Acting : What are great qualities that every great Actor/Actress must have? Are some so severe that they might be mistaken for mental illness? by Jennifer Lynn

You can totally ignore what I say and just simply answer the subject/question, but I am kind of reaching out to anyone who wants to listen and maybe even help me. I'm kind of worried about these things that I'm capable of. I want reassurance that I should be proud of them, and I want to hear that I don't need therapy. I'm well aware things like passion and experience are super important, but I feel like there's a deeper layer that isn't talked about much. Let me explain... I naturally do 4 things that make me wonder what the heck is wrong with me, but then I think it's really just something I should be proud of, and not something that I should get therapy for. Note: These things have come so natural for as long as I can remember. I just always thought I was different and didn't really think about them. They are happening more often lately, so my next move is either to an audition or therapy. I feel like they are either gifts or that I should be taking care of them at the therapist basically. 1.) If I were to read 5 pages of a novel right now, I'm able to pick up the mannerisms, the mind set, and the attitude of the main character immediately. In some cases, it can be so severe that I've stopped reading books just because it scared me. I almost feel like I lose myself and became someone else. It doesn't last long, and it's only when I'm really reading a great book. I can also control it. If I'm really stressed, sometimes I use that as an outlet of some form. If I were to do this on a daily basis in the Acting world, I feel like I'll be able to control it and somehow always return to my own self. I've heard of method acting and the damage it can cause if people aren't careful or fully aware of what they're doing long term. 2.) Number 1 happens when I watch movies as well. It's more severe though... Let me give you an example: I watched Still Alice the other day. I was so into it, into Julianne Moore, and just the story in general that I was shaking when it was over. Not only was I shaking, but I felt like her. I went to answer my friends text, and I felt like I didn't know how to type. I was truly terrified. It was only for a half a minute, but the fact that it happened at all scared the hell out of me. I picked up her mannerisms, her awareness (or lack there of), and I feel like I can see through their eyes. It felt almost as if I were in her body, feeling and doing what she did. Or like I had a mask of her face on my face with my own body. I shook it off pretty quickly because it was scary, but I've been known to do this and go months with a characters mannerisms or feelings. I can feel what they feel almost as if it happened to me. I have been through a lot of emotions from being bullied (and all the other stuff that came along with being bullied), so I'm not surprised that I can feel things that I've never really felt before. Like I'm extra sympathetic I guess. I'm super severely compassionate as well. 3.) I always feel like I'm being filmed or that I want to be filmed. Part of me thinks this sounds nuts, but I don't feel like it's a bad thing. I feel like I'm always practicing. I feel like I'm almost getting ready for the next film I'll be in. When I realize that I'm not on set, I feel bummed. My soul hurts. Then I'm scrambling and I'm like Oh My God, I need to get into the acting world immediately, but I stress myself out so much about it that I end up depressed and motionless. I'm currently at a crossroads though. I plan to audition regularly all year long. I'll never stop writing, but I feel like I need to do this. I want to. 4.) Similar to 3...I always always see everything as a movie. Every sentence, every situation, every person is a character. Everything pretty much becomes a movie to me. I write A LOT. I have an insane amount of Script ideas and Scripts on tap. I truly feel like my brain is in the shape of a movie reel. I've been told that as well. I have been told that my mind is so in movie land, and has been for so many years...that I have major issues with normal things such as guys, normal jobs, and random things normal people find easy. If I were to go to therapy right now, well I don't see a point. Why should something like this be a bad thing when I can go out and put it to good use. I don't believe that I need therapy, but I've wondered if I do. I guess I now have the option to go out an Audition and put these crazy qualities to good use, or just find a therapist and see what she/he thinks. I'm more or less only asking because of the scare I had with Still Alice. It brought awareness to my eyes of all the other times this has happened. I actually haven't done a damn thing all week. I'm kind of in shock and awe, but at the same time know exactly what I want and where I want to go. Can you tell I'm stressed? lol