Thread: Imaginary Friend

Has anyone had a Imaginary friend when they were a child?
I always catch my nephew talking to a invisible person Is this normal. I have heard lots of people have imaginary friends, however I haven't met one person who claims they had one. Also on wikipedia it said having a imaginary friend can lead to schiofernia in later life
I think it might be genetic as I have a imaginary friend(which is still with me) my nephew has it and my brother has a imaginary enemy. Studies have shown people with imaginary friends have better daydreams.

I've heard that imaginary friends could be a spirit. Which would include the spirit of a deceased person or some type of spiritual guardian. I've never had a imaginary friend myself. But I wonder why they cease to exist as the child grows older.

I have never had one.

Originally Posted by King

I have never had one.[/b]

Then why post?
In all seriousness. Without adding some input about the topic, I see no reason to post. There is no poll.

Originally Posted by Howietzer

Then why post?
In all seriousness. Without adding some input about the topic, I see no reason to post. There is no poll. [/b]

But THIS post ads something to the discussion??

-

I never had an imaginary friend, as far as I can remember. But kids are weird, as long as the nephew isn't like 12, but more like 6-8, I guess it is normal, and will go away probably.

But I wonder why they cease to exist as the child grows older.[/b]

I dunno, but there's a movie that might give you some insight into that:

Originally Posted by Tornado

I dunno, but there's a movie that might give you some insight into that:

[/b]

That is such a good film!

Originally Posted by wendylove

Has anyone had a Imaginary friend when they were a child?
I always catch my nephew talking to a invisible person Is this normal. I have heard lots of people have imaginary friends, however I haven't met one person who claims they had one. Also on wikipedia it said having a imaginary friend can lead to schiofernia in later life
I think it might be genetic as I have a imaginary friend(which is still with me) my nephew has it and my brother has a imaginary enemy. Studies have shown people with imaginary friends have better daydreams.[/b]

I have always been curios to know if one actually see this imaginary friend in physical form? Is it just pretend?
Is the child lacking peers?

It certainly seems like it would foster great imaginative skills.

Always had them.. still do (tho I've never been "me" when I interact with them and have never blamed any misdeed on them as a child nor an adult).

For me, they're more so "daydream" friends. I just think it's a sign of having a VERY vivid imagination (it might even be a coping mechanism).

Oh, and I don't see my "friends" as physical or ghostly presences .. they're just in my mind.

PS: I can daydream at a moments notice and totally lose myself in it (I've always enjoyed that) and, as far as schizophrenia goes.. judging by what I've seen and read.. I'm more mentally healthy than most!

Originally Posted by Clairity

Always had them.. still do (tho I've never been "me" when I interact with them and have never blamed any misdeed on them as a child nor an adult).

For me, they're more so "daydream" friends. I just think it's a sign of having a VERY vivid imagination (it might even be a coping mechanism).

Oh, and I don't see my "friends" as physical or ghostly presences .. they're just in my mind.[/b]

It's the same way with myself, Clairity. "Daydream friends" is a good way of putting it. They were more common when I was younger and lonely... and anti-social. Now they've taken on a different role.

I can lose myself very easily in my daydreams, though. There are even some times when I'll be talking and in the middle of what I'm saying my mind will go off on a tangent and I just kind of go on autopilot. Then when I realize what was going on I sometimes have to take a minute to think about what I just said.

Originally Posted by Amethyst

It's the same way with myself, Clairity. "Daydream friends" is a good way of putting it. They were more common when I was younger and lonely... and anti-social. Now they've taken on a different role.[/b]

We're very much alike in this way. I spent alot of time alone when I was younger and I understand when you state they've taken on a "different" role.

Originally Posted by Amethyst

I can lose myself very easily in my daydreams, though. There are even some times when I'll be talking and in the middle of what I'm saying my mind will go off on a tangent and I just kind of go on autopilot. Then when I realize what was going on I sometimes have to take a minute to think about what I just said.[/b]

I find that I can lose myself very easily as well. I can be involved in a project at work and sometimes my mind will decide to take off on a daydream. This happens ALOT while I'm driving. I find that one minute I'm driving down the highway, the next moment I'm miles away and have no idea how I got there (I just began daydreaming and went on "auto" pilot)!

Originally Posted by Amethyst

It's the same way with myself, Clairity. "Daydream friends" is a good way of putting it. They were more common when I was younger and lonely... and anti-social. Now they've taken on a different role.

I can lose myself very easily in my daydreams, though. There are even some times when I'll be talking and in the middle of what I'm saying my mind will go off on a tangent and I just kind of go on autopilot. Then when I realize what was going on I sometimes have to take a minute to think about what I just said.[/b]

That happens to me alot. I start thinking about people's mannerisms or about how surreal moments are when you let yourself become them rather than thinking about what's happening. I hate it though- I feel retarded when I realize that I'm doing it.

