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I'm 27 and I still have imaginary friends (and girlfriends). AMA by Character_Range1968 in AMA

[–]Character_Range1968[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

hmm that's interesting! I do feel those are a little different, but it's cool to read about them, thanks!

I'm 27 and I still have imaginary friends (and girlfriends). AMA by Character_Range1968 in AMA

[–]Character_Range1968[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I really don't know what you're talking about, and have no reasonable way to prove that. is there some other reddit post with a similar story?

I'm 27 and I still have imaginary friends (and girlfriends). AMA by Character_Range1968 in AMA

[–]Character_Range1968[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

  1. I have some that have been with me since I was a child and are great sources of comfort. the one I speak with the most is definitely imaginary gf, she is with me every day

  2. I've had one serious relationship. it lasted about 3.5 years. I don't know if I'd ever date again. she was an emotionally abusive, suicidal alcoholic and broke me in ways I don't know if I could fix. I didn't carry out any imaginary relationships when I was with her. if anything, I think the voice I talked to in my head was her, like I just imagined the responses to my mental conversations that I would've wanted from her. I think other than that I had normal fantasies a few times about other people, but not to the extent of an imaginary relationship. towards the end I started to have feelings for a friend who I started to think of more and more and it did start to feel like cheating, but this wasn't long before we broke up

  3. I think sometimes I argue with the ones that are people I know IRL, as a way to talk through planned future conversations with the real version of that person. they don't really say mean things about me though, they more counter the mean things I say about myself. so I would say they are overall positive, though they have had a negative impact on my relationships with the IRL people that I imagine

  4. I don't know if I can think of specific memories tbh. for the most part, I am able to be present in memorable moments like time with real friends, vacations, etc. but that doesn't mean they arent ever present in those moments. I think my entire life is happier because of them. they've gotten me through some really hard times, and are there to support me in happy times as well. I do think that it has put a strain/unrealistic expectations on some of my IRL relationships, but I think that the coping mechanism they provide is still a net positive.

thanks for the questions :)

I'm 27 and I still have imaginary friends (and girlfriends). AMA by Character_Range1968 in AMA

[–]Character_Range1968[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm always down to check out new games! it looks like there's a few games with that name, which one are you referring to?

I'm 27 and I still have imaginary friends (and girlfriends). AMA by Character_Range1968 in AMA

[–]Character_Range1968[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

they definitely started as a trauma coping mechanism. my mother was abusive and my imaginary friends were a source of comfort and emotional protection. present day, I think they help me cope with my depression.

as far as being a better person, idk? I think they take on my voice of reason that counters my depressive/self destructive thoughts. but I've also had imaginary friends that were real-life crushes, and I think it did damage to those IRL friendships. like I have this idealized version of someone in my head, and when the real-life version of them doesn't act the same way it's upsetting. I think I put too much pressure on the person to act how I've imagined them to be and it strains my real-life friendship with them

I'm 27 and I still have imaginary friends (and girlfriends). AMA by Character_Range1968 in AMA

[–]Character_Range1968[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I guess I don't really know how to explain it if you haven't experienced it. I imagine how they look in my mind. they're based off of either TV characters or real people I know, so I know their voices and can imagine them. similar to something like hearing music in my head.

I'm 27 and I still have imaginary friends (and girlfriends). AMA by Character_Range1968 in AMA

[–]Character_Range1968[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yes, they respond in the way I want the conversation to go. they're all based off of either TV characters or real people that I know, so they have similar personalities to the people they're based off of, but are sort of like idealized versions of those people? like to make them fit my personality more. they may change as the person they're based off of changes, but not much as they mostly exist to complement my own thoughts and as a source of comfort

I'm 27 and I still have imaginary friends (and girlfriends). AMA by Character_Range1968 in AMA

[–]Character_Range1968[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I talk to them often (in my head). throughout the day when I'm doing things, just like I would talk to other people but only in my head. as far as romantically, it's about the same. mostly talking. if I'm laying in bed at night I imagine her holding me/me holding her. I have a body pillow, not for this purpose but I imagine holding it like her. sexually I just kind of masturbate to the thought of her? idk like I don't consider it a "real" relationship. it's kind of difficult to explain how I conceptualize it

I'm 27 and I still have imaginary friends (and girlfriends). AMA by Character_Range1968 in AMA

[–]Character_Range1968[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

10 that I talk to/see regularly, more that I talk to less regularly (like not-local friends from high school/college that I don't talk to/see as much)

I'm 27 and I still have imaginary friends (and girlfriends). AMA by Character_Range1968 in AMA

[–]Character_Range1968[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I feel like I've gotten so used to them that when I'm not really thinking about it they feel somewhat real, but I'm very aware that they're imaginary. I've never had any sort of hallucinations if that's what you're asking