Blog-itis or Blog Dependency Syndrome?
ME passed this contagion to me. I knew I should not have gone to see her that fateful morning, but I expect all sufferers to have an urge to visit a fellow patient’s blog on a regular basis.
I have yet to determine the nature of the organism but it’s clinical effect on infected individuals seems to be an uncanny sensation of being compelled to confess how he or she blogs. Perhaps it might provide an avenue for sufferers of blog-dependency-syndrome for self-examination and liberation from blog-dependency. As to the origin of this contagious factor, I have traced it to our simian cousins.
This illness seems to be a mis-nomer, however, since I have yet to find the anatomy with the name “Blogivum” or “Blogiva” which is the implied inflammed part in the disease called “BlogIVitis”.
The symptoms of this condition, in my humble opinion more aptly named “Blog Dependency Syndrome”, is manifested in me in the following ways:
1. The first chance I get to log on to my PC every morning, I hurry to take a look at the dashboard of my wordpress blog. My mind seems to be wondering whether there would be any new comments. Finding interesting comments seems to be followed by a feeling of euphoria. Understandably, however, the lack of comments invokes a dysphoric emotion. The euphoric factor might be calculated by a yet-to-be-discovered formula. It is, nevertheless, known to be directly proportional to the number of comments, visitors and relevance of comments; and inversely proportional to … err…. so far no factor has yet been found.
2. I feel an urge to visit the blogs on my blogroll. Some blogs more than others, but the urge is persistently present. Particularly if I had left a comment on the blog, I find myself inexplicably clicking on the blog’s links in increasing frequency to see whether the comrade had replied or updated. This is especially acute if the blog-companion is one who frequently updates the blog or can be expected to reply to comments.
3. Another related symptom is the strange urge to know what is happening in other individuals’ lives and families. Facts and tidbits of info that I would not have excited me or piqued my curiousity in the first place if I didn’t have this contagious condition. The local term for this condition is “Kaypohchee”. I wonder whether it has to do with the fact that sufferers band together and form cliques that share thoughts and talk so much so that the “Kaypohchee” centre of the brain has been enhanced in its keenness.
4. When a friend or relative complains that, “You haven’t been been in touch lately;” my thoughts are, “Haven’t you been reading my blog?” I regrettably find that I began expecting my great-grand-auntie to learn how to use the PC if she wants to know anything about me and Joseph.
5. Whenever I take photographs, I begin having thoughts how I’m going to put those in my blog. Those photos will remain in “My Pictures” folder until they get into the blog before being transferred to it’s proper folder. “My pictures” is getting too heavy. It is being filled to its capacity already. I m u s t do something to relieve the obstruction downstream…
6. Occasionally I see an emotional patient. I think… “Hmm… sounds like that … so-and-so blogger… sooo ‘emo’ one.” Or I look at the bank officer. I think… “Hmm… looks like that … so-and-so blogger… the lengjai/lenglui one.” Blogging personalities become the point of reference. I am still amazed at how this happens.
7. To put ME’s fears at rest, fortunately I do not think, “How shall I put this on my blog?” when I operate or scope. I do think that, however, when I come across any myths or disinformation that patients carry with them. I cannot resist the urge to highlight that to readers. Also, coming across “interesting”, sometimes “gross” tidbits of info or illustrations in my surgical or medical e-newsletters makes me want to share them with my blogger friends.
Here is DSM IV’s (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition) definition of substance dependency:
The DSM-IV-TR identifies seven criteria (symptoms), at least three of which must be met during a given 12-month period, for the diagnosis of substance dependence:
Tolerance, as defined either by the need for increasing amounts of the substance to obtain the desired effect or by experiencing less effect with extended use of the same amount of the substance.
Withdrawal, as exhibited either by experiencing unpleasant mental, physiological, and emotional changes when drug-taking ceases or by using the substance as a way to relieve or prevent withdrawal symptoms.
Longer duration of taking substance or use in greater quantities than was originally intended.
Persistent desire or repeated unsuccessful efforts to stop or lessen substance use.
A relatively large amount of time spent in securing and using the substance, or in recovering from the effects of the substance.
Important work and social activities reduced because of substance use.
Continued substance use despite negative physical and psychological effects of use.
Although not explicitly listed in the DSM-IV-TR criteria, “craving,” or the overwhelming desire to use the substance regardless of countervailing forces, is a universally-reported symptom of substance dependence.
The DSM is a collection of criteria to make diagnoses of mental disorders. They are internationally agreed upon criteria in order to help doctors talk the same language when they communicate to each other about mental disorders. I suppose Blog Dependency Syndrome might be classified as DSM IV 304.90.
However, since this contagion must be passed on, in goodwill… I shall, in goodwill, pass it on to:
1. Yenjai… whose perspective would be greatly appreciated.
2. Jimbo… a medical consult should help define the condition more clearly.
3. Kucau… would you care to chip in your thoughts from the the Frontal Lobe?
4. Chen… is there any imaging method to make a diagnosis? Or IMAGINARY methods? 
5. Sweetpea… is there anything you can dispense for our poor souls suffering from this, or are you in the same boat?
6. Pelf… does this condition affect those in the East Coast as well? Do they affect chelonians?
I am a sufferer. Any medications doctor? No! No! No surgeries please - it would be too radical a surgery for which the heart needs a transplant and the mind some burr holes!
You are tagged officially now and have a week to comply!
Haha - great post Bernard. True in so many ways!
hahaha! u are totally, completely, severely infected! seems the blogosomes have consumed your mind and body! am not sure if there’s any cure to it, but i’ll try ‘looking’ it up
I am guilty of not replying to comments fast. Sometimes I have blogging inertia….is there an easier cure for this?
George, uahh.. you must think that I’ve matured somewhat as a blogger to tag me in this serious line of very serious bloggers.
I hope I don’t let you (all of you) down.
And George! Since you already are a self-confessed patient.. (at least you have insight… hehe….) please share your experiences as a patient.
Dobbs, thank you. Want to carry on this baton too?
Sweetpea, let’s see whether there’s anything in OZ-land that might help relieve the symptoms.
Just me, there is no cure.. much less an “easier” cure.
We’re on the topic of blogging inflammia … you’re inflicted with blogging inertia, the other end of the spectrum.
ermm, i`ll pass this virus to other bloggers tomollo.
Kucau, that would be great, spread it… spread it.
Err…
If I’m not addicted?
[…] is a meme, again pass on from BernardChan. Do I have blog dependecy syndrome and why I say […]
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Pelf, not a problem… pass it on.
It only takes a spark to get a fire going.
wow….outbreak in the speed of light!
Hi hi, simian cousin says hello to Bernard!.:P
i would have been here earlier if not for being blocked by your expired domain page!! :-p
i knew i was right to pass the infection to a doctor! my goodness, this looks like a page out of the medical journal!!! some doctors-in-training logging into this page will be wondering what the heck disease this is! haha. the malaysian medical association got in touch with you yet? hahahahaha.
btw, you wouldn’t have been able to avoid the infection even if you didn’t visit me *raises eyebrow*….i would have hopped over to visit you..complete with my sneezes and all…
Since it is a mental condition, why no psychiatrist included in your tags?
MonkeyWong, ooooo oooo aaaaa ahhhh…
nice fun tag, cousin.
ME, hahaha.. thanks for the tag. It’s just for fun. Dun take it too seriously, ok?
But i’m sure there ARE those who are REALLY addicted to blogging. Most are somewhere along the spectrum.
Ya.. i know you would have come closer and sneezed right in my face to get me infected.
LM, do you know any psychiatrist in our blogosphere to tag? Hmmm… I don’t recall coming across any before.
Err.. I thought I commented here earlier on already..
hehhe, u r severely infected
I was once infected in the past, but now in the recovery trait
Will answer the tag soon
hehehe .. I can boldy conclude tht, all of us are BDS sufferer in varying degree of infection. I’m sad to announce, I’m terminally ill with BDS!
Chen, err.. what are the symptoms of the convalescent phase?
Thanks!
Hoiling, aiks.. that bad eh.. maybe you need an emergency holiday.
Cool take on blogopathy. There are some special features of this disease.
I have not diagnosed this disease in myself, but I realise I was wrong. I just wrote down yesterday some thoughts on blogging. Do take a look and comment, but don’t bring your children, shoes or no shoes!! ;-))
Oh dear,it sounds like u have got it bad.is it fatal or contagious? this blogitis is worrying. i was at yr place..am i also infected? do i need to check in at Gleneagles? Bcoz oh dear I am suffering the same symptoms hahhahahahahaahh
Rambodoc! Welcome to my humble abode in blogosphere! You made some excellent and rib-tickling observations on blogging. Haha.
Bengbeng, ahemm.. you were already infected before you met me. NVM! The more the merrier.
I finally took up the baton after Yenjai passed it on to me
Dobbs, thanks for taking the baton
[…] was tagged again by bernardchan . Actually I really hate a meme, but since this meme has a virus in it, I guess completing it […]
Hi Dr.Bernard,
I’m afraid I’ve been biten by the blog bug too.
You must work seriously on a new vaccine for this new disease before the whole planet gets infected.
How about starting a Foundation For The Blog Bug?
Marie
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[…] among our doctor bloggers called Blog-itis or BDS (Blogging Dependency Syndrome). It has affected Bernard, Yenjai, Jimbo, Kucau and yours truly. I still maintain though that I am not addicted to blogging […]
[…] among our doctor bloggers called Blog-itis or BDS (Blogging Dependency Syndrome). It has affected Bernard, Yenjai, Jimbo, Kucau and yours truly. I still maintain though that I am not addicted to blogging […]