Talking to somebody who isn't real

[Vicam]

Hello.
Over the past couple of years, I've noticed that I will talk to someone (or multiple someones) that are not there. It's not like I have an imaginary friend, though I know I did when I was younger. I'm 22 and I've been doing this since I was around 10 or so.

I'll be sitting in my car by myself, driving at night, and I'll "see" someone in my passenger seat with me. Now, by "see" I know that they are not there, I don't actually visibly see anyone there, but my mind kind of places the thought of someone there.. I'll be talking to them and like "hear" a response back (in my head that is) and I'll carry out a conversation with "them". I do remember once, it was a celebrity crush of mine that my mind placed there, and I remember saying "Thanks for spending the day with me" and what "he" would say made me smile and stuff like that.

I remember one time I was waiting outside of my friend's house to pick them up, and it was dark, and the street was empty, and I was sitting there and I imagined a car pulled up on the opposite side of the street and it was a guy and he looked over at me and smiled, so I smiled back, and it was this flirty smile and he got out of his car and walked over to my car, and all I remember about him was I knew him from somewhere in my past, but it was a fake past, and how he wasn't supposed to be there. I remember rolling down my window and having a brief conversation with him. But when my friend opened up the house door, I was completely back to reality.

I know these people and things aren't there, but the feelings they provoke in me just compel me to go along with it.

Does anyone know what this may be or have any insight? And any questions will be answered promptly.

Thanks in advance

[rainack]

If you are in trouble then see your GP, it's wrong to come here asking these nice people for a diagnosis, only a professional can do that.

[Gajolene]

I don't think he was asking for a diagnosis rainack, however I agree with rainack Vicam that you should schedule an appointment with your doc, talk it over thoroughly with him, write down as many details as you can before you go to share with him. You recognize that this isn't right which is a really good sign. The sooner you address this with your doc the better chance of treating it and it not getting any worse.

[Vicam]

If you are in trouble then see your GP, it's wrong to come here asking these nice people for a diagnosis, only a professional can do that.

I'm not in any trouble or danger, I am just curious if it's a type of delusion or if anyone has any information.

[Vicam]

And I am female by the way dear.

[CBTish]

You wrote that it's not like you have an imaginary friend, but it seems to me to be very like that. You don't actually visibly see anyone, so you're not hallucinating. You know these people aren't real, so you're not delusional. When the door opened you were completely back to reality, so this doesn't interfere with your ability to interact with the real world, and it doesn't put you in any danger. I would call it a vivid imagination. If you were an author writing a novel, you might deliberately do this kind of thing for hours every day.

[Gajolene]

Don't know if this counts or not and don't want to scare you but my son has people he see's visually, hears clear as a bell and "feels" with him, some he says try to possess him from within. They can be very convincing telling him things that aren't real giving him false memories or trying to get him to do things. He also can snap out of it quickly when addressed by someone when he chooses. They come more when he is alone however. My son suffers from delusional scitzophenia, he developed it around the age of 19 and it became full blown by the age of 22.. I can't say if what your having are delusions or not but if it keeps happening or happens more and more get medical help right away. Early diagnoses is important

[RAGE!]

You wrote that it's not like you have an imaginary friend, but it seems to me to be very like that. You don't actually visibly see anyone, so you're not hallucinating. You know these people aren't real, so you're not delusional. When the door opened you were completely back to reality, so this doesn't interfere with your ability to interact with the real world, and it doesn't put you in any danger. I would call it a vivid imagination. If you were an author writing a novel, you might deliberately do this kind of thing for hours every day.

It seems to be that way, but the person isn't always the same, and he isn't developing a relationship with one 'imaginary friend'. That's what differentiates his situation and an imaginary friend.

[rainack]

What some here are saying is that it could be achizophrenia or/and psychosis

And that's wrong

You should see your GP

they may refer you to a shrink who then will check out any vitamin deficiency

with blood tests

because that can cause psychosis that looks like schizophrenia or bipolar1..

[Gajolene]

Everybody is uniquely different, only a doctor can tell for sure what is happening healthwise, physically and mentally. As I said wasn't trying to scare her(Vicam). Just relating similar symptoms my sons' share, my ex has similar symptoms too, he was diagnosed rapid cycling bipolar with manic episodes, but when he was diagnosed he hid the fact he was having visual hallucinations and conversations with unseen people from the doctors. and yes there are physical illness' that can cause this type of thing that should be ruled out by a doctor first before any diagnosis is made.