When my daughter started antipsychotics at 8 years old she became very depressed when her two main hallucinations (friends) disappeared. Now and then she still sees them. She is 12 now.
That's interesting. Some kids do struggle with this as the hallucination becomes a comforting "reality" for them if they are lonely or feel that they do not fit in. Kids who have imaginary friends are sometimes very lonely, depressed, anxious, or starving for excitement and companionship. Other times the hallucinations do not serve a main purpose.
im having imaginary friends, when i start becoming sad, i lay on their non existent lap and cry on their non existent shoulder, its like their a imaginary therapist, I am 14, ive always had imaginary friends like this for years
Ruru, that isn't strange for your age. And it also depends on how lonely and depressed you may be. In some ways, imaginary friends are protective and have a way of serving a purpose in your life for the time being. You may want to worry a bit if you turn 18 and still have them.
I’m a person whose had different “imaginary friends” appear and completely leave in my life, since I can remember. They tend to come really vivid early in the year (I tend to be able to have full and conversations with them and I tag them everywhere) but by the near end of the year they either leave my memory or get replaced, and that was the cycle until recently where one has stayed for more than this time, Angel. Now this was around the same time I started digital art and drawing so of course it was easier for to stay. (He’s somewhat with me now) however he has had more control of and with me than the others before acting like a protective older brother/father of sorts even though I’ve never had either of those in my life. Again idk if this is just a very detailed imaginary friend or something more but he has protected me and even saved my life once so he’s really there to protect me. His job was to stop the other black spirits (shadows and other things that I’ve seen all my life and never rly thought too much sbt until he came up abt it and started keeping me alway from. (Also an unusual thing but when ever I was about to have a panic attack even without realizing it was about to happen he tended to smoke a bit when it was about to happen and then I’d break down a bit later with him comforting me and clearing my mind out making me feel better. I’ve started seeing more things and shadows along with his sticking around though and was sent to a hospital due to it and when I left he’s decided to start hanging out with me less, only feeling hike he’s around when some stressors (mostly the therapist I’m with now that he doesn’t trust) and hugging me then but when I’m doing other things he’s not around as much. I don’t knew what this is but I do know that I made him to some extent Bc I remember constructing him in my head (albeit completely different to what he does in my head) I still don’t know what I have and thearapy doesn’t rly help Bc the therapists seem more like threats (seeing how angel gets agressive and spy like ((he is always listening to the conversation seeing what I’ll say and I forget my line of thinking for a bit like I was abt to say smth I Shouldn’t have around them) though he wanted to get me help originally it didn’t seem to work and angel has gone back to a secret protector internally instead of actively getting help my exploiting my par ici attacks I don’t know if this is something that happens (and now my head hurts typing this and I’m getting confused again) but yeahhhhh
I would like to really know -- if I were your psychotherapist -- if you experienced any kind of trauma growing up or if you have experienced any kind of hallucinations or delusions. The other thing I would want to tease apart is if you have a neurological condition that could be contributing to these sensory experiences or some kind of head trauma, even a concussion. If all else fails, then spiritual intuition would be my next consideration. As I said in the video, this is not necessarily an "odd" experience but rather something that needs to be further understood. I encourage you to do some research on the things I have mentioned here and maybe consider a psychotherapist who does work with dreams and trauma. Take care
Rizal only shows up when I'm in a depressed mood, she convince to do things I know I shouldnt , she threatens me & hurts me, I know it's me hurting myself but shes making me do it. When I'm in a settled/ happy environment Riza refuses to show up, Layla shows up during those times, Layla is mute and antisocial, she wants me to comfort her, They scare me Edit: I'm 12 almost 13
Hi Amaria, Thank you for sharing this. You bring up an interesting point that most imaginary friends "come up" when the child is depressed, anxious, or experiencing some kind of trauma. Fear is often a trigger to. Once the child passes age 13 or 14, some research suggests "imaginary friends" go away. However, newer research says this isn't always true. Some "imaginary friends" serve the purpose of providing emotional support and may "stay" with the individual throughout life! This topic is truly controversial. We need more studies on this for sure. Thank you for watching!
