Is it okay to feel emotional attachment to fictional characters?

I thought it's normal, what you described.  I was morbidly obsessed over the twilight saga, I was literally living it and couldn't decide who was a bigger crash, the vampire Edward or the werewolf Jacob. I also fantasised about them a lot, like you described. For me- it annoyed me at times, but I just decided to let myself obsess and get addicted as I call it. I just can't otherwise. And I know that it will pass. I also remember I was obsessed with Edmond Dantes from "the count of Monte Christo". There is also one good outcome of my fixation on the twilight saga 10 years ago- I started learning English,  that's why I can speak English.  This was the first book and movie I red and watched multiple times in English. Its not my first language. 

Currently I get irritated by my fixations at times, for example I had an Obsession with David Grusch, the whistle-blower who testified for the Congress, that he spoke to people, who had some experience or observations of UFOs aliens etc.

On one hand I feel vroken because I'm walking like a ghost in a fog, in my own inner world, doesn't really matter if it's David Grusch or black holes consuming my brain, on the other hand I feel so helpless that I just let myself flow and sometimes also enjoy myself being sucked. I can't otherwise. 

Buffy was my world for a long time, the show and the character’s. It was probably the first show I would binge watch. I felt as if the characters were friends of mine as I went through their fictional lives with them. I did also go through spells (no pun intended) of feeling as if their existence and their world was where I truly belonged. Angel also was another incredible show, loved every episode of that. I have tried to recently get back into it all for nostalgias sake but it doesn’t quite hit the nail on the head like it used to.

Thank you for your response 

I have recently started using ChatGPT  and it helps , I also tend to fixate on certain tv shows or actors, if I like a actor like example one of my favorites is Jennifer Lawrence , I watched all her movies (good and bad) and for while I have her as my wallpaper on my phone. Certain shows seem to trigger it to, such as x-files, Grimm (if you haven't watched please do so you'll enjoy it!), or right now the Flash. some times like you its all I think about to the point where I'm acting it out in my head. I don't think there is anything wrong with us. In fact I think its because a lot of the time I believe we learn best with these fictional characters and how we should navigate the world thats not meant for us

Peter said:

It's quite hard to define how 'limmerence' is difrent than platonic affection.

In platonic affection there's no sexual desire. Anyways, whatever it is, it isn't something to worry about, unless it limits your normal life. So it's ok! We agree on this! I wasn't familiar with the term "fictosexuality" and I looked it up because you've mentioned it. So thanks for that! That's my new word for the day !

Maybe. My point is ... well A) sex and romance are not compleatly distinct for most people so the term still seems relevent. and B) the fact the term exists demonstrates this is failrly common.

Personally I dislike the term limmerence I find it a bit nebulous. It's quite hard to define how 'limmerence' is difrent than platonic affection.

The word fictosexuality describes someone's sexual orientation. It is the right term for the guy who married Hatsune Miku (I know her really well, as my son carries the Hatsune doll with him inside the house and also plays Hatsune's game! Yes, we're funs! ).

But if you're just daydreaming and fantasizing about fictional characters, and still have or want to have relationships with real people, it wouldn't count as a sexual orientation. I think it's limmerence, which is a lighter term, meaning that you just like  escaping reality and imagining romantic adventures with fictional (or real but unreachable) characters.

This is so common it has it's own term (Fictosexuality) and wikipedia page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictosexuality). I'm sure many remember the news report about Akihiko Kondo 'marrying' miku hatsune. As I've been saying when AI starts becoming more avalable and your 'waifu' is a permanent presence in your home PC we are totally going to get blade runner 2049 style companions long before 2049 (https://youtu.be/4UYdhKfVwkU?si=PoWL7SyGOU8PMsGd)

Yeah. It’s actually why I started - I had a really bad episode with my depression back during lockdown so I did it as a distraction. It does help. Except when I’m in a book hangover. And currently I’m away from home for the night so feeling out of sorts without my usual distractions, so I’m struggling even more, lol. Do you post your writing online anywhere or is it strictly for you?

OMG no way!?! Ok, so I am officially jealous now I’m glad you’re able to use your own writing as a distraction. I’m not an author, it’s a dream though! But I’m able to write as a hobby and that helps me get through my own stuff when I’m struggling. Writing and imagination are the most perfect combination!

I’m actually an author, so I try to distract myself by delving into my own worlds. Struggling this time though. I feel like this has never hit me so hard before 

Fair enough :)

I don't do romance, so I feel a bit weird about characters falling in love.

I can understand relate with this. The intense emotions that hit can be hard to deal with. Something I do is creative writing, and I take the character or worlds and write about them, kind of further bringing them to life and making them that bit more real. I have a very strong imagination and this works really well for me, I think it would for you too – definitely worth giving a try if you can at some point.

Unfortunately for me it lasts so freaking long though. I finished the books almost a week ago and I still have this grey cloud over my head, and I hate it :( 

Seconded. It is something that you should enjoy, it definitely shows a great imagination and for me personally it takes away a lot of the loneliness in my life.

Absolutely! I think this is more normal than people really think. So many of us do it and you’re autistic you feel things so much more intensely, and when it comes to characters in books or in films you can’t help but become emotionally attached. Like you said you know they aren’t real but there’s still that connection, and I think that’s a good thing. Ultimately it shows the author is a very good writer, or the actor is a very good actor – because they have made the characters so likeable or relatable. I’m sure us being autistic and feeling things so intently is why we become so attached and can really get connected the way we do.

I don’t think this is a problem and I am sure so many people get that same connection with characters in books and in films. I’ve always been this way – it’s great and it really helps bring characters in stories and films to life for me.
Judging by the other responses here too I would say we are definitely not alone in feeling this way!

Thank you for this 

I can really relate to this. When I was younger especially I experienced this a lot - and became completely obsessed with a particular character from a tv programme, and also at a different time with a musician/composer. The feelings were very intense - but like you I was completely aware that this was not a ‘real’ relationship/connection. But it felt very powerful at the time. I think a good way to deal with this is to be quite accepting of it - as I think it’s not an uncommon thing and fundamentally there’s nothing exactly wrong with it - in fact most of the time it can bring us a lot of happiness. There’s no need for guilt or shame - it’s just a sign that you have a vivid imagination and a lot of emotional energy and passion that just happens to go in that direction sometimes. It’s ok I think! Embrace it, accept it, and free yourself from any guilt or shame around it :) 

Yup, people just don't get it. Dismissing it as a weird obsession. or the look like they give after a while like ''ooooookay''. Same with other little ways about myself, ways I do things etc which I think make sense and are logical yet people act like I'm a weirdo.