LONELY ONLINE DRAGONS

Lonely Online Dragon Syndrome

LODS is a mental disorder which causes the affected individual to have a false notion about the existence of a parallel reality in which they depict themselves as a hero who easily overcomes any obstacle on the path of fulfilling their dreams and goals. Occurrence of this disorder was rather rare in the past, mostly appearing among aristocracy. Its expansion in recent years is mainly associated with the rise of the internet and social media — a period during which the study of the syndrome was first introduced. Currently the syndrome occurs in various stages of development across most of the population. The danger of the syndrome lies in the individual finding a false sense of fulfillment in their illusory reality. Attempts from the surroundings at pulling the individual away from the spiral usually only deepen the state. In the terminal stage strong auditory and visual hallucinations develop in the individual. Subsequently they cease to communicate entirely and stay in bed. Further survival is only possible under medical supervision. However, there are no records of a patient being cured from LODS once it has been given ‘terminal stage’ classification.