Listen up, friends. Before you reach for that commemorative Meghan Markle and Prince Harry mug or hit "play" on another episode of Suits, take a moment to reflect. A psychiatrist recently shared some intriguing thoughts about how getting too emotionally invested in the royal wedding—yes, even the one between the fifth in line to the British throne and the former actress—might actually affect your mental health if taken too far.
Dr. Sue Varma, a psychiatrist from NYU's Langone Medical Center, opened up to Reuters, sharing her concerns about what happens when a mild interest in the royals—or even celebrities in general—morphs into something more intense. She warns that this can lead to "parasocial" relationships, where fans form one-sided bonds with public figures and may even feel driven to alter their appearance through plastic surgery.
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Let me break it down for you. Dr. Varma, who is part of the American Psychological Association, isn't here to rain on your parade. She's not saying that loving the royal family is inherently bad. In fact, she's totally cool with people being fans. The issue arises when this fandom starts consuming your life. "It’s the lack of other activities, the lack of flexibility," she explains. "Are you taking away time from something else that could benefit you or your loved ones? Is this time that you could be spending with your kids or having meaningful conversations with your partner?"
She goes on to elaborate, "When you start socializing with people you don’t actually know, when you don’t have a reciprocal relationship, this is called parasocial. It’s one-sided. And while it might feel good in the moment, it can become problematic if it starts replacing real, tangible relationships in your life." Yikes, right?
Why Do We Love the Royals So Much?
But hey, let's not forget why we're all so captivated by the royals in the first place. According to research by Taram Emrani, a licensed clinical psychologist, it's simply human nature. "The British royal family has done an incredible job of staying relevant in today's media landscape," she told In Style back in October 2017. "They’ve managed to present themselves in a way that resonates with everyday people. They're a family, they do normal stuff, they visit normal places—even though they're royalty."
Emrani also points out that the royals engage in activities that inspire admiration and respect. "The Duchess has openly discussed important topics like mental health and hunger. Prince Harry is heavily involved in charity work, which people find incredibly inspiring," she notes. "As humans, we naturally look up to those who seem to have something we strive for. It sparks something in our brains that makes us wonder, 'How can I be like them?' They may have the same basic tools as us, but how do they manage to stand out so much?"
So, while we may not have all the answers, one thing's for sure—we sure do love them!
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Some parts of this article were contributed by Katie Rosseinsky. It originally appeared on our sister site, Grazia Daily.