This is great! I think schizophrenia is under diagnosed in the Black community. So many people say "my grandma is crazy" or "He's off," but they don't ever really receive a label. And imaginary friends should DEFINITELY STOP around age 6. I knew a woman who kept hers until she got married!
I'm so confused with my imaginary friends. (I'm 15 btw and thoose things started happening years ago and wont go away) You see I dont sit there and just say I'm going to imagine someone like I did when I was little. I have no control of that. It happens randomly and happens most of the time during the day. I don't realise it at first just a but later or when they completely stopped. But my surroundings change too. Like I am somewhere else but deep down I'm inside my room even if I dont see it. I talk to them and when they try to hit me I dodge. Or when I try to hit them I hit my fist on a shelve because I just didn't see the shelve. The people are usually anime characters or things like that but can be my family too. I have one that isn't from an anime or film. His name is Katherine, he's usually my best friend. It can even sometimes happen that I fall in love with them and when they leave me I cry. I dont have control over it. Just like my thoughts. When I'm daydreaming I usually move my mouth or flinch because of a movement that I wanted to do. But when I'm thinking of something for example give left. I go right. No matter how deeply I try to go left ,I go right. If I try to go left I get thrown away to the right side. So it becomes work for me to do what I want. It really annoys me sometimes. I'm stuck because I want to go out with friends or have a sleepover but I cant because I have the urge to return to that world. If I don't it's like wanting to smoke but u know u cant. So idk if it's normal or not.
I'm sorry to hear that you are "confused" about these "imaginary friends." One thing I encourage you to consider is that you may be lonely, scared, uncertain, etc. and "use" these imaginary friends to sooth you. It's easy to "create a world" that feels good to you, even if you don't intentionally create them. If you are very lonely you may find yourself creating characters that mimic the people you wish were in your life. All of this can happen unintentionally or unwilled by your consciousness. In other words, you are still creating these "friends" even if you don't intentionally do it. Take care
I saw your comment on notification,but I guess you deleted the message.i was on digital detox.. By the way, Have a good day ,I found confidence on my belief after seeing your thoughts, that's why I wanted to find you
2 year old, speaks in complete sentences, knows colors, shapes, animals, some alphabet, some counting. Stares and says there’s a ghost. At first the “ghosts” were friendly, the child would smile and wave at the “ghost”. Recently, some of the “ghosts” have become scary. Points at a specific location, crying and says there”s a scary ghost. Persistent about the location. Cries and says, “The ghost is going to get you, Mommy.” Points at the “ghost”. ‘Ghosts” appear anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes then the child becomes distracted and there is no more talk of “ghosts”. Normal toddler behavior or something to be concerned about?
Wow. I can't believe how many people actually medicate their children and except for them to grow up completely mentally ok. Once you start you can never take them off ever
Thank you Lola for your opinion. I would be careful with absolute statements because I'm sure you haven't seen all kids and you haven't done the clinical research into this to make that judgment. However, based on what sounds like personal experience you are right in that kids should not be medicated right away. I agree as this is my clinical approach. Some kids desperately need medication to function and some would have never turned to street drugs or other addictions if they had timely medication. It's a two-sided coin.
i have imaginary friends. i have 13 really good friends that i still keep in contact with. but my best friend is sonya. she is one of the 13. sonya lives somewhere in kaillou.
I'm having some trouble I'm 13 have over 20 imaginationary friends that I've had for years now they talk to me and I talk back and my grandmother who I live with doesn't understand when I tell her about them. I've been through my fair share of trauma, and they are my coping mechanism, but everyone is telling me it's not normal and put me on meds. I've been in a hospital ward, and my 2 main friends that have been there for me the most disappeared for a little bit, and I had a mental breakdown, and I don't want to get rid of them ever they don't tell me to do anything bad they share the same interests and I have extremely bad social anxiety at school and in public and they're there for me I've brought up an Emotional support dog and she just laughs it off and then I get upset with her and then she yells at me and because I have ptsd I freak out and then I have to apologize because I made her upset I don't know what to do any more she Thanks the medicine takes them all away and they don't when I try to explain that she doesn't understand that I'm having to do home schooling. And it's not even online Zoom classes. I have to have a teacher come bring me work because of my social anxiety and my breakdowns. Could you give me some advice about this?