I had an imaginary friend up to about 13 years old, even now i find myself talking to imaginary people all the time, definitly more than I talk to real people. I dont just imagin people either, but all kinds of adventures and events.

Originally Posted by Redeyedwolfking

I dont just imagin people either, but all kinds of adventures and events.[/b]

Moi aussi.

interesting, i've never had an imaginary friend, i never played with action man or the like either

l think i would have been to scared to have one, the nightmares and terrors were enough thankyou!

Of course I had an imaginary friend- he's still with me too (when I'm scared or nervous.) His name is Casper (yes like the cartoon) not original I know but, I was like 3 when I met him- he's not a ghost, he's a little boy!
I'll one up ya on stories....
My sister at 2ish had 2 imaginary friends- one was a dog named Popcorn and the other, a black boy, with a big head named Keane!!
She used to talk to them, yell at them etc. When I was 9 and she was 3 1/2 the county switched school districts and I had to go to the city school for 1/2 a year while our new house was being built. I was in an excellerated reading group with 4 people- one who was a biracial boy, with indian features (a large head) and his name was Keane! I'll never forget showing my sister who he was at a school event and her saying "wow he looks like my Keane!!!"
IT GETS MUCH BETTER!!!!!!!!&#33 ;!!!!!!!!!&#33 ;!!!!!
Years passed, I moved to the country and during summer before senior year the strangest thing happened.
My best friend met some boy (she thought his name was Keith) and borrowed his book of poetry for me to read. I FELL HEAD OF HEALS CRAZY IN LOVE!!!!!!!!!& #33; Finally, one day my friend and I were sitting on my front porch and a blue camaro drove by- she said "I think that was Keith" so we waited a few hours to see if he came by again. Sure enough, he did, and he saw us and stopped... I was SMITTEN- SWEATY- NERVOUS IN LOVE!!!!! SO, to end this story, his REAL name was... yep- KEANE!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!! His grandparents lived down that road- ONE MILE from my grandparents- OUR WHOLE LIVES!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!! We dated, lived together, and were MADLY in love for about 4 years- and I KNOW that he was my soul mate- I still love him very much- though that is over and finished (my mistake)
Point is, IF you have imaginary friends---- might be more to it---- listen to em'!!!!!!!!&#3 3;!!

Originally Posted by petersonad

I've heard that imaginary friends could be a spirit. Which would include the spirit of a deceased person or some type of spiritual guardian. I've never had a imaginary friend myself. But I wonder why they cease to exist as the child grows older.[/b]

I've heard the same thing.

Wendy, perhaps your nephew is talking to one of your late relatives. You should ask him the name of the person he's talking to and see if it sounds familar. If it does, get him to describe the person. Children are more inclined to see ghosts than older people, so he could very easily be seeing things that you're not.

My parents always make fun of me about having an imaginary friend when I was little. But I dont remember a thing about it! But their stories about it are so detailed and sometimes funny and other times creepy. Even my grandma thought that at that time in age, I was talking with a spirit, she would tell me or like a spiritual gaurdian. I dont really remember anything of the experience though. I guess my mind grew up, or not necesserily grew up but got lost in this world's chaos. Not a very happy childhood if you asked me.

One strange thing I remember about being young was, when I would want something or get mad, I would kinda feel a push from the back or a push on the head or a pinch in the sholder, kinda of what a friend might do to you to let you know to shut up. weird. I wonder if he or she or it is still with me. Because I never feel alone.

I've never had an imaginary friend, although I find occasionally catch myself thinking aloud when I write for extended periods of time.

I had one for a while when i was younger, i really knew no one was there, but i made myself believe someone was, and once i got tired of him, i moved to my shadow.

I can remember, as a child, trying for hours to create one... no luck... I never had any talent at visualization, until I joined this site. It was sort of silly... I was jealous of a friend who had one, lol.

PS: Ghosts aren't real. Nuff said, and please, no tangents about this topic.

I don't think I've had one... but I think I spent most of my time building stuff with Lego... god, it took me ages to get myself off it!

i had an imaginary friend till i was `12 then i found out i have skitsfrenia.

no more screwdriver wielding clowns to bother me now thanks to me meds

Uh no I have not and I don't plan on it.

I remember my imaginary friend. He was a shadow, and we'd play around. I don't remember much what we'd do but we used to run up and down the stairs together. Oh and he'd tell me to do bad things and said it was ok to do them and then I'd get caught by my mom. I was like four-six years old at the time. Then one day he just sort of stopped coming. He was there but he wasn't, like it was all in my mind. So no, I don't think it was a spirit just something at the time of my imagination.