Have you ever had an imaginary friend Watch this
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Date: 2026-04-12
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Comments and reviews: 20
rowan404
I didn’t have any imaginary friends as a young child, but I found myself having one at the age of 15. They would look through my eyes, hear through my ears, and occasionally talk through my mouth. I kept trying to research a) whether it was normal for teenagers to have imaginary friends and b) whether it was normal for imaginary friends to act independently and even argue with you, but all that ever came up in the search results were articles on the typical imaginary friends for little kids. I started to wonder if there was something wrong with me
And I was right. That was an alter. I have a dissociative disorder. I’m now about to turn 22 and the imaginary friend in question is watching me write this.
Interestingly, I ticked all of the boxes to have had an imaginary friend as a kid. I’m an extroverted only child who always wanted siblings, I have trouble making friends due to my autism, and I’m extremely creative, having written stories for as long as I could write. I wonder why I didn’t have an imaginary friend when I was supposed to. My mom did say I had over 100 imaginary friends in the forms of plushies who had their own names, personalities, interests, and relationships, but I specifically remember making my mom talk through them because I was unable to imagine their dialogues on my own. I even remember the voice she used. Oddly, she claims I played on my own.
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I didn’t have any imaginary friends as a young child, but I found myself having one at the age of 15. They would look through my eyes, hear through my ears, and occasionally talk through my mouth. I kept trying to research a) whether it was normal for teenagers to have imaginary friends and b) whether it was normal for imaginary friends to act independently and even argue with you, but all that ever came up in the search results were articles on the typical imaginary friends for little kids. I started to wonder if there was something wrong with me
And I was right. That was an alter. I have a dissociative disorder. I’m now about to turn 22 and the imaginary friend in question is watching me write this.
Interestingly, I ticked all of the boxes to have had an imaginary friend as a kid. I’m an extroverted only child who always wanted siblings, I have trouble making friends due to my autism, and I’m extremely creative, having written stories for as long as I could write. I wonder why I didn’t have an imaginary friend when I was supposed to. My mom did say I had over 100 imaginary friends in the forms of plushies who had their own names, personalities, interests, and relationships, but I specifically remember making my mom talk through them because I was unable to imagine their dialogues on my own. I even remember the voice she used. Oddly, she claims I played on my own.
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ted_ed
I think I developed a proper imaginary friend early in my 20’s. Was going through my first go around with depression and I make this character up to help me vocalize positive thoughts and emotions to combat the constant stream of negative ones. Talk through it, rationalize it.
Depression has gotten better, but sometimes if I find myself distracted, he usually shows up and kinda gives me a little push back on track.
Heres what you need to do, you’re not doing it. You got this. Or something like that.
Idk, he’s chill. Orange fuzzy dragon dude named Dan
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I think I developed a proper imaginary friend early in my 20’s. Was going through my first go around with depression and I make this character up to help me vocalize positive thoughts and emotions to combat the constant stream of negative ones. Talk through it, rationalize it.
Depression has gotten better, but sometimes if I find myself distracted, he usually shows up and kinda gives me a little push back on track.
Heres what you need to do, you’re not doing it. You got this. Or something like that.
Idk, he’s chill. Orange fuzzy dragon dude named Dan
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ted_ed
As a young, really young child, I had two imaginary friends who appeared mostly in dreams but I did take them with me to the parks and therapy. I could go on and on about our adventures, but I now know they existed to comfort me as I experienced neglect and an emotionally uncontrollable parent. One day I had an outburst and called them horrible friends, and that was the last time I had seen them until about a year ago. I actually got emotional and begged them for forgiveness for what I had said back when I was about. They did, and we spent one last dream together.
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As a young, really young child, I had two imaginary friends who appeared mostly in dreams but I did take them with me to the parks and therapy. I could go on and on about our adventures, but I now know they existed to comfort me as I experienced neglect and an emotionally uncontrollable parent. One day I had an outburst and called them horrible friends, and that was the last time I had seen them until about a year ago. I actually got emotional and begged them for forgiveness for what I had said back when I was about. They did, and we spent one last dream together.
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peterwilliamson8
When I was a boy with severe anxiety, I hardly leave the home. I just go to school and come straight home. I had no friends and never had a girlfriend. So I would have imaginary friends and an imaginary girlfriend. I would imagine she waiting for me at home and hug me. I would treat my pillow as her as I hug 'her' every night and would imagine scenarios like we dated, conflicts, and so on.
Until my 30s I still do that. and I'm still single and alone. No friends. No job. No hope. But my imaginary wife is always there for me rooting me.
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When I was a boy with severe anxiety, I hardly leave the home. I just go to school and come straight home. I had no friends and never had a girlfriend. So I would have imaginary friends and an imaginary girlfriend. I would imagine she waiting for me at home and hug me. I would treat my pillow as her as I hug 'her' every night and would imagine scenarios like we dated, conflicts, and so on.
Until my 30s I still do that. and I'm still single and alone. No friends. No job. No hope. But my imaginary wife is always there for me rooting me.