January had a IQ of 146 and her medicine lowered her cognitive functions. With that said, I was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia because I wasn't tested for seizures and sleeping disorders, which at 27, I have both. I have Autism as well. My flat effect, disorganized behaviors and thoughts, and hallucinations came from Narcolepsy with Cataplexy, Focal seizures, and emotional abuse from my mom. This is just my experience, but psych diagnoses should be done after major medical testing, correct?
Considering what we(descendants of the Atlantic slave trade) have endured in America, it's a wonder that any of us are sane. I think that all forms of mental problems are greatly under diagnosed. I think Dr. Joy DeGruy body of work needs to considered more. Many of the problems facing our youth are directly passed down from the generations that precede them.
I am looking for info on children taking antipsychotics in either 1950's or 60s.....Did children as young as 8 take these medications? ....if so, did they also have parents bring their kids in for clinical trials for schizophrenia, to test for different medications. Thank you for your help.
Hi Jeff, I'm don't recall any studies on this topic for children specifically and that might be because the topic of antipsychotics with children in those times were very rare. Most research studies focused on adults and treating adults and then the field of psychiatry tried to generalize this to children. Of course, that isn't the right way to do research! I would check into PubMed or NIH to do some research on this topic.
I was wondering are my imaginary friends actually imaginary friends because one is called twin because she looks like me but is the opposite in personality or clothing or hairstyle and the other two I don't know their names but they are big and pitch black and one will always be reading a book and never talks to me while the other one does and so does twin I didnt know they were not real until I realized my parents couldn't see them and they would disappear when my parents would be around me or when other people were around me they are only here when it's just me they would play games with me and loved to talk play and be outside so are they imaginary friends because they appeared out of no where when I was little I still see them now that im 13 I haven't seen twin for a year but she's still here because I can hear her anyways thats my question are they actually imaginary friends
That's interesting Cailtlin. I wouldn't be able to tell you that over UA-cam. I'd have to assess or evaluate you to make sure I'm not misjudging or misunderstanding. From the sounds of it I would say that you are dealing with imaginary friends. Was there a time in your life where you felt you needed them? Or a time in your life when you felt all alone, bullied, misunderstood, or anything like this? If so, these imaginary friends may comfort you in some ways. If you are really worried about them I would talk to someone at your school about it like your school counselor or your parents. Take care
I'm hoping you find this comment. We are in the process of assessment for my 3 years old. She is showing red flags of autism, but lately has been displaying hallucinations. In other words, a person named 'Guy' (french) is following her and trying to hurt her, saying he wants to kill her. You are the first person who had mentioned autism as an alternative diagnosis possibly causing psychotic like episodes. How would that be? I'm really curious, and it's not something they touched in my nursing school or autism behavior science,and honestly could help me out. Thank you
Yes, I did too. I think sometimes, if I didn't already say this in the video, imaginary friends may sometimes be the creation of an overactive mind of full exploration.
When my daughter started antipsychotics at 8 years old she became very depressed when her two main hallucinations (friends) disappeared. Now and then she still sees them. She is 12 now.
That's interesting. Some kids do struggle with this as the hallucination becomes a comforting "reality" for them if they are lonely or feel that they do not fit in. Kids who have imaginary friends are sometimes very lonely, depressed, anxious, or starving for excitement and companionship. Other times the hallucinations do not serve a main purpose.
im having imaginary friends, when i start becoming sad, i lay on their non existent lap and cry on their non existent shoulder, its like their a imaginary therapist, I am 14, ive always had imaginary friends like this for years
Ruru, that isn't strange for your age. And it also depends on how lonely and depressed you may be. In some ways, imaginary friends are protective and have a way of serving a purpose in your life for the time being. You may want to worry a bit if you turn 18 and still have them.
you are so clear and a great teacher. Thank you so much for your work
Thank you💖
And you're welcome!!
