Symptomania

Cover image for the Symptomania word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Symptomania

n.
the fantasy that there’s some elaborate diagnosis out there that neatly captures the kind of person you are, tying together your many flaws and contradictions into a single theme—which wouldn’t necessarily sort out the mess inside your head but would at least let you mark it with a little sign so people know to walk around it.

From symptom + mania.

Punt Kick

Cover image for the Punt Kick word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Archimony

a person looking at broken furniture

Backmasking

a woman's face with a double exposure

Vulture Shock

Cover image for the Vulture Shock word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Rialtoscuro

a blurry image of a light source

Rivener

Cover image for the Rivener word card on the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows