Is it normal to feel so attached to a TV show?

The Allure of TV Shows Janet Pribanic

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If you’re a pop culture geek who loves binge-watching TV shows, you've likely gone through a rollercoaster of emotions with the characters to the point that some might think you’re exaggerating. After watching the shows for a long period, you begin to form a bond with these fictional characters. Sometimes, we can relate to these people better than our real-life friends. Janet Pribanic.

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According to this study, there's nothing wrong about crying over TV shows. In fact, it's healthy. Aside from the catharsis we experience, it can also make us go through a wide range of emotions that we might not necessarily feel in real life. In a way, being invested in a story can also help us navigate what happens in our own world. While it is completely normal to feel enraged after an episode of Game of Thrones or cry buckets of tears after binge-watching This is Us, it is also possible to get overly attached to the story. Janet Pribanic

Experts in psychology explain that when the shows you watch begin to interfere with your mood and productivity for long periods, it might no longer be healthy. Make sure to remind yourself that what you see is fiction and that what happens outside the screen merits more of your attention. Janet Pribanic.

In reality, our relationship with our favorite characters is one-sided. For those who might be feeling too affected by their favorite programs, perhaps taking a break or watching a different show might help you detach. At the end of the day, we really can't do anything to the stories we are watching. But there's a lot we can do to improve the lives we are living. Janet Pribanic