I’m a person whose had different “imaginary friends” appear and completely leave in my life, since I can remember. They tend to come really vivid early in the year (I tend to be able to have full and conversations with them and I tag them everywhere) but by the near end of the year they either leave my memory or get replaced, and that was the cycle until recently where one has stayed for more than this time, Angel. Now this was around the same time I started digital art and drawing so of course it was easier for to stay. (He’s somewhat with me now) however he has had more control of and with me than the others before acting like a protective older brother/father of sorts even though I’ve never had either of those in my life. Again idk if this is just a very detailed imaginary friend or something more but he has protected me and even saved my life once so he’s really there to protect me. His job was to stop the other black spirits (shadows and other things that I’ve seen all my life and never rly thought too much sbt until he came up abt it and started keeping me alway from. (Also an unusual thing but when ever I was about to have a panic attack even without realizing it was about to happen he tended to smoke a bit when it was about to happen and then I’d break down a bit later with him comforting me and clearing my mind out making me feel better.
I’ve started seeing more things and shadows along with his sticking around though and was sent to a hospital due to it and when I left he’s decided to start hanging out with me less, only feeling hike he’s around when some stressors (mostly the therapist I’m with now that he doesn’t trust) and hugging me then but when I’m doing other things he’s not around as much. I don’t knew what this is but I do know that I made him to some extent Bc I remember constructing him in my head (albeit completely different to what he does in my head)
I still don’t know what I have and thearapy doesn’t rly help Bc the therapists seem more like threats (seeing how angel gets agressive and spy like ((he is always listening to the conversation seeing what I’ll say and I forget my line of thinking for a bit like I was abt to say smth I Shouldn’t have around them) though he wanted to get me help originally it didn’t seem to work and angel has gone back to a secret protector internally instead of actively getting help my exploiting my par ici attacks
I don’t know if this is something that happens (and now my head hurts typing this and I’m getting confused again) but yeahhhhh
Another thing, ever since he’s left I’ve started feeling his wings hug me more often even though he doesn’t speak to me that often anymore
I would like to really know -- if I were your psychotherapist -- if you experienced any kind of trauma growing up or if you have experienced any kind of hallucinations or delusions. The other thing I would want to tease apart is if you have a neurological condition that could be contributing to these sensory experiences or some kind of head trauma, even a concussion. If all else fails, then spiritual intuition would be my next consideration. As I said in the video, this is not necessarily an "odd" experience but rather something that needs to be further understood. I encourage you to do some research on the things I have mentioned here and maybe consider a psychotherapist who does work with dreams and trauma. Take care
Rizal only shows up when I'm in a depressed mood, she convince to do things I know I shouldnt , she threatens me & hurts me, I know it's me hurting myself but shes making me do it. When I'm in a settled/ happy environment Riza refuses to show up, Layla shows up during those times, Layla is mute and antisocial, she wants me to comfort her, They scare me
Edit: I'm 12 almost 13
Hi Amaria,
Thank you for sharing this. You bring up an interesting point that most imaginary friends "come up" when the child is depressed, anxious, or experiencing some kind of trauma. Fear is often a trigger to. Once the child passes age 13 or 14, some research suggests "imaginary friends" go away. However, newer research says this isn't always true. Some "imaginary friends" serve the purpose of providing emotional support and may "stay" with the individual throughout life! This topic is truly controversial. We need more studies on this for sure. Thank you for watching!
This is great!
I think schizophrenia is under diagnosed in the Black community. So many people say "my grandma is crazy" or "He's off," but they don't ever really receive a label.
And imaginary friends should DEFINITELY STOP around age 6.
