Auric Fixation
Auric Fixation is a mental illness that can develop in some dwarves, whereby they become obsessed with the acquisition of gold through any means, to the point of neglecting all other concerns; acting in an increasingly paranoid and haunted manner. Their actions in this state often drive away many friends and family, especially in the early stages of the condition, when their changing personality may be mistaken for simply unlikeable and selfish behaviour. As the condition progresses, however, the obsessive and addictive behaviour will become so all-consuming that the sufferer will neglect even their own wellbeing in their search for gold; forgetting, or simply not caring, to take care of their own health.
It has been noted that the diesease shows some similarities to forms of dementia, although with the added fixation of gold acquisition.
Causes
The ultimate cause of Auric Fixation is unknown. Many dwarves will work in the mines for centuries without developing even a hint of a the initial stages of the condition, while some have been known to develop a full case after only a decade of two. The only thing that is certain is that the condition is many times more prevalent in those dwarves who spend their lives already in the search of precious minerals, than those who have chosen another path.
Symptoms
The disease first manifests as a mild obsessive desire to obtain gold. This desire itself is fairly common within Dwarven society as a whole, so it is quite likely that this may be overlooked as not being related to an illness of any kind. With this desire comes signs of increased irritability, and a growing paranoia in the sufferer.
In later stages of the disease, the obsession with gold has become so pronounced that the sufferer will no longer be properly feeding themselves, sleeping properly or taking care of any medical concerns. These symptoms may be more obvious to an outside observer than in the early stages. At this point, the obsession itself will have become almost all-consuming, and hard to ignore by an outsider.
Treatment
No known cure exists for Auric Fixation itself, but the survival of the individual may be prolongued by understanding friends and/or family who can care for them, and ensure that their medical and nutritional needs are met.
Simply keeping the sufferer from their self-imposed search for gold is not considered a safe practice, especially as the disease progresses, as those who have been confined in such a way have been known to harm themselves in their attempts to escape and seek out their obsession.
Cultural Reception
Sufferers of the disease are looked upon with sympathy by Dwarven society, but by and large, Auric Fixation is a condition that isn't discussed at length by those not directly affected by it. There is a sense of a kind of wide-spread social ambivalence and embarrassment about the condition. This is possibly due to the prominence that the mining industry enjoys, and an unwillingness to admit that there may be any problems associated with it.
Type
Mental
Affected Species
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