What is the main character syndrome and do you have it?

Most of us go through life believing we are the protagonist. For example when you are listening to music and looking out the window dramatically. There is reason to believe that social media has made this problem a more serious problem – one that affects your health and the people around you.

The main character syndrome is not a medical condition, but it is a condition that is discussed by medical professionals. It refers to a wide range of behaviors, mainly when someone presents themselves as their own life or that of another. Often this life is presented through social media.

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Photo by Josh Rose via Unsplash

Such behaviors are nothing new, but now that there is social media, they are much more common. In an interview with Newsweek, Dr. Michael G. Wetter described the main character syndrome as the “inevitable consequence of the natural human desire for recognition and affirmation that merges with the rapidly developing technology that enables instant and widespread self-promotion”.

Even so, it all sounds pretty difficult to diagnose. How do you know if you or someone in your life is struggling with this?

A healthy dose of the main character syndrome shouldn’t be bad. It could help you appreciate the little moments in your life, such as having a song speak to you directly, or having your friendships and relationships be fulfilling and special. It becomes a problem when you think these experiences make you unique and that other people don’t know what it is like.

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“Unhealthy narcissism is acting like other minor characters are in your own drama rather than main characters in your own intersecting dramas,” University of Denver Professor Michael Karson told Newsweek. “In my opinion, it is healthy to see yourself as the main character in your life, and it is also healthy to realize that you are not the main character of all of humanity.”

So don’t worry if your Instagram or Twitter is all about you. It is your account. To combat Main Character Syndrome, try to remind yourself that other people are just as complicated as you, and that no matter how idyllic their social media life looks, everyone can deal with their own problems.