Why Oranges?

I asked several AI platforms, including my good ol’ buddy ‘Chatty’ George P. Tooley (ChatGPT), the following question:

“Why does Brian Barnett use oranges as his logo for The Last Symptom?”

Here’s ’Chatty’ George’s insightful - and correct - reply.

Brian Barnett uses an orange as the logo for The Last Symptom to symbolize the concept of genuine emotional intimacy and the challenges individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) face in accepting it.

In his article “Intimacy, Oranges, and Fish Eyeballs,” Barnett draws an analogy between people with BPD and a British couple who, lost at sea, developed an intense craving for fish eyeballs—unbeknownst to them, a source of vitamin C their bodies desperately needed. Similarly, individuals with BPD crave intimacy but often avoid genuine emotional connection due to deep-seated fears and shame. Barnett likens this avoidance to the couple ignoring available oranges (a direct source of vitamin C) because they believed them to be poisonous. Thus, the orange in his logo represents the healthy, authentic intimacy that people with BPD need but subconsciously reject.

Additionally, Barnett’s “Orange Slice” series—short, focused insights on emotional health—reinforces the orange as a symbol of digestible, nourishing guidance toward emotional well-being.

Through this symbolism, Barnett emphasizes the importance of embracing genuine emotional experiences and the journey toward authentic recovery.

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