Addicted to Psychics?

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Addicted to Psychics?
August 10, 2011
by Lisa Cook
Paranormal Old Pueblo

I stumbled upon an article from the New York Times that was published in March of 2006. The article told of a website and online support network for people addicted to psychics and their enticing, yet expensive forecasts. PsychicJunkie.net was founded by a Los Angeles actress who’s habit at its’ worst cost her $1000 a month on psychic consultations. PsychicJunkie.net is filled with advice for those who “just gotta know”or are unable to”wait and see.”

Although psychic dependency problems are rarely discussed, psychic communities report they are common. In any addiction, there are overpowering urges to chase a brief, but powerful high, accompanied by the development of emotional dependence. The educated and intelligent are not exempt in their willingness to suspend disbelief. A corporate communications executive in Texas similarly reported that she ran up thousands of dollars because she was so consumed with career anxiety after graduation from college. She maxed out her credit cards stating:

“You go right down the list, calling all the psychics until you find the person who’s going to tell you the magic words.”

The compulsion to consult the paranormal for life guidance is not unlike a gambling addiction and can strike people of any educational level, intelligence, or social status. The reason behind building the Winchester Mystery House comes to mind. Sarah Winchester, the heiress of the Winchester rifle fortune, spent millions renovating her mansion allegedly on the admonishment of a Boston psychic medium. The psychic is said to have told Mrs. Winchester:

“(that) she was cursed because of all the deaths caused by the Winchester rifle and that she must build a home for herself and for the spirits who have fallen from this terrible weapon, too. You must never stop building the house. If you continue building, you will live forever. But if you stop, then you will die.”

Mrs. Winchester took this advice to heart and the renovations to her stately, but very unusual home continued every day until her death on September 5, 1922.

Embarrassment about the behavior keeps people from disclosing it. There is no 12-Step program for psychic dependency or addiction. Others admit that despite such an absurd belief system so at odds with critical thinking, its’ strong pull still remains in their lives.


Click for a FREE Psychic Reading from Keen!The real action can be found online on splashy sites like Keen.com, Kasamba.com and Asknow.com. This is where grandiose promises of “I can help you with all problems” and “I can accurately predict your future” lure the uncertain, the grieving, and the panicked. Your life can unravel to the tune of $0.99 to $11.99 a minute.

James Alcock, a psychology professor at York University in Toronto and a confirmed skeptic had this to say:

“If you look at the Gallup polls, the majority of people believe in the paranormal.”

“Most people, he explained, particularly those with any religious training at all, are raised to live under two different belief systems: the rational, which governs most decisions in life, and the transcendental, which guides matters of spirituality and faith. Therefore, for some people it is only a small leap to let their transcendental impulses creep into their daily affairs, especially when anxiety over career, finances or romance is involved. Faith, in whatever form it takes, Dr. Alcock said, can provide great comfort, even a sense of empowerment. People who feel they have the stars on their side often feel an edge over mere mortals.”

“We all have pockets of irrationality,” he said, “and those pockets tend to be activated at times we’re motivated by greed or fear.”

I researched number of psychic websites. From each one I was able to glean the following tips on how to spot a potential fraud:

The psychic is unable to tell you anything specific about your past or present situation without you “spoon-feeding” them information
The psychic is unable to elaborate on your situation when asked a direct question about it.
When predictions fail to come true, they may offer additional services like prayer and spell casting for an additional charge.
They simply give you advice based on what you are telling them and/or they are unrealistically optimistic about your situation.
They give prediction after prediction that never comes to pass and encourage you to return to them.
They may or may not give scripted readings. Readings often sound very similar when compared to past readings or readings given to other individuals.
They often suggest that you return to them for expensive services (spell casting, healing).
They tell you what you want to hear, and may not be completely honest with you in order to get you to return.

While I was reviewing other sites on psychic dependency, I read a comment posted by a European patron of psychic readings. He or she admitted to spending over $50,000 euro on psychic consultations. I was floored! People continue to really believe even when the the predictions are not coming true! Here were dozens of tales involving thousands of dollars in debt, postponement of career and romantic decisions, and predictions that never came true. I think psychic readers really appeal to those who have a freakish need for control over their lives and over the lives of others.

As I mentioned in one of my earliest posts, my maternal grandmother was a true clairvoyant. I do believe there are people with this rare gift. It was she who taught me how to read Tarot cards as a child. Tarot card reading was taught to me more like a parlor game for entertainment. As a teen, I did readings for friends. When I did, I cautioned that I was not a medium and any results should be taken with a grain of salt. Admittedly, as an adult, I did see a Tarot reader who divined my own future. She was a friend who also happened to be an experienced reader of many years. We liked to compare readings. What was good about this experience is that it was an exercise in developing, tapping into, and better trusting my own intuition.

It is unfortunate that the truly gifted are “lumped in” with thieving charlatans. The term “psychic” is abhorrent to the gifted due to negative connotations associated with fraud and scams. I don’t think it’s necessarily wrong to reasonably charge for the use of a true gift. After all, we pay for music and movies which are the fruits of someone’s talents or gifts. I do, however, feel it is disgraceful and loathsome to dupe a vulnerable person with falsehoods and abscond with their money.

There is a disclaimer on Keen.com that states: “KEEN is for entertainment purposes only.” I find it sad that people fail to keep this in mind.