Post-Avatar Depression Syndrome
24th December 2022
Following on from last week’s post looking at the environmental message in Avatar this week’s post looks at the resurgence in a phenomenon that was first identified when the original Avatar film was released – Post-Avatar Depression. According to CNN, a number of people feel very depressed (and even suicidal) after watching the film, and this is commonly attributed to a longing for the beautiful world of Pandora and the stark difference with reality back here on Earth, combined with feelings of hopelessness with the human race.
One person interviewed, reported that:
“When I woke up this morning after watching Avatar for the first time yesterday, the world seemed ... gray. It was like my whole life, everything I’ve done and worked for, lost its meaning,” Hill wrote on the forum. “It just seems so ... meaningless. I still don’t really see any reason to keep ... doing things at all. I live in a dying world.
One can say my depression was twofold: I was depressed because I really wanted to live in Pandora, which seemed like such a perfect place, but I was also depressed and disgusted with the sight of our world, what we have done to Earth. I so much wanted to escape reality. ”
Threads on an Avatar forum entitled ‘Ways to cope with the depression of the dream of Pandora being intangible' and other similar fan sites received so many posts from people around the world experiencing similar feelings that it was picked up by the news media in 2010, and although not a medically recognised condition, it has been called Post-Avatar Depression Syndrome (PADS). The symptoms include feeling disconnected from nature; worries about climate change, environmental destruction and the future of the planet; and dissatisfaction with modern life.
"Virtual life is not real life and it never will be, but this is the pinnacle of what we can build in a virtual presentation so far. It has taken the best of our technology to create this virtual world, and real life will never be as utopian as it seems onscreen. It makes real life seem more imperfect.” explained Dr Stephan Quentzel, a New York psychiatrist, in the 2010 CNN interview.
These experiences were not restricted to the initial release and have been reported by people watching Avatar ever since its release. Now there is concern that there will be a resurgence with the release of the second film in the series.
Eco-Anxiety
Many of the symptoms displayed by people experiencing Post-Avatar Depression are similar to those displayed by people experiencing Eco-Anxiety a term used to describe a heightened emotional and mental state in response to the dangers of climate change. Eco-anxiety, ecological grief, eco-grief or climate change anxiety, is a chronic or persistent anxiety about ecological disasters and threats to the natural environment such as pollution and climate change. Fears for our future and feelings of powerlessness are commonly linked to anxiety, stress, depression, anger, helplessness, sadness and feelings of hopelessness. In this way eco-anxiety can be amplified by fear and feelings of powerlessness in being able to do anything in the face of an impending catastrophe.
Coping with Post-Avatar Depression Syndrome
Many mental health professionals have suggested that getting out and connecting with nature; finding like-minded people; seeking professional help and immersing yourself in the world of Avatar can all help. We have published a booklet on ‘Coping with Eco-Anxiety’ that might help too.
Seeking Like-Minded People and Immersing Yourself in Pandora
Many people experiencing Post Avatar Depression have found that talking to others and sharing their feelings and experiences, either in person, or online in forums has helped. And whilst some people have found that they are mourning the inability to find the landscapes of Pandora on Earth, that just immersing themselves in the film, learning the Na’vi language and finding out more about Pandora and the ways and cultures of the Na’vi has helped them.
(Re)Connecting With Nature
For some people, the parallels between the destruction of the natural world that occurred on Pandora, and what is occurring her on Earth have added to their feelings off eco-grief. The fact that you are worried about the environment is a strong indication that you care about it. A recent study found that spending two hours a week outdoors in nature is linked to better health and well-being. Engaging in a bit of nature-mindfulness or trying forest bathing [link] may also offer ways you can reconnect with nature too. A fundamental forest bathing practice is called ‘reciprocity’. The reciprocity principle encourages you not to just take from the forest - forest bathing is not about you exploiting nature by extracting wellness and pleasure from it - it is about a partner relationship, characterised by communication and give-and-take that resonates well with being eco-conscious. Reciprocity increases awareness of the many ways in which we are connected with nature.
If you find the idea of connecting with nature daunting, or you don’t know where to start, perhaps join our Sit Spot and Nature Connection Practice group on Facebook, book a Nature-Based Wellbeing Plan discussion with me, and we can work on it together, or join a local group that takes wellbeing walks in nature.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their confidential 24-hour phone line on 116 123
