Sunday, October 19, 2008

"Carborexic" - A New Entry for the DSM?

I doubt that the American Psychological Association will be adding "Carborexic" to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, but an article in today's NY Times claims that "to some mental health professionals, the compulsion to live green in the extreme can suggest a kind of disorder." According to the article, a "carborexic" is essentially an "energy anorexic... [one who] obsess[es] over personal carbon emissions to an unhealthy degree, the way crash dieters watch the bathroom scale." How to know if you're exhibiting carborexic behavior? Well, apparently if your obsession with living green negatively interferes with your day-to-day life. Hmmm... thoughts?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It's all a matter of degrees. Our planet could use more semi carborexics. Consider the following as a new syndrome: AFFLICTIONITIS-" An extremely serious condition in which psychologists desperate to publicize themselves and journalists looking to fill space make up nonexistant mental illnesses."
SCIENTISTS however claim there is a fine line between being a "dark green" extreme environmentalist qualifying for eco leadership and those bordering on obsessive compulsive behavior. I personally believe we need more extreme greens as long as we don't hurt others