I knew a woman who kept hers until she got married!
I'm so confused with my imaginary friends.
(I'm 15 btw and thoose things started happening years ago and wont go away)
You see I dont sit there and just say I'm going to imagine someone like I did when I was little. I have no control of that. It happens randomly and happens most of the time during the day. I don't realise it at first just a but later or when they completely stopped. But my surroundings change too. Like I am somewhere else but deep down I'm inside my room even if I dont see it. I talk to them and when they try to hit me I dodge. Or when I try to hit them I hit my fist on a shelve because I just didn't see the shelve. The people are usually anime characters or things like that but can be my family too. I have one that isn't from an anime or film. His name is Katherine, he's usually my best friend. It can even sometimes happen that I fall in love with them and when they leave me I cry. I dont have control over it. Just like my thoughts. When I'm daydreaming I usually move my mouth or flinch because of a movement that I wanted to do. But when I'm thinking of something for example give left. I go right. No matter how deeply I try to go left ,I go right. If I try to go left I get thrown away to the right side. So it becomes work for me to do what I want. It really annoys me sometimes.
I'm stuck because I want to go out with friends or have a sleepover but I cant because I have the urge to return to that world. If I don't it's like wanting to smoke but u know u cant.
So idk if it's normal or not.
I'm sorry to hear that you are "confused" about these "imaginary friends." One thing I encourage you to consider is that you may be lonely, scared, uncertain, etc. and "use" these imaginary friends to sooth you. It's easy to "create a world" that feels good to you, even if you don't intentionally create them. If you are very lonely you may find yourself creating characters that mimic the people you wish were in your life. All of this can happen unintentionally or unwilled by your consciousness. In other words, you are still creating these "friends" even if you don't intentionally do it. Take care
@@TherapistTamaraHill ah okay, thank you!You too!☺️
@@kathibear6943 you're welcome 😊
Omg you sound like me 😮,do you have instragram,or any social that you are active?
I saw your comment on notification,but I guess you deleted the message.i was on digital detox.. By the way, Have a good day ,I found confidence on my belief after seeing your thoughts, that's why I wanted to find you
can adults like 18 above have an imaginary friend is that normal?
2 year old, speaks in complete sentences, knows colors, shapes, animals, some alphabet, some counting. Stares and says there’s a ghost. At first the “ghosts” were friendly, the child would smile and wave at the “ghost”. Recently, some of the “ghosts” have become scary. Points at a specific location, crying and says there”s a scary ghost. Persistent about the location. Cries and says, “The ghost is going to get you, Mommy.” Points at the “ghost”. ‘Ghosts” appear anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes then the child becomes distracted and there is no more talk of “ghosts”. Normal toddler behavior or something to be concerned about?
Omg
Wow. I can't believe how many people actually medicate their children and except for them to grow up completely mentally ok. Once you start you can never take them off ever
Thank you Lola for your opinion. I would be careful with absolute statements because I'm sure you haven't seen all kids and you haven't done the clinical research into this to make that judgment.
However, based on what sounds like personal experience you are right in that kids should not be medicated right away. I agree as this is my clinical approach.
Some kids desperately need medication to function and some would have never turned to street drugs or other addictions if they had timely medication.
It's a two-sided coin.
i have imaginary friends.
i have 13 really good friends that i still keep in contact with.
but my best friend is sonya. she is one of the 13.
sonya lives somewhere in kaillou.
6:56 Thank you for saying that!! My sister and I are both autistic, verbal, childlike, AND have our own world with imaginary friends. 💕💞
I'm having some trouble I'm 13 have over 20 imaginationary friends that I've had for years now they talk to me and I talk back and my grandmother who I live with doesn't understand when I tell her about them. I've been through my fair share of trauma, and they are my coping mechanism, but everyone is telling me it's not normal and put me on meds. I've been in a hospital ward, and my 2 main friends that have been there for me the most disappeared for a little bit, and I had a mental breakdown, and I don't want to get rid of them ever they don't tell me to do anything bad they share the same interests and I have extremely bad social anxiety at school and in public and they're there for me I've brought up an Emotional support dog and she just laughs it off and then I get upset with her and then she yells at me and because I have ptsd I freak out and then I have to apologize because I made her upset I don't know what to do any more she Thanks the medicine takes them all away and they don't when I try to explain that she doesn't understand that I'm having to do home schooling. And it's not even online Zoom classes. I have to have a teacher come bring me work because of my social anxiety and my breakdowns. Could you give me some advice about this?
