Thread: My Sister

It's probably nothing, and just the regular mind of a ten year old, but this is what my sister is like:

She has the most amazing imagination I've ever seen, she will go outside in the snow and just crawl on her hands and knees for hours on end, pretending she is an animal such as a polar bear, a tiger, a snake, a wolf, or anything. She always talks to her imaginary friends as if they were right there in front of her. I walked into her room once where she had her stuffed animals lined up and she was introducing them to her "friends from school". I asked her what she was doing. She said showing my friends my Webkinz (a kind of stuffed animals...). I said what friends? She said "They're sitting right there!" I was kind of confused and I said "You can see them?" she said "Yeaaaah..." In a tone that kind of said "What the hell is he, an idiot?" So I said okay... and I left the room.

Is this the regular ordinary mind of any ten year old girl? She has the most vivid imagination, she always talks to her imaginary friends like they are right there and she refers to them by name (Kelsey, Maddy, etc). And I mean always, she never is actually "alone".

Originally Posted by Walfe

It's probably nothing, and just the regular mind of a ten year old, but this is what my sister is like:

She has the most amazing imagination I've ever seen, she will go outside in the snow and just crawl on her hands and knees for hours on end, pretending she is an animal such as a polar bear, a tiger, a snake, a wolf, or anything. She always talks to her imaginary friends as if they were right there in front of her. I walked into her room once where she had her stuffed animals lined up and she was introducing them to her "friends from school". I asked her what she was doing. She said showing my friends my Webkinz (a kind of stuffed animals...). I said what friends? She said "They're sitting right there!" I was kind of confused and I said "You can see them?" she said "Yeaaaah..." In a tone that kind of said "What the hell is he, an idiot?" So I said okay... and I left the room.

Is this the regular ordinary mind of any ten year old girl? She has the most vivid imagination, she always talks to her imaginary friends like they are right there and she refers to them by name (Kelsey, Maddy, etc). And I mean always, she never is actually "alone".

Great question. I couldn't say. Your sister may be very sensitive to Spirit and may be actually having communication with her Guides and/or deceased people.

That being said, the imagination of a child combined with little or no inhibitions against "pretending" add up to exactly what you're describing.

As long as her companions don't cause her any worry, they shouldn't cause you any. You might even try playing along and just see what happens.

Originally Posted by saxonharp

You might even try playing along and just see what happens.

Great idea! I'll do it next time she's around.

I've seen a lot of documentaries about that. The thing is that sometimes, when the kid is feeling alone it can invent a friend. A friend to be always with him/her. Sometimes it's not just imagination but it gets a lot deeper. It can be spirits. In one of the documentaries, the child called a spirit of a dead man. And that spirit was good with the kid. It was protecting him. The only problem was that, the spirit got used to be ALWAYS with the kid and it started hurting his family as soon as they approached the little boy. Those imaginary friends scare the crap out of me. All I can say is: just becarefull because it can get worse then that. Also, maybe you or some member of your family should pass more time with your sister. So she may not feel alone. That way she may also forgeth her imaginery friends.

If you think she is not pretending, then maybe you should specifically ask her. It may be a mental problem. I am open minded to the idea of ghosts/spirits and stuff, but something like this might be a serious problem like schizophrenia (I'm no expert, but you should make sure whether or not she is pretending). I hate to break this forums rules, but this is something you should be careful about. If shes not pretending, it might also not be a ghost.

Originally Posted by Harrycombs

If you think she is not pretending, then maybe you should specifically ask her. It may be a mental problem. I am open minded to the idea of ghosts/spirits and stuff, but something like this might be a serious problem like schizophrenia (I'm no expert, but you should make sure whether or not she is pretending). I hate to break this forums rules, but this is something you should be careful about. If shes not pretending, it might also not be a ghost.

I agree with Harrycombs.

Originally Posted by Harrycombs

If you think she is not pretending, then maybe you should specifically ask her. It may be a mental problem. I am open minded to the idea of ghosts/spirits and stuff, but something like this might be a serious problem like schizophrenia (I'm no expert, but you should make sure whether or not she is pretending). I hate to break this forums rules, but this is something you should be careful about. If shes not pretending, it might also not be a ghost.

"The schizophrenic is drowning in the same waters in which the mystic swims with delight"

Joseph Campbell.

Holy crap you are all way the hell overreacting. I think this is normal behavior for extremely imaginative and creative children and people in general. I used to be just like that. I used to talk to my imaginary friends all the time, name them all, play by myself for hours and hours...AND I even played with barbie dolls until the age of 14 when my mom finally took them away!

Haha...I think your sister sounds fantastic, and I'd love to hang out with her. =) I wish people weren't so closed minded and quick to shout "mental disorder" at creative minds.

I STILL play pretend all the time. I'd rather die than live without imagination. Watch Bridge to Terabithia, the girl in that movie is probably alot like your sister?

Anyways, I think you should play with her more. You might learn something.

Hm yea, Aquanina is right.

Originally Posted by Aquanina

Holy crap you are all way the hell overreacting. I think this is normal behavior for extremely imaginative and creative children and people in general. I used to be just like that. I used to talk to my imaginary friends all the time, name them all, play by myself for hours and hours...AND I even played with barbie dolls until the age of 14 when my mom finally took them away!

Haha...I think your sister sounds fantastic, and I'd love to hang out with her. =) I wish people weren't so closed minded and quick to shout "mental disorder" at creative minds.

I STILL play pretend all the time. I'd rather die than live without imagination. Watch Bridge to Terabithia, the girl in that movie is probably alot like your sister?

Anyways, I think you should play with her more. You might learn something.

I thought it was probably nothing, just that he should see if it develops or something. Can't be to safe

Try trowing salt ( salt is supposed to represent purity ) at your sister's imaginary friends if they get pissed and attack you they most likely be evil spirits! just kidding i think it's normal behaviour if she was no real friends in witch case you should try to socialize a bit with her.

Originally Posted by saxonharp

Worry accomplishes nothing other than to cloud the judgment and shield the heart from making good decisions.

If she is indeed speaking with Spirits, they have not harmed her and cause her no distress. She may be gifted with this sensitivity and this is something that should be supported and nurtured - not turned into a horrible experience or something that is "bad". There are few hostile Spirits and if your sister has the sensitivity to see and hear them in this way, then she has the opportunity to truly make a difference in helping both the living and the dead in their journeys. This is a blessing, not a curse.

That being said, this type of sensitivity is even rarer than true schizophrenia. However, I disagree with Shark Rider that having "imaginary friends" is abnormal and should be grounds for concern on a mental illness level. I have a ten year-old duaghter who plays "pretend" quite often - as did I myself when I was ten. I am very well adjusted and my daughter is too. Mental illness such as true Schizophrenia is rare to begin with but even more so before the late twenties/ early thirties.

Have you talked to your parents about this? What is their take?

Be watchful, be warry, be loving, but don't be worried. It profits neither you nor her.

I didn't say that it is necessary a mental problem or whatever. I said it COULD be. And it could also be just some stages in life that she's passing throuhg.
And about spirits, yeah I agree with you: it is a gift. It's something that not anyone can have. It's not always bad thing. But sometimes, it could be.

Originally Posted by Aquanina

I used to be just like that. I used to talk to my imaginary friends all the time, name them all, play by myself for hours and hours...AND I even played with barbie dolls until the age of 14 when my mom finally took them away!

Cool! I use to talk with my plushies when I was younger. But I never had an imaginery friend. I wonder what it feels like...