I'm an 18 year old girl and for over five years I have been... how do I say... building relationships with people I know don't exists. The people often change, I will stay with one "person" for about a month or two, than change who it is I talk to. At night I will talk to them, act out scenerios. I know these people don't exist and that I am, in a way, talking to myself - but is this a mental disorder that I should be worried about? I'm a relatively normal person, with friends. I have a social life, it's just not the GREATEST social life. Please help. I often wonder if I try to stop doing this I won't be able to, because right now I just think of it as a quirk.
2006-12-25 12:34:24 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
I'm an 18 year old girl and for over five years I have been... how do I say... building relationships with people I know don't exists. The people often change, I will stay with one "person" for about a month or two, than change who it is I talk to. At night I will talk to them, act out scenerios. I know these people don't exist and that I am, in a way, talking to myself - but is this a mental disorder that I should be worried about? I'm a relatively normal person, with friends. I have a social life, it's just not the GREATEST social life. Please help. I often wonder if I try to stop doing this I won't be able to, because right now I just think of it as a quirk.
edit: I'd also like to say that I don't discuss everyday life when I talk to these people, I think up things that are more extravagant than my life.
2006-12-25 12:44:16 · update #1
I can appreciate your concern. Within psychology/psychiatry generally the definiation of a hallucination (hearing or seeing things that are not there) is often the LACK of recognition that they are emerging from one's mind AND the inability to control the events. Additionally, mental illness also considers the degree of functioning--if you have friends and a social life, work or go to school with little difficulty and these experiences do not interfere than you could just have a healthy imagination perhaps to combat issues of loneliness or feelings of not quite meshing with others (some might say psychicism) and I wouldn't worry about it. Finally, we all have our inner voices that we chat with to help us deal with our everyday life (which does not mean our discussions are realistic). It's possible that you have developed more independent parts of your self to help you cope with stress. Additionally, perhaps you can channel your experiences into a creative writing project (play or book)--sounds to me that maybe these parts are your creative muse!
If at some point it becomes:
1. intrusive--the "friends" emerge at times when you do not want them or cannot engage in scenarios with them; and/or
2. disrupt your sleep or waking life in negative ways that you begin to focus on your internal world rather than your external life; and/or
3. The auditory experiences become threatening/frightening in nature or intensify beyond their current level;
4. OR follow periods of depression...
then it would be important to speak with a psychologist or psychiatrist for assistance. There are very effective treatments. If you are very concerned right now and just need to talk with someone about this experience and any other stressors you may have, I would recommend that you speak with a psychologist (they do not medicate in most states). This will help reassure you and provide you with someone who can help you monitor the experience to make sure that it is something you can control when you want as well as brainstorm ideas for making your social life more fulfilling.
Best,
Katie MacDowell, M.Ed.
Masters, Counseling Psychology
Doctoral Candidate, Clinical & Health Psychology
2006-12-25 12:46:44 · answer #1 · answered by Katie MacDowell 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you know the people dont exist and know your talking to yourself then your not dellusional. Your aware you have a problem so your not shitzophrenic. You dont have a mental disorder your just a donut short of a dozen. Everyone is a little throwed off. Alot of people talk to theirself. You just have some people that take it to an extreme. Tell your doctor what you told us. He might prescribe you some antipsychotic medication
2006-12-25 13:23:56 · answer #2 · answered by meka g 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just sounds like the way you sort out your problems. Since you know they aren't real it doesn't seem that you have lost grasp or reality. True confessions time. I sort of have done a similar thing since I was ateenager. Mine is a little different than yours in tthat O dont' invent people but just pretend that a person whom I know is watching me or that I am having a conversation with them. My Mom is a psychiatric social worker, so I asked her if what I was doing was normal. She said that as ling as I know the differnce, that they aren't really in the room with me it's not a true problem to be concerned about. Later in life it made more sense to me why I did it. When speaking out to someone it better helps me sort out my thoughts thann quietly in my head.
2006-12-25 12:42:09 · answer #3 · answered by squirrelbabygirl7 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i used to do this a lot when i was younger (like 13-17) but recently i havent as much, the reason i would do it would be to build my communication skills when i did confront someone about a certain subject, or when i was trying to open my mind to different ways to look at an issue and such. ruminating over the what ifs and such, and playing out different scenarios.
2006-12-25 12:50:49 · answer #4 · answered by zazibi9 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's no different than having an imaginary friend. They make great soundboards and you're using them to "stay in shape" for when you finally DO meet someone you'd like to spend some time with.
2006-12-25 12:46:02 · answer #5 · answered by Robwood 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
well maybe you should just stop.not trying to be funny but you don't want to create or make a problem do you? you said you have good friends so maybe you should just continue to talk to them.
there are certain disorders that cause this type of imagination, if it continues to brother you tell some one you trust.
2006-12-25 12:41:57 · answer #6 · answered by louies5 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it sounds like you are still playing pretend like you did when you were a little girl, if you are not hurting your self or anyone else and you are having fun then no i wouldnt think its a mental issue but if you start letting it interfear with your life period then i would say yea seek help but if no harm no damage then have fun.....
2006-12-25 13:22:37 · answer #7 · answered by att_i_tude2006 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't worry about it. I sometimes talk to people that I think are there that aren't. It's pretty distressing when suddenly I realize that the situation I'm in can't be real and turns out not to be.
2006-12-25 12:37:57 · answer #8 · answered by JoninCT 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you were younger, I'd say no problem. But you might need to talk to a professional about it at your age.
2006-12-25 13:51:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its probably based on your everyday life. See a shrink.
2006-12-25 12:36:17 · answer #10 · answered by 1m@ h3@rT Br3@k3r 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