Am I Normal?emotions
I feel genuinely sad when a great book or show ends, as if I've lost something
This grief for fictional worlds is called 'post-series depression' or 'post-book blues'. The neural networks activated during deep narrative engagement are the same as those for real social relationships — your brain doesn't distinguish between a friend and a beloved character in terms of emotional investment. Losing that world is a real loss.
Have you ever done this?
Be honest — have you ever done this?
Related fact
Studies on 'narrative transportation' show that highly engaged readers show physiological stress responses (elevated cortisol, increased heart rate) during tense scenes — reactions identical to real-world threat responses.