ADVISEMENT WARNING I am not an expert or mental health professional. Atlantis Complex is a fictional disease from the book series Artemis Fowl. (It is found in the book of the same name within the series) In this essay/rant I will explain and discuss various problems with the disease, how it relates to real life conditions, and the correct mindset to have while reading the book so you don’t get a migraine from screaming. ( check the credits for terminology ) ——————————————- Yet another book theory! Let’s get into it. // Atlantis Complex // For mental conditions like these, it’s not just for showing off, or looking cool for a plot, everything serves (or is supposed to serve) a legitimate purpose. So the easiest way for me (an amateur mental health researcher) to get through the book was to explain the theory behind this disease. First off, the attempt at a “multiple personality disorder” is obvious, and I’m absolutely livid about it. It’s very media/television stereotypical, where the alters serve no apparent purpose. It’s almost as if it’s in some sort of reverse where Artemis becomes the gatekeeper in his own mind. I was thinking to myself, well that’s certainly not realistic because Artemis shouldn’t even exist anymore- he should have spilt into various alters that have a legitimate purpose to shield the trauma and protect the entire system. And to be honest I’m fine with some of the portrayal of an adaptation of OCD or another disorder on the Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum. However, I will note that Artemis did appear to exhibit psychotic and schizophrenic symptoms. So, of course I spent a while ranting and so on about how it (Atlantis Complex) served Artemis no real purpose, but then I realized- THATS EXACTLY IT! Here’s my proposal, Atlantis Complex is a illness caused by the brain attempting to cope with magic, trauma and guilt, but /FAILING/. THAT’S why it’s a disease and would need to be cured. So instead of Orion taking and protecting Artemis from all the guilt and trauma, Artemis gets locked up inside his own head as a malfunctioned gatekeeper/trauma holder. It’s also important to note that magic is a key component for this disease to occur. Essentially, it’s kinda like a very odd version of DID gone wrong but with guilt instead of trauma, combined with fairy magic, being a criminal, severe OCD or other disorders on the Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum, and then combined with psychosis and hints of schizophrenia! Though honestly at first it really confused me as to why he wanted to unleash the guilt and trauma, it occurred to me he was anchored and bound to it anyways so it didn’t really matter, as Orion was his Jekyll & Hyde style host.
Terminology OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder consists of excessive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors (compulsions). OCD is characterized by unreasonable thoughts and fears that lead to compulsive behaviors. (often stereotyped for being organized and clean. My brain is too melted to try and define this. Go ask somebody else or tomorrow) DID - Dissociative Identity Disorder, (which I am by no means an expert on) a mental health condition. Someone with DID has multiple, distinct personalities that serve a purpose as a result of trauma that occurs before the age of ten. The various identities control a person's behavior at different times. The condition can cause memory loss, delusions or depression. Multiple Personality Disorder - The old name for DID. It’s very stereotyped in the media. Alter(s) - (context in DID) Alternate persons inhabiting one body to cope as a result of trauma. Alters have different roles and purposes. The alter that appears the most is titled the “Host.” Schizophrenia - a mental disorder characterized by disruptions in thought processes, perceptions, emotional responsiveness, and social interactions. (Paranoia is often a symptom) Psychosis/Psychotic - a severe mental condition in which thought and emotions are so affected that contact is lost with external reality. (Symptoms can include delusions and hallucinations) There might also be symptoms of PTSD or other trauma-onset conditions in the Atlantis Complex, but I do not know very much of those, and would have to research further. Feel free to ask any questions to contribute your own ideas in the comments. Perhaps you were unperturbed about Atlantis Complex because you know nothing of mental health. Inform me in the comments. Btw if anyone here has DID or knows anyone with it, I’d love to hear about what I got right and wrong *heh* Yes, some of the definitions are written by me and some are paraphrased from reliable sources such as CDC or Google. (jk, I meant actual medical organizations)
