Why can't I stop thinking about a fictional character?

Fictiophilia is not an officially recognized disorder. The main reason for this is that most people form healthy parasocial relationships. They learn from their favorite characters, admire them, assimilate their traits, and move on with their lives. Being obsessed with fictional characters is a rare phenomenon.

Why do I keep thinking of a fictional character?

It turns out that when you strongly identify with a fictional character, you're activating the same region of the brain that you use to think about yourself and those closest to you, researchers report.

How do I stop obsessing over a fictional character?

What is a fictophilia disorder?

Accordingly, we approach fictophilia as an intense long-term parasocial love or desire relationship between a human individual and a fictional character.

Why do I feel so attached to a fictional character?

Just as we do with real-life friends and family, in our minds we subconsciously fill in the details of characters' lives that are missing. This may include episodes from their past, what they're thinking or what they were up to when we weren't around, which only heightens their sense of realness.

Why Do We Get Attached To Fictional Characters?

What is main character syndrome?

The term swept across TikTok last year and quickly became social-media shorthand for the tendency of users to identify as the protagonists in their own life stories. It snarkily implies that sufferers are delusional, self-obsessed, and worthy of derision.

What is kinning a character?

“Kinning” is when you closely relate to a character (in ways such as a characters backstory, personality, looks, or all of the above). A person who kins may identify with the character. “Kinning” a character is not the same as “being kin to” a character.

Is it unhealthy to obsess over a fictional character?

Being obsessed with fictional characters is a rare phenomenon. If your parasocial relationships aren't impairing your normal life and causing you distress, you have no cause for concern. It's always good to know why we're doing what we're doing though. Keep in mind the difference between admiration and obsession.

What is an unhealthy obsession with fictional character?

Fictosexuality, fictoromance, and fictophilia are terms that have recently become popular in online environments as indicators of strong and lasting feelings of love, infatuation, or desire for one or more fictional characters.

Is it normal to be so in love with a fictional character?

We can truly get absorbed by the story and experience emotions in a very real way even though we know everything in it is fiction. It's common for us to feel real happiness or pain or any real feeling of connectedness from a fictional character.

Is it normal to talk to fictional characters in your head?

According to one study, while extreme instances of obsession with celebrities may be a result of underlying mental health issues, in general, it's not unhealthy to form attachments with fictional characters.

What is a hyperfixation on a fictional character?

Hyperfixation on a Fictional Character

Someone with a fixation on fictional characters will try to become like their fixated character. They may start talking from the perspective of that character and thinking they are them, trying hard to be as flawless or perfect as this person is in their eyes.

Can your brain tell the difference between real and fictional characters?

Based on this finding, scientists have hypothesized that our brains may distinguish between reality and fantasy because real things tend to have a higher degree of personal relevance than fictional things do.

Is it healthy to get attached to fictional characters?

So it's normal to be extremely attached to a fictional character or celebrity, so long as it doesn't become an obsession that takes over your life. If, say, you spend so long thinking about Chris Hemsworth that you're not dating anyone else because of that attraction, that's when it might be unhealthy.

Is fictophilia a Paraphilia?

Fictophilia is a type of paraphilia. Paraphilia involves individuals having atypical sexual arousal towards atypical things or objects. Paraphilia exists across many different cultures, but the exact prevalence of people who experience paraphilias is unknown (Bhugra et al., 2010).

What is a fictive kinnie?

Fictionkin is a connection, often spiritual or psychological, with a fictional character and/or species. This connection is deep enough to identify as and/or with them. Fictionkin often believe that they are or were a fictional character or species either now or in a past life.

What is a double kin?

Doubles: Two people (or more) who kin the same character. No Doubles: When somebody says this about a character (or characters) that they kin, they wish to not interact/etc with a person who also kins that character (or characters).

What is a kinnie slang?

Noun. kinnie (plural kinnies) (fandom slang, sometimes derogatory) Someone who relates deeply to a certain fictional character. Alternative form: kin.

What is female main character syndrome?

Someone who radiates the main character syndrome often thinks or sees themself as someone they imagine or want to be like, or is pretending to be the lead of their own story or self-created tale, according to Cynthia Catchings, a therapist for Talkspace.

What is character disordered?

noun Psychiatry. a disorder characterized by socially undesirable behavior, as poor control of impulses or inability to maintain close emotional relationships, and by absence of anxiety or guilt.

What is it called when someone thinks they re the main character?

Main character syndrome is when somebody presents, or imagines, themself as the lead in a sort of fictional version of their life. Digital communication platforms make it easier for people to fall into the trap of main character syndrome.

Is fantasizing about fictional characters normal?

It's fine to fantasize about your TV (or movie or book) hero. You need be concerned only if the feeling is so intense or obsessive that it interferes with your normal life and prevents you from being able to love someone real. Real people have qualities you love and qualities you hate.

What is it called when you feel like you are a fictional character?

in dissociative personality disorder these different characters are usually called alters. They can also be called in normal life aliases. I had a therapist to try to put a positive spin on them and called them avatars recognizing their spiritual protective function.

Is Hyperfixating ADHD?

ADHD hyperfixation isn't an official symptom of ADHD. In fact, it sounds contradictory to what ADHD is most widely known for – inattention and a lack of focus. However, ADHD isn't actually an attention-deficit disorder. It's more of an attention-abundance disorder.

What do Hyperfixations look like?

Hyperfixation occurs when your teen becomes so fully engaged in something that they can't think of anything else until they finish what they're doing, or someone pulls them away from it. People most commonly hyperfocus on people, places, food, TV shows, hobbies, or even their own thoughts.