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ColdClarity_33
This reframes imaginary friends in a way most people overlook. It’s not childish fantasy, it’s early cognition at work the mind externalizing itself to think more clearly. Instead of seeing it as make-believe, it’s actually a tool for processing emotion, testing ideas, and building identity without pressure.
What’s interesting is that it never really stops. As adults, we just internalize it. The imaginary friend becomes inner dialogue, self-questioning, or creative thought. Same mechanism, just more refined
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This reframes imaginary friends in a way most people overlook. It’s not childish fantasy, it’s early cognition at work the mind externalizing itself to think more clearly. Instead of seeing it as make-believe, it’s actually a tool for processing emotion, testing ideas, and building identity without pressure.
What’s interesting is that it never really stops. As adults, we just internalize it. The imaginary friend becomes inner dialogue, self-questioning, or creative thought. Same mechanism, just more refined
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ColdClarity_33
This reframes imaginary friends in a way most people overlook. It’s not childish fantasy, it’s early cognition at work the mind externalizing itself to think more clearly. Instead of seeing it as make-believe, it’s actually a tool for processing emotion, testing ideas, and building identity without pressure.
What’s interesting is that it never really stops. As adults, we just internalize it. The imaginary friend becomes inner dialogue, self-questioning, or creative thought. Same mechanism, just more refined
reply
This reframes imaginary friends in a way most people overlook. It’s not childish fantasy, it’s early cognition at work the mind externalizing itself to think more clearly. Instead of seeing it as make-believe, it’s actually a tool for processing emotion, testing ideas, and building identity without pressure.
What’s interesting is that it never really stops. As adults, we just internalize it. The imaginary friend becomes inner dialogue, self-questioning, or creative thought. Same mechanism, just more refined
reply
tabthecabbit3354
I had a menagerie of imaginary friends growing up, because none of the kids liked me whatsoever.
None of the kids wanted to play with me, because I was the weird kid. (I didn't get my autism diagnosis until I was 22)
I wasn't allowed to go to other people's houses whatsoever, nor was I allowed to invite anyone to my house.
So I created imaginary friends to compensate for my lonely childhood.
My folks ended up getting mad at me for having imaginary friends, because they didn't like being embarrassed.
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I had a menagerie of imaginary friends growing up, because none of the kids liked me whatsoever.
None of the kids wanted to play with me, because I was the weird kid. (I didn't get my autism diagnosis until I was 22)
I wasn't allowed to go to other people's houses whatsoever, nor was I allowed to invite anyone to my house.
So I created imaginary friends to compensate for my lonely childhood.
My folks ended up getting mad at me for having imaginary friends, because they didn't like being embarrassed.
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crizmatreeeee
Imaginary friends are super interesting to me. Personally, as a kid I had quite a lot of them, including imaginary enemies who the friends and I would fight except my imaginary friends and I would outnumber the enemies and also have a bunch of insane superpowers they didn’t so we’d win really easily every time. I found a short story I wrote as a child recently, in which one of the enemies makes a bunch of clones of himself and I just conjure a storm which creates a flood that they all drown in
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Imaginary friends are super interesting to me. Personally, as a kid I had quite a lot of them, including imaginary enemies who the friends and I would fight except my imaginary friends and I would outnumber the enemies and also have a bunch of insane superpowers they didn’t so we’d win really easily every time. I found a short story I wrote as a child recently, in which one of the enemies makes a bunch of clones of himself and I just conjure a storm which creates a flood that they all drown in
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MsWinterlife
My imaginary friends are extremely good listeners, always patient, always understanding, ask deep questions and give feedback from different perspectives. Unlike real people, my imaginary friends never lack logic or reason, and I credit them for saving my life at least once. Truth be told, with real people there’s always the possibility of betrayal or sabotage, while my imaginary friends are always ready to listen and chat but never turn up uninvited.
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My imaginary friends are extremely good listeners, always patient, always understanding, ask deep questions and give feedback from different perspectives. Unlike real people, my imaginary friends never lack logic or reason, and I credit them for saving my life at least once. Truth be told, with real people there’s always the possibility of betrayal or sabotage, while my imaginary friends are always ready to listen and chat but never turn up uninvited.
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christyme6395
What if not all imaginary friends are imaginary What if imagination isn't what we think it is A child says they're talking to so and so when there isn't anyone there and we call it an imaginary friend. A child says they saw a monster in the closet last night and we say it was a bad dream or just their fear getting the best of them but what if that isn't true What if they're communicating with real beings
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What if not all imaginary friends are imaginary What if imagination isn't what we think it is A child says they're talking to so and so when there isn't anyone there and we call it an imaginary friend. A child says they saw a monster in the closet last night and we say it was a bad dream or just their fear getting the best of them but what if that isn't true What if they're communicating with real beings
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TheStudySteps
Loved learning that imaginary friends are actually a sign of social confidence, not shyness! It’s fascinating how kids use them to 'practice' real-life emotions like fear and empathy. But here’s a question: the video mentions some people keep these companions into adulthoodat what point does it stop being 'creative play' and start being something a doctor should look at
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Loved learning that imaginary friends are actually a sign of social confidence, not shyness! It’s fascinating how kids use them to 'practice' real-life emotions like fear and empathy. But here’s a question: the video mentions some people keep these companions into adulthoodat what point does it stop being 'creative play' and start being something a doctor should look at
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Leaff. me_A10NE
While I've never had an imaginary friend per se, I do have really deep conversations with myself mentally at times, and often they feel like a genuine conversation with another person.
