Did you have semi-imaginary friends??

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4 Comments

I had semi-imaginary friends, who sometimes ended up being more than that. Most were musicians older than myself; they were always changing based on my tastes. They had magic powers, based on what they did in real life; so eg 1 who was/is an artist would have magic paints & tell me to blot things out/gloss over them. A musician would stun people w/ his face-melting guitar playing, singing a blues song in a cracked old voice, inspiring me to do the same (I’m disabled so I could sing the songs but not do the face-melting guitar playing.) They were always there to cheer me up.

I dropped them all, but I was so miserable. I put on weight, I snapped @ everyone & some other things happened, but let’s not dwell on them.

I am 31 y/o now & still have said IFs . I simply find living c/o them easier. My parents know of them & support me. When I’m in pain/feel disliked, the IFs are always there; I’m never bored. I’ve got rubbish road sense so moving out of my flat-share is not a good idea, not yet anyway. I never talk to them out loud. I’ve been to counselling, on & off, but it didn’t work.

I’ve a support worker who is always calling on her angels/spirit guides. Was I a member of a tribe it’d be expected for me to do this, so why is it normal for them but not me??.

Voting Results
39% Normal
Based on 33 votes (13 yes)
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Comments ( 4 )
  • kip2r9
    9 years ago

    I don't see anything wrong with that, as long as you know that they aren't real. It is just playful imagining to make your life a bit more interesting or to entertain yourself with "what if's." In middle school, I had what I called an "invisible acquaintance." He was 4'8", in some of my classes, rode my bus, and lived down the street from me, but we didn't really consider each other friends. Then he changed schools in my Sophomore year of high school. I'm almost 20 and still consider him a real person (even though I know he isn't)and bump into him on occasion when I'm walking in the neighborhood or at the grocery store.

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  • donotmockme
    9 years ago

    Uhhh. I think it's completely normal and healthy to have imaginary friends as a child and even preteen and your parents are aware but once you reach 13, you shouldn't be telling people you have them.

    I believe that many adults still carry their imaginary friends into adulthood as a sort of therapeutic thing and they're 100% aware of them being made up but to tell your family, that's the not normal bit.

    Imaginary friends are actually known to be beneficial to health regardless of age as although they are the same person, they are completely different entities that offer advice from a different perspective, help people cope with loneliness, loss, stress, anxiety and more.

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  • seakelp
    9 years ago

    Ok, so does that mean they're real or not? I don't really know what you mean by 'semi-imaginary.' Are they real people that you pretend that you are friends with but actually aren't?

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  • LAR23
    9 years ago

    I have a long history of doing this, but for me they're more alter egos or fantasies than imaginary friends. They're awesome and they can do things you can't. Sure it's a guilty pleasure, but if it's helping you to cope and not interfering with reality then I don't think it's inherently wrong to have them. Especially if it's motivating you. I often find if I imagine up a person I with a certain talent or personality trait I like I unintentionally start gravitating towards that. If it's not affecting you negatively than there's no problem and it's a good distraction and venting, like living vicariously

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