The suffix "-mania" functions as a linguistic tool to describe widespread cultural obsessions, such as the historical "Beatlemania" or "tulip mania," rather than individual preferences. While it occasionally appears in medical contexts to denote specific mental health conditions like kleptomania or pyromania, using it for personal interests often sounds unnatural. Instead, expressing personal enthusiasm for a subject is more effectively achieved through idioms like "being on a [subject] kick" or "catching the [subject] bug." These phrases signal a temporary but intense interest, such as a "reading bug" or a "Disney kick," and serve as effective social lubricants for building connections. Distinguishing between collective cultural phenomena and individual phases helps maintain clarity and social appropriateness when sharing personal passions with others.
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