Is ‘opulomania’ a growing problem in the Gulf? – Jan Gerber in conversation with FastCompanyME
The rising tide of opulomania in the Gulf reveals something deeper than a love of luxury—it reflects an emotional search for identity, safety, and belonging.
At Paracelsus Recovery, we coined the term opulomania to describe a pattern we’ve witnessed time and again in our clinic: the compulsive pursuit of luxury goods and status symbols as a way to manage emotional pain, anxiety, or a deep sense of not-enoughness.
As our CEO Jan Gerber shared with Jennifer George of Fast Company ME: “What looks like excess is often a cry for meaning, connection, or validation. It’s rarely about greed—it’s about trying to feel whole.”
Check out our full conversation on why compulsive consumption is becoming a growing psychological concern – and what it tells us about the emotional cost of status symbols – here.
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