Main Character Syndrome or Identity Crisis? What Psychology Says About Your Need to Be Seen

Have you ever walked down the street with your headphones in, soundtrack on, pretending you're in a movie? (Be honest, we’ve all done it.)

Welcome to “main character energy.”

Even though I’m a huge supporter of being the star of your show, in some cases, this might become maladaptive. In other words, what if that fantasy masks something deeper?

Main character syndrome, where you imagine your life like a film, is funny and relatable on social media. But underneath, it can signal something meaningful: a hunger to feel seen.

In therapy, I often meet young people who feel invisible in their families, friend groups, or institutions. When the world doesn’t mirror your internal experience back to you, it’s natural to create a version of reality where you are finally acknowledged. 

Psychologically speaking, this is tied to:

• Identity formation (especially in adolescence)

• Attachment patterns and mirroring

• Dissociation or escapism as a response to chronic invalidation

In therapy, we explore what kind of “character” you believe you have to be — the fixer, the overachiever, the chill one — and who you are underneath those roles. We talk about how pop culture narratives shape self-worth and how social media can both reflect and distort identity.

We ask: “What would it be like to feel seen without performing?”

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be the main character. But healing is letting your story unfold in your own voice, not just someone else's script.

If you feel like you’re always performing, therapy can help you rewrite your narrative. You don’t need an audience, just a space to be real– a space where you can be the whole movie.