:(
Disengagement
I've had the exact same feeling after I first saw Avatar—the sick realization that Pandora isn't real—and trying anything to just escape this reality and live there instead, even trying to put myself into a coma so my dream world would be Pandora.
Recovery
Is there hope for the Avatarded? Let us return to the forums for remedy. First, know that Avatardation can affect anyone, even the unsuspecting. This man sought help on Take this Life, a forum for the suicidally depressed:
Thursday last week I was asked if you would like to watch this new film Avatar that has recently come out at one of the 3D Max Cinemas, so I said yeah sure I haven't got much else to do today.
Now I never wish I went there, the film was very awesome but my mind has completely taken over my thoughts this imaginative world and fantasy of the Nar'vi has made my life hell. [...] I dont want to work, sleep, eat think of anything else but this Film??? what has happened to me. Im trying to understand myself and I think this film has a "life" that my mind wants to live and does not care about ANYTHING I live for now.
Avatar-forum frequenter Neytiri_makto suggests the Gandhi cure:
When you get discouraged by everyone around you, be courageous like Jake, and jump on the leonopteryx. Be the change you want to see in your world. [...] The only way you can fill the emptiness you feel after this movie, is to jump on the leonopteryx.
Others turn (adorably) to religion:
Hopefully, Heaven will be like Pandora. I am 16 so a have long journey to approach, and until then, i am keeping my faith and morals good and strong to God, and enter Heaven.
Loki69 provides perhaps the most powerful remedy for the frequently-afflicted teen male demographic: realistic depictions of sex.
Keep in mind that there are very few and far between hot women in the jungle. They tend to have saggy breasts, rotten teeth and smell like poop. [...]
So maybe the Navi had it perfect, but this idea that nature is this beautiful pristine thing, well, maybe the first ape climbed out of that tree for a reason.
Maybe he realized that he was sick of entertainment consist of throwing rocks and picking lice of his little sister.