Psycho-Babble Social Thread 954289

Shown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Is having an imaginary friend crazy?

Posted by Deneb on July 13, 2010, at 1:27:33

I think the Dr. Bob in my mind is my imaginary friend. I talk to him and we have fun times together. Is this crazy?

I know he is mostly in my mind though.

Does anyone else have an imaginary friend?

I love my imaginary friend. I would be so lonely without him!

 

Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy? » Deneb

Posted by obsidian on July 13, 2010, at 21:19:19

In reply to Is having an imaginary friend crazy?, posted by Deneb on July 13, 2010, at 1:27:33

it might be, I don't know
you ever see "Castaway", Tom Hanks?
He becomes friends with a volleyball while he's on a deserted island so he doesn't completely lose all sense of hope and reason.

I do, less over time.

 

Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy?

Posted by emmanuel98 on July 14, 2010, at 1:12:14

In reply to Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy? » Deneb, posted by obsidian on July 13, 2010, at 21:19:19

it's probably a little strange and not entirely healthy that your imaginary friend is a psychiatrist with whom you have no relationship. I wonder if you had tried finding a male therapist in real life to whom you could transfer and work through all these feelings of wanting love and caring. I had a male psychiatrist for five years whom I loved and who helped me through all these intense and needy feelings.

 

Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy?

Posted by Deneb on July 14, 2010, at 3:34:33

In reply to Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy? » Deneb, posted by obsidian on July 13, 2010, at 21:19:19

I saw that movie. I cried so much when he lost the volleyball, I think his name was Wilson. It was so sad.

 

Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy? » Deneb

Posted by 8675309 on July 14, 2010, at 11:47:12

In reply to Is having an imaginary friend crazy?, posted by Deneb on July 13, 2010, at 1:27:33

It's not crazy if age is less than 4 years old or so developmentally speaking. Older than that, questionably healthy.

 

Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy?

Posted by Deneb on July 14, 2010, at 12:32:54

In reply to Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy? » Deneb, posted by 8675309 on July 14, 2010, at 11:47:12

I think it's OK to have an imaginary friend. Maybe I don't have an imaginary friend. I just talk to myself and pretend to talk to Dr. Bob sometimes. It's not really an imaginary friend.

 

Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy?

Posted by Deneb on July 14, 2010, at 12:39:11

In reply to Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy?, posted by Deneb on July 14, 2010, at 12:32:54

Why is it OK for a 4 year old to have an imaginary friend but not an adult?

Can't adults pretend too?

I asked this same question on PsychCentral and everyone there says it's OK to have an imaginary friend as an adult.

 

Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy? » Deneb

Posted by 8675309 on July 14, 2010, at 13:28:23

In reply to Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy?, posted by Deneb on July 14, 2010, at 12:39:11

Imaginary friend(s) are seen as a developmental characteristic of fantasy play that serves several purposes in a young child's development, to include language skills, social interaction skills and expressions of oneself skills. Development that should progress to the ability to apply those skills in a reality based situation thus imaginary friends are rarely found in adults.

Maybe we aren't talking about the same concept.

 

Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy?

Posted by ron1953 on July 14, 2010, at 19:33:20

In reply to Is having an imaginary friend crazy?, posted by Deneb on July 13, 2010, at 1:27:33

I dunno, but it's prolly better than having an imaginary enemy.

 

» Deneb » imaginary friends

Posted by 64Bowtie on July 15, 2010, at 4:07:53

In reply to Is having an imaginary friend crazy?, posted by Deneb on July 13, 2010, at 1:27:33

Depends what they ultimately mean to you... Many of us take ourselves toooo darned seriously... So, our imaginary friends can remain stealthy, and ergo, remain safe... If we splash them all over, folks will stop inviting us to parties, etc...

Afterall, they do belong to us only, so care for them as a rare possession, and thus no stress no strain... If we wontonly foist our rare commodity on folks, they may ratchet up the tension, causing us to feel and or look crazy, in turn causing most to click on their "avoidance" apparatus... We then lose more than we gain...

Rod

 

Re: lol (nm) » ron1953

Posted by Dr. Bob on July 15, 2010, at 10:00:28

In reply to Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy?, posted by ron1953 on July 14, 2010, at 19:33:20

 

Re: lol :-)

Posted by Deneb on July 15, 2010, at 17:16:40

In reply to Re: lol (nm) » ron1953, posted by Dr. Bob on July 15, 2010, at 10:00:28

Hehe, I love when Dr. Bob laughs. :-)

 

Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy? » ron1953

Posted by 64Bowtie on July 15, 2010, at 23:09:43

In reply to Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy?, posted by ron1953 on July 14, 2010, at 19:33:20

"I dunno, but it's prolly better than having an IMAGINARY ENEMY."

Yep... We all seem to have lots of those already..................LOL.....

Rod

 

Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy?

Posted by sigismund on July 16, 2010, at 2:55:25

In reply to Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy? » ron1953, posted by 64Bowtie on July 15, 2010, at 23:09:43

What would life be without a few enemies?

 

Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy?

Posted by Deneb on July 17, 2010, at 16:44:45

In reply to Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy?, posted by sigismund on July 16, 2010, at 2:55:25

LOL, you all are hilarious!

:-)

 

Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy?

Posted by Deneb on July 17, 2010, at 16:48:05

In reply to Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy?, posted by Deneb on July 17, 2010, at 16:44:45

Today I was walking around in Wal-Mart and I imagined that Dr. Bob had a dog and then the dog died and Dr. Bob was sad. But he wasn't too sad, because they had fun times together. :-)

 

Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy?

Posted by polarbear206 on July 18, 2010, at 10:01:25

In reply to Re: Is having an imaginary friend crazy?, posted by emmanuel98 on July 14, 2010, at 1:12:14

> it's probably a little strange and not entirely healthy that your imaginary friend is a psychiatrist with whom you have no relationship. I wonder if you had tried finding a male therapist in real life to whom you could transfer and work through all these feelings of wanting love and caring. I had a male psychiatrist for five years whom I loved and who helped me through all these intense and needy feelings.


This is very good advice for Deneb. Question for Deneb: Do you make an effort to get out and try to make friends, ie., join a group, gym, or volunteer. Friends are very important and more so than the ones you only have contact with via online.


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