At what point would you consider it an imaginary friend Because I really do see that inner monologue of mine like a little creature in my head that I like to talk to sometimes.
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While I've never had an imaginary friend per se, I do have really deep conversations with myself mentally at times, and often they feel like a genuine conversation with another person.
At what point would you consider it an imaginary friend Because I really do see that inner monologue of mine like a little creature in my head that I like to talk to sometimes.
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Gvb303
Still fondly think about my imaginary friends. 3 in particular I still love dearly. I’ve started to tell stories to my child about their adventures.
I was an only child of older parents who lived in a relatively isolated place and was not very good at socializing with children of my age. They were my comfort while trying to navigate the outside world.
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Still fondly think about my imaginary friends. 3 in particular I still love dearly. I’ve started to tell stories to my child about their adventures.
I was an only child of older parents who lived in a relatively isolated place and was not very good at socializing with children of my age. They were my comfort while trying to navigate the outside world.
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CormackCrow
As a kid, I tried really, really hard to have imaginary friends. Kids were SUPPOSED to have imaginary friends, I felt so left out! So I would make up these friends, but they were never independent of me. I ended up having more fun thinking of situations for them than playing with them. I never got an imaginary friend, but I did become a writer. :)
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As a kid, I tried really, really hard to have imaginary friends. Kids were SUPPOSED to have imaginary friends, I felt so left out! So I would make up these friends, but they were never independent of me. I ended up having more fun thinking of situations for them than playing with them. I never got an imaginary friend, but I did become a writer. :)
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anthonyestevez11
My imaginary friend is still with me to this day and plays a key role in my mood regulation. Interesting enough, a lot of therapists tell their clients to speak to themselves how you would speak to another person who needs to be encouraged, and my whole life since being a kid, that has been the role my imaginary friend has been doing.
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My imaginary friend is still with me to this day and plays a key role in my mood regulation. Interesting enough, a lot of therapists tell their clients to speak to themselves how you would speak to another person who needs to be encouraged, and my whole life since being a kid, that has been the role my imaginary friend has been doing.
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ted_ed
I remember the first time I noticed this with one of my girls I wasn’t sure what to make of it at all.
But when I stopped looking at it as something to question, and just watched, it was amazing to see what was actually happening, she was working things out, practising conversations, even building confidence in her own way.
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I remember the first time I noticed this with one of my girls I wasn’t sure what to make of it at all.
But when I stopped looking at it as something to question, and just watched, it was amazing to see what was actually happening, she was working things out, practising conversations, even building confidence in her own way.
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ted_ed
Most people don't grow up from this stage in life. They have an imaginary guy in a remote location, who is all mighty. They even go war with other humans over whose imaginary friend is greater. Then can even kill thousands of children because their ancestors' imaginary friend gave them the land in which these children were born.
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Most people don't grow up from this stage in life. They have an imaginary guy in a remote location, who is all mighty. They even go war with other humans over whose imaginary friend is greater. Then can even kill thousands of children because their ancestors' imaginary friend gave them the land in which these children were born.
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Marina-i1r1b
As a teenager with maladaptive daydreaming, I never grew out of having imaginary friends. Unfortunately I had to watch all the imaginary friends from when I was little die off but I have new ones now. Mainly from shows I watch like the amazing digital circus or from books I like but I have some I came up with myself.
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As a teenager with maladaptive daydreaming, I never grew out of having imaginary friends. Unfortunately I had to watch all the imaginary friends from when I was little die off but I have new ones now. Mainly from shows I watch like the amazing digital circus or from books I like but I have some I came up with myself.
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ted_ed
I had an imaginary friend back in 5th grade. I did have two real friends, but they were a bit mean towards me and made me pretty miserable. I think I created Teth (that was her name, she was named after tetherball because that was what I would play with her) to have a friend who I was actually happy to spend time with.
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I had an imaginary friend back in 5th grade. I did have two real friends, but they were a bit mean towards me and made me pretty miserable. I think I created Teth (that was her name, she was named after tetherball because that was what I would play with her) to have a friend who I was actually happy to spend time with.
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ted_ed
As a kid i didn’t understand the concept of imaginary friends very well, it was more of a cultural osmoses for me because of the imaginary friends’s foster cartoon and movies, i thought it was more of an original character for a fictional story thing so i gave my friends imaginary friends of their own for them lol
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As a kid i didn’t understand the concept of imaginary friends very well, it was more of a cultural osmoses for me because of the imaginary friends’s foster cartoon and movies, i thought it was more of an original character for a fictional story thing so i gave my friends imaginary friends of their own for them lol
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