Your royal wedding obsession could be dangerous, a psychiatrist warns
Here鈥檚 how to know you鈥檝e gone too far
Here鈥檚 how to know you鈥檝e gone too far
Here鈥檚 how to know you鈥檝e gone too far
Obsessed with the latest news about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle? These days, who isn鈥檛? But according to a report from , you should probably monitor how all-encompassing your interest in all things royal becomes 鈥� because it could turn into an actual mental illness.
Psychiatrist Sue Varma, an assistant professor at New York University Langone Medical Center, told Reuters that there鈥檚 nothing inherently wrong with loving every last bit of Meghan Markle family gossip. But there comes a point where royal obsession can get pretty dark.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the lack of other activities, the lack of flexibility, the fact that you鈥檙e taking away time from something else. Is this time that you could have been spending with your kids? Is this time you could be talking with your partner?鈥� Varma said.
Varma also noted that you fawning over Harry is an entirely one-sided relationship, unless you are literally Meghan Markle. So be sure you鈥檙e keeping that in mind when you keep refreshing Kensington Palace鈥檚 Instagram account. 鈥淲hen you start socializing with people that you don鈥檛 know, when you don鈥檛 have a reciprocal relationship, this is called parasocial. It鈥檚 one-sided,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his is a problem when you鈥檙e living in a fantasy world at the expense of creating real relationships.鈥�
reports that parasocial relationships often occur with celebrities or even fictional characters. Most are totally harmless, like being way too invested in Olivia Pope鈥檚 decisions on "Scandal." But others can become dangerous, like when John Hinckley Jr. tried to assassinate Ronald Reagan to impress Jodie Foster. Sure, most people aren鈥檛 going to go that far, thankfully, but there鈥檚 still a definite downside to celebrity obsession.
Many people turn to parasocial relationships when they鈥檙e feeling lonely, according to "," which is why rom-coms can feel great after a breakup. It just reflects every person鈥檚 fundamental need to belong to a social group.
But some social scientists worry that too much time with parasocial relationships will take away from your time talking to actual people you're acquainted with. So if you鈥檙e planning on watching Prince Harry and Meghan Markle鈥檚 wedding in May, invite a few friends over. It鈥檒l be more fun鈥� and healthier for you, too.