i self ship for a lot of reasons - to cope (the main reason tbh), because i like expanding the possibilities of my favorite universes by creating self inserts for them, because i just have a lot of love in my heart, because IT'S FUN!!
self shipping has helped my confidence a LOT, and helps me cope with a lot of things that would make society consider me "unlovable" (psychosis, physical disability, et cetera). ever since i joined the self ship community, i've had a lot more self-esteem, and it's REALLY helped my creativity too; i first got into digital art because i fell in love with a fictional character, haha!!
plus, i just really love creating!!
my main f/o of ALL TIME!!!!! Is the Negative Spirit from doom patrol tv (only the show!!)
i've been self shipping with them (i use xe/they for the negative spirit exclusively, because i believe they are nonbinary!) since before i even knew what self shipping & the community really WAS!! specifically, i've been self-shipping with them since 2019 - for 4 years as of the time i'm writing this!! they mean the entire world to me. our anniversary is april 26, we're married.
i've been told it's silly to love them so much, because xe is such a minor character and doesnt speak, but... honestly that's one of the reasons i love them so much! i love it because it makes their actions so much more interesting and important! god, i could ramble for hours about why i love them. many people see them as cold and uncaring but i see the truth. i see you. i see them. and they are a caring being, despite it all. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!!!!!
my self insert for them is a telepath-psychic named holiday vincent! he joins the crew in season 1 after getting a vision that leads them to cloverton, and very quickly they discover their ability to communicate with the spirit, and everything unravels from there. we have a kid in a few timelines, her name is klio :)