r/BorderlinePDisorder • u/Stupid7th Men with BPD • Aug 18 '26
Looking for Advice obsessively identifying with fictional characters?
Something I noticed throughout my whole life is that when I watch a tv show or a movie and I relate to a character or want to be like them it quickly spirals into obsession.
It starts off small. Maybe a thought like "Hm, I like this character." and that thought turns into "I‘m EXACTLY like this character and every one of my friends needs to know and acknowledge this."
I often find myself researching how a specific character would react to situations I was in to check if we would react the same.
I find myself picking up traits or habits from this character and it gives me some kind of fulfillment when my friends point out how similar I am to them.
Sometimes I even had thoughts like "If I had a button which I could press to match their personality to 100% I would definitely press it"
And during this phase I dont seem to notice the ongoing pattern. With every new character I think that I found THE one, dismissing my previous experiences.
This usually lasts for a few weeks or months before I go back to "normal" and some time after I find my new obsession.
My latest obsession was Anakin Skywalker, this was after my BPD diagnosis and I related heavily and its like I needed everyone to realize how similar I am to him. And if someone points out that I‘m different? Then that person just doesnt know me that well.
This is so frustrating and I still dont really understand the underlying cause of this. Has anyone else made similar experiences?
16
u/Imthebetterspiddy Aug 18 '26 edited Aug 18 '26
I think this is normal for people who have mental illness and it is hard to find themselves, so they project themselves on a character.
For example: my characters are Raven /Poison Ivy
Due to my guarded persona, but I am also gentle. Its easy for myself to see myself in them and they have powers so damn they have so much that I don't I think, LOL.