Parasocial Healing: Why We Seek Celebrity Vulnerability

Seeing someone else name what you feel can stay with you longer than expected.

Posted May 29, 2026 | Reviewed by Davia Sills

People want to be seen. There’s something comforting in realizing that what you are experiencing is not yours alone.

So often, emotions sit unspoken, leaving people to assume they are the ones carrying them. When someone else names that feeling, it can bring a sense of validation that is hard to find elsewhere.

That is where parasocial relationships can be helpful. Parasocial relationships are one-sided emotional connections with public figures that don’t involve direct interaction but still feel meaningful, especially when someone’s vulnerability reflects something you’ve been trying to understand within yourself.

Why certain voices stay with us

What sticks with people isn’t necessarily who said it or even what they said, but the authenticity and vulnerability they share that draw us in. It’s a certain familiarity where we feel seen when a celebrity shares something that feels private, a lyric that captures a kind of loneliness you have not been able to explain, an interview where someone speaks about anxiety without trying to resolve it neatly, or a conversation about therapy with no ‌strings attached.

For example, when Noah Kahan talks about mental health in his music and in his documentary, it doesn’t feel distant, especially since he’s been so open about it on social media and in interviews. Other examples include when Pedro Pascal speaks about his anxiety in interviews without trying to frame it as something to overcome, just something he lives with, or how Taraji P. Henson speaks openly about therapy and mental health while creating access for others through her advocacy work.

When we see people like celebrities share their struggles, it helps us see them more as humans and as people we look up to.

What often gets overlooked is why this resonates so deeply. These moments give language to something that may have felt unclear or difficult to express. Instead of sitting with a vague sense of anxiety or sadness, people begin to understand what they’re feeling in a more concrete way.

Research shows parasocial relationships can ease loneliness and offer emotional support, particularly when people recognize themselves in what is being shared. People not only admire celebrities who are vulnerable but also feel understood by that vulnerability, as if their feelings are being recognized and validated.

What’s important to note here is that these celebrities aren’t asking anyone for anything. They’re simply sharing.

The role of recognition

From a psychological perspective, this kind of connection isn’t unusual. People tend to respond to what feels recognizable.

According to social cognitive theory , much of what we understand about ourselves is shaped by observation of both behavior and emotional experiences. When someone else names a feeling that’s been sitting just below the surface, it can trigger how that feeling is understood.

For example, when Selena Gomez publicly shared her bipolar diagnosis , the response was immediate and widespread. Many people expressed relief in hearing someone articulate an experience they had either lived through or were trying to understand. Personal essays that followed, including those in outlets like Teen Vogue , reflected how many people saw their own experiences in her story.

Because ‌Selena Gomez shared her diagnosis in a low-stakes environment, it allowed for more conversations around mental health to flow naturally, not because of the diagnosis itself, but because of how it was shared. It felt honest and ongoing, rather than resolved. That kind of openness made it easier for others to acknowledge their own experiences without feeling isolated.

Research tells us that parasocial relationships help with loneliness and allow people to have conversations surrounding mental health. In some cases, they offer a low-pressure entry point into self-reflection and, potentially, into seeking help.

What makes these moments impactful, however, isn’t the research behind them. It’s the feeling of being understood without having to explain yourself.

What visibility actually does

During May, Mental Health Awareness Month, there is often an emphasis on speaking up, sharing resources, and encouraging people to reach out. Those things matter, but for many people, the first step isn’t speaking out. It’s recognition.

This recognition happens in private, while scrolling or listening. It’s in those quiet moments, observing someone else open up, that a person can finally say, “I’m not alone. They get me.”

Putting a name to what you’re feeling and simply allowing yourself to sit with it is often enough. But not all connections stay in that space.

When the connection becomes something else

Parasocial relationships can remain beneficial as long as there’s a clean line between the observer and the observed. But sometimes it shifts into something more dependent, where the person starts to replace real relationships with parasocial ones rather than simply complement them.

It’s not the connection itself that’s bad, but what the connection is being used for that can cause concern.

Research has shown that when parasocial relationships become too intense, they can be linked to increased anxiety, emotional dependence, and difficulty forming or maintaining real-life relationships. Although this doesn’t happen for everyone, it highlights the importance of balance. The connection can be meaningful, but it shouldn’t become the only place where emotional needs are met.

Finding balance within the connection

To engage with these connections without losing perspective, start with awareness. Recognizing that what you’re responding to is a shared experience, not a personal relationship. Let the moment resonate, while still making space for real conversation, real support, and real connections outside of the screen.

That way, parasocial relationships can serve as a starting point for understanding what you’re feeling. But they’re not meant to carry the full weight of it. That part happens in spaces where reciprocity, presence, and care are present.

Parasocial relationships can act as the first step

Ultimately, the draw toward parasocial moments is about being seen. Hearing someone else name what you feel can shift how you understand yourself, even if that moment happens from a distance.

These moments can be the beginning of awareness, the start of acceptance, or simply a reminder that what you are feeling is valid. And sometimes, that’s enough to take the next step.

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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.