January had a IQ of 146 and her medicine lowered her cognitive functions.
With that said, I was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia because I wasn't tested for seizures and sleeping disorders, which at 27, I have both. I have Autism as well. My flat effect, disorganized behaviors and thoughts, and hallucinations came from Narcolepsy with Cataplexy, Focal seizures, and emotional abuse from my mom.
This is just my experience, but psych diagnoses should be done after major medical testing, correct?
Do you think schizophrenia is diagnosed too much or too little?
And...how old do you think a child should be to stop having imaginary friends?
Considering what we(descendants of the Atlantic slave trade) have endured in America, it's a wonder that any of us are sane. I think that all forms of mental problems are greatly under diagnosed. I think Dr. Joy DeGruy body of work needs to considered more. Many of the problems facing our youth are directly passed down from the generations that precede them.
Is it norma, but Im 13 and I have imaginary friends but I think its because its a coping mechanisim to get out of reality
@Shira I think you are correct. Good observation! This is the case for most youths.
I am looking for info on children taking antipsychotics in either 1950's or 60s.....Did children as young as 8 take these medications? ....if so, did they also have parents bring their kids in for clinical trials for schizophrenia, to test for different medications. Thank you for your help.
Hi Jeff,
I'm don't recall any studies on this topic for children specifically and that might be because the topic of antipsychotics with children in those times were very rare. Most research studies focused on adults and treating adults and then the field of psychiatry tried to generalize this to children. Of course, that isn't the right way to do research! I would check into PubMed or NIH to do some research on this topic.
I learn from your videos.. you are the most beautifull african american in USA. ❤❤❤❤❤❤
I was wondering are my imaginary friends actually imaginary friends because one is called twin because she looks like me but is the opposite in personality or clothing or hairstyle and the other two I don't know their names but they are big and pitch black and one will always be reading a book and never talks to me while the other one does and so does twin I didnt know they were not real until I realized my parents couldn't see them and they would disappear when my parents would be around me or when other people were around me they are only here when it's just me they would play games with me and loved to talk play and be outside so are they imaginary friends because they appeared out of no where when I was little I still see them now that im 13 I haven't seen twin for a year but she's still here because I can hear her anyways thats my question are they actually imaginary friends
That's interesting Cailtlin. I wouldn't be able to tell you that over UA-cam. I'd have to assess or evaluate you to make sure I'm not misjudging or misunderstanding. From the sounds of it I would say that you are dealing with imaginary friends. Was there a time in your life where you felt you needed them? Or a time in your life when you felt all alone, bullied, misunderstood, or anything like this? If so, these imaginary friends may comfort you in some ways.
If you are really worried about them I would talk to someone at your school about it like your school counselor or your parents.
Take care
I'm hoping you find this comment. We are in the process of assessment for my 3 years old. She is showing red flags of autism, but lately has been displaying hallucinations. In other words, a person named 'Guy' (french) is following her and trying to hurt her, saying he wants to kill her. You are the first person who had mentioned autism as an alternative diagnosis possibly causing psychotic like episodes. How would that be? I'm really curious, and it's not something they touched in my nursing school or autism behavior science,and honestly could help me out. Thank you
I had an imaginary friend in my childhood. It was about age 8-10. I grew out of it. I dont believ I hav any issues.
Yes, I did too. I think sometimes, if I didn't already say this in the video, imaginary friends may sometimes be the creation of an overactive mind of full exploration.