Main character syndrome is the perception that your life is a story or movie through which you might be the essential character. This term was born on social media and will not be a real syndrome or mental disorder, but it might partially overlap with a handful of mental illnesses. Main character syndrome can be generally known as essential character energy.
If you see yourself as a star or protagonist, chances are you'll behave as in case you all the time have an audience. Of course, almost everyone behaves a little bit otherwise after they know – or think – someone is watching. But this behavior is amplified in case you suffer from essential character syndrome. It's not about who you actually are, but concerning the image you wish to create for others.
This might mean laboriously selecting the proper outfit just to purchase a carton of milk on the supermarket, or speaking loudly in public because you're thinking that others wish to hear what you're saying.
You may additionally underestimate everyone else around you. This is since you see these people as supporting characters at best. This might mean that you just deliberately draw attention to yourself even in situations which are clearly not about you, like at a marriage. Or you never fail to steer the conversation toward your problems when a friend shares theirs with you.
If the opposite people in your life usually are not supporting characters, chances are you'll see them as villains. People are either behind you or working against you.
Social media appears to be the first breeding ground for essential character syndrome (more on that in a moment). But social media alone is not going to trigger this shift in the best way you see yourself and the world around you.
If you might be anxious, insecure, or have low self-esteem, you usually tend to develop essential character syndrome. People with these traits may feel uncomfortable just being themselves.
Main character syndrome and social media
It's fair to say that social media has given anyone access to an audience in the event that they want one. An abundance of platforms makes you're feeling such as you're continually on stage or being watched. It's easy to show your life right into a performance. And for some people, social media is a performance where you simply show the nice, the attractive and the fashionable.
But spending lots of time on social media or the web normally can distort your perception of reality. It might cause you to continually compare yourself to others. It may not occur to you that these persons are also curating their lives. Feeling such as you're continually coming up short in these comparisons could make you wish to placed on a greater show.
You might increasingly begin to see things as having social media potential. You might often attempt to make real life moments more “instagrammable.” Or you may take into consideration how you may capture a current moment in your online viewers later.
This tendency to prepare your life around online consumption can spill over into real life.
Some signs of essential character syndrome could also be viewed more positively than others.
For example, the sense of importance you get from being the star of an epic story can provide you with a lift. You may feel more motivated and assured. For someone who's anxious, insecure, or generally has low self-esteem, these may very well be good things.
Other symptoms of the essential character syndrome could be considered neutral or negative.
You can:
- Do you're thinking that you might be more vital than you actually are or do you overestimate how vital your actions are to other people
- Have a distorted view of reality
- Ignore or don't see the implications of your behavior
- Behaving in a certain way just to draw attention or appear dramatic
- Behave or dress in a way that will not be truly “you”
You could also:
- Do you've got the urge to “reinvent yourself” or “change your brand”
- Lack of empathy
- Romanticize your problems by pondering, for instance, that you've got to undergo certain things to be able to grow and develop
- You experience cognitive dissonance, meaning you've got to justify your actions to yourself because they don't align together with your values or beliefs.
The essential character syndrome involves a certain degree of self-centeredness, so it might sound loads like narcissism. The two overlap, but usually are not the identical.
Both protagonists and narcissists have an inflated sense of self-worth. They are the focal point.
Another trait that each can have in common is an absence of empathy. The inability to grasp or care about other people's feelings is a driving trait of narcissism. It will also be a part of the essential character syndrome because you're feeling such as you or your problems are more vital.
Both narcissism and essential character syndrome are regarded as linked to excessive social media use. Narcissists may are inclined to be hooked on social media. As for essential character syndrome and excessive social media use, one can result in the opposite.
Unlike essential character syndrome, narcissistic personality disorder is a mental illness. Someone affected by this disorder is continually confronted with it. It affects their each day life and their personal and skilled relationships. A essential character, then again, can increase their essential character energy in some situations and reduce it in others.
Being the essential character all over the place you go may cause problems in your relationships and your on a regular basis life. However, in case you are aware of your tendency to see yourself because the essential character, chances are you'll find a way to get a handle on this and never let it dictate your life.
Here are some rules of thumb to maintain your essential character's energy under control.
Know when to step out of the highlight
Don't let the essential character's energy stop you from being friend. Sometimes it's another person. Make sure you step aside when a friend has news to share or desires to open up a few problem. Don't be the star at another person's celebration, wedding, or celebration. In general, when interacting with friends and family members, stop and ask yourself in case you're spending an excessive amount of time within the highlight.
Check out your true self
Look at a few of your chosen behaviors. Do your actions reflect your true preferences, values and beliefs? Or are you wearing a mask? Decide if you wish to proceed with these behaviors.
Ask yourself why you might be reinventing yourself
There could also be good reasons for working hard to alter something about yourself. Maybe you've decided to be a greater listener. Or perhaps you wish to speak up more at work. This known as working on yourself. It's different from changing parts of yourself to impress others or to present a false image of yourself. When the urge to reinvent yourself arises, consider carefully about what you wish to change and why.
Take stock of your relationships
You may not understand it, but your essential character's energy could hurt others. Friends, family, or spouse may feel such as you're not listening to them or stealing the show at times.
Have an open conversation with the people who find themselves vital to you. You could ask:
- Do you're feeling heard by me?
- Do you're feeling like I'm listening to you?
- Are there ways I generally is a higher friend/partner/sibling?
- Are there situations in our relationship that you just wish I handled otherwise?
Their answers could also be obscure. When they speak, deal with being calm and listening, and don't attempt to defend yourself.
Choose a single thing
It's difficult to be authentic whenever you're attempting to completely change yourself for the general public. If you wish to reinvent yourself for the higher, deal with one small thing about yourself that you wish to change.
It may very well be a personality trait. Maybe you interrupt too often when persons are talking. It may very well be a habit. Maybe you wish to read more and stream less. But it might even be something external. For example, it's OK to wish to be more stylish. But take it step-by-step. Ask yourself why you wish to change it. Make a plan for the way you'll do it. And then deal with just that one thing.
Talk to a therapist
If you're feeling like your essential character's energy is dominating your life and also you've lost control, a licensed mental health skilled may find a way to assist. Ask your doctor, friends, or family in the event that they can recommend someone. You also can search online for therapists in your area.
Main character syndrome is the concept that you might be the essential character in every situation in your life story and everybody else is secondary. It's not an actual syndrome. It's only a phrase that has emerged on social media.
Principal character syndrome has some overlap with narcissism, but they usually are not the identical. Narcissistic personality disorder is a psychiatric illness.
You can take steps to dampen your essential character's energy on your individual, or a licensed therapist can show you how to release a few of that energy.
Does the essential character have narcissism syndrome?
There is a few overlap, comparable to an inflated sense of self and an absence of empathy, but they usually are not the identical thing. Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental illness. Principal character syndrome, then again, will not be.
What is a personality disorder of the essential character?
This is just one other name for essential character syndrome. However, it will not be an actual personality disorder.
What is the other of essential character syndrome?
Side Character Energy – one other term coined on social media – describes a one that is often funny and assured and doesn't seek to be the focal point.