Main character syndrome is the perception that your life is a story or movie wherein you might be the essential character. This term was born on social media and shouldn’t be a real syndrome or mental disorder, but it might partially overlap with a handful of mental illnesses. Main character syndrome can also be often called essential character energy.
If you see yourself as a star or protagonist, chances are you’ll behave as for those who at all times have an audience. Of course, almost everyone behaves somewhat in a different way after they know – or think – someone is watching. But this behavior is amplified for those who suffer from essential character syndrome. It's not about who you actually are, but in regards to the image you desire 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 will not be 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 won’t 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 are feeling such as you're consistently 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 great, the attractive and the fashionable.
But spending loads of time on social media or the web basically can distort your perception of reality. It might cause you to consistently compare yourself to others. It won’t occur to you that these persons are also curating their lives. Feeling such as you're consistently coming up short in these comparisons could make you desire 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 possibly can capture a current moment on 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 offer you a lift. You may feel more motivated and assured. For someone who’s anxious, insecure, or generally has low self-esteem, these might be good things.
Other symptoms of the essential character syndrome will 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 shouldn’t be truly “you”
You could also:
- Do you might have the urge to “reinvent yourself” or “change your brand”
- Lack of empathy
- Romanticize your problems by considering, for instance, that you might have to undergo certain things as a way to grow and develop
- You experience cognitive dissonance, meaning you might have to justify your actions to yourself because they don’t align along with your values or beliefs.
The essential character syndrome involves a certain degree of self-centeredness, so it might sound rather a lot like narcissism. The two overlap, but will not be the identical.
Both protagonists and narcissists have an inflated sense of self-worth. They are the focus.
Another trait that each can have in common is a scarcity of empathy. The inability to grasp or care about other people's feelings is a driving trait of narcissism. It may also be a part of the essential character syndrome because you are feeling such as you or your problems are more vital.
Both narcissism and essential character syndrome are considered 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 consistently confronted with it. It affects their every day life and their personal and skilled relationships. A essential character, alternatively, can increase their essential character energy in some situations and reduce it in others.
Being the essential character in every single place you go may cause problems in your relationships and your on a regular basis life. However, for those who are aware of your tendency to see yourself because the essential character, chances are you’ll give you the chance 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 a great 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 party, wedding, or celebration. In general, when interacting with friends and family members, stop and ask yourself for those who'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 desire to proceed with these behaviors.
Ask yourself why you might be reinventing yourself
There could also be good reasons for working hard to vary something about yourself. Maybe you've decided to be a greater listener. Or perhaps you desire 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, think twice about what you desire 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 companion 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 are feeling heard by me?
- Do you are feeling like I'm listening to you?
- Are there ways I is usually a higher friend/partner/sibling?
- Are there situations in our relationship that you just wish I handled in a different way?
Their answers could also be obscure. When they speak, give attention to being calm and listening, and don't attempt to defend yourself.
Choose a single thing
It's difficult to be authentic once you're attempting to completely change yourself for the general public. If you desire to reinvent yourself for the higher, give attention to one small thing about yourself that you desire to change.
It might be a personality trait. Maybe you interrupt too often when persons are talking. It might be a habit. Maybe you desire 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 desire to change it. Make a plan for a way you'll do it. And then give attention to just that one thing.
Talk to a therapist
If you are feeling like your essential character's energy is dominating your life and also you've lost control, a licensed mental health skilled may give you the chance to assist. Ask your doctor, friends, or family in the event that they can recommend someone. You can even 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 will not be the identical. Narcissistic personality disorder is a psychiatric illness.
You can take steps to dampen your essential character's energy on your personal, or a licensed therapist can enable you to release a few of that energy.
Does the essential character have narcissism syndrome?
There is a few overlap, resembling an inflated sense of self and a scarcity of empathy, but they will not be the identical thing. Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental illness. Principal character syndrome, alternatively, shouldn’t be.
What is a personality disorder of the essential character?
This is just one other name for essential character syndrome. However, it shouldn’t 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 who is often funny and assured and doesn’t seek to be the focus.