Imaginary friends schizophrenia
What Does It Mean, and Is It Normal?
Having an imaginary friend, sometimes called an imaginary companion, is considered a normal and even healthy part of childhood play.
Research on imaginary friends has been ongoing for decades, with doctors and parents alike wondering whether it’s healthy or “normal.”
Most research has shown again and again that it’s typically a natural part of childhood for many children.
Earlier research states as many as 65 percent of children up to age 7 had an imaginary friend.
It’s not uncommon for children to create imaginary friends or companions — someone they can talk to, interact with, and play with.
These pretend friends may take the form of anything: an invisible friend, an animal, something fantastical, or within an item, like a toy or stuffed animal.
Most research has shown that having an imaginary friend is a healthy form of childhood play. Studies have even found there may be some benefits for development in those children who create imaginary companions.
Benefits may include:
- superior social cognition
- more sociability
- boosted creativity
- better coping strategies
- increased emotional understanding
Imaginary friends may provide your child with friendship, support, entertainment, and more.
5 purposes for having an imaginary friend
In 2017, researchers described these five purposes for having an imaginary friend:
- problem-solving and emotion management
- exploring ideals
- having a companion for fantasy play
- having someone to overcome loneliness
- allowing children to explore behaviors and roles in relationships
While some parents may be concerned, it’s completely normal for a child to have an imaginary friend.
Compared to children who don’t have an imaginary friend, children who do aren’t different in the following ways:
- most personality traits
- family structure
- number of nonimaginary friends
- experience in school
In the past, experts believed having an imaginary friend indicated an issue or a mental health condition.
According to current research, this thinking has been discredited.
While most people associate young preschool-aged children with having imaginary companions, it’s actually normal for older children to have them, too.
Older research found 28 percent of children ages 5 to 12 had imaginary friends.
Girls are more likely than boys to have imaginary friends.
Imagination can be an important part of a child’s play and development. Having an imaginary friend can help a child explore relationships and work their creativity.
If your child tells you about their imaginary friend, ask questions. You can learn more about your child, their interests, and what the imaginary friend may be doing for them.
For example, is their imaginary friend teaching them how to deal with friendships?
It can also help to play along. Set an extra place at dinner, or ask your child if their friend is coming on trips, for instance.
If your child or their pretend friend becomes demanding or causes problems, you can set boundaries.
There’s no need to give into bad behavior, pretend or otherwise. Plus, setting boundaries can be a teaching moment.
What if the imaginary friend is scary?
While most imaginary friends are thought of as kind, friendly, and obedient, not all have been described as so. Some have been called disruptive, rule breaking, or aggressive.
It’s possible that some imaginary friends even frighten, upset, or cause conflict with children. While many children express control or influence over their imaginary friend’s behavior, other children describe it as out of their control.
While it’s not entirely understood why an imaginary friend would be scary, it seems these imagined relationships still provide some sort of benefit to the child.
These more difficult relationships may still help a child navigate social relationships and cope with hard times in the real world.
Some parents worry that children with imaginary friends don’t have a good grasp on reality versus imagination, but this isn’t typically true.
In fact, most children understand their imaginary friends are pretend.
Every child is different and will grow out of this part of their lives at their own time. There are more reports of children under 7 with imaginary friends, though other reports have shown imaginary friends existing in children up to 12 years old.
There’s no need to worry if an older child still speaks about their imaginary friend.
If you do have any concerns because of your child’s behavior — and not just that they have their pretend friend — you can reach out to a mental health professional who specializes in pediatric care.
When it comes to a vivid imagination, parents may question whether their child is in fact experiencing hallucinations or psychosis.
Having an imaginary friend isn’t the same as experiencing these symptoms, which are often associated with schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia doesn’t typically show symptoms until a person is between 16 and 30 years old.
Childhood-onset schizophrenia is rare and difficult to diagnose.
When it does occur, it usually happens after age 5 but before 13.
Some symptoms of childhood schizophrenia include:
- paranoia
- changes in mood
- hallucinations, such as hearing voices or seeing things
- sudden changes in behavior
If your child has sudden disruptive changes in their behavior and is experiencing something much more than an imaginary friend, reach out to their pediatrician or a mental health professional.
While schizophrenia symptoms and imaginary friends are often different and separate, there are other mental and physical conditions that may have a link.
Research in 2006, for instance, found that children who go on to develop dissociative disorders had a much higher likelihood of having an imaginary friend.
Dissociative disorders are mental health conditions where a person experiences a disconnect from reality.
Other research has suggested that adults with Down syndrome have a higher rate of imaginary companions and are more likely to keep these friends into adulthood.
There’s not a lot of research on imaginary friends in adulthood.
In a recent study, researchers did find that 7.5 percent of those studied reported experiencing an imaginary friend as an adult. However, this was a small sample size and had some limitations. Further research is needed.
With that being said, there seems to be no indication that an imaginary friend continuing into adulthood means anything different than one in childhood.
It may just be a sign of coping or of a strong imagination, though experts are unsure.
On the other hand, if an adult hears voices, sees things that aren’t there, or experiences other signs of hallucinations or psychosis, an underlying mental health condition, such as schizophrenia, may be at play.
Most times, imaginary friends are harmless and normal. But if you believe your child is experiencing something more, see their primary doctor.
Any time the behaviors and moods of your child shift dramatically or start to worry you, reach out for support from your child’s doctor or a mental health professional.
If your child’s imaginary friend ever becomes scary, aggressive, or frightening to your child, an evaluation with a mental health professional can give you peace of mind.
To find a doctor near you, follow these links:
- psychiatrist locator
- psychologist locator
You may also seek a licensed counselor, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or other doctor who can help.
Having an imaginary friend is a normal and healthy part of childhood play. Having one has even shown benefits in childhood development.
If your child has an imaginary friend, it’s totally OK. They can grow out of it in their own time as they stop needing the skills that their companion is teaching them.
What Does It Mean, and Is It Normal?
Having an imaginary friend, sometimes called an imaginary companion, is considered a normal and even healthy part of childhood play.
Research on imaginary friends has been ongoing for decades, with doctors and parents alike wondering whether it’s healthy or “normal.
”
Most research has shown again and again that it’s typically a natural part of childhood for many children.
Earlier research states as many as 65 percent of children up to age 7 had an imaginary friend.
It’s not uncommon for children to create imaginary friends or companions — someone they can talk to, interact with, and play with.
These pretend friends may take the form of anything: an invisible friend, an animal, something fantastical, or within an item, like a toy or stuffed animal.
Most research has shown that having an imaginary friend is a healthy form of childhood play. Studies have even found there may be some benefits for development in those children who create imaginary companions.
Benefits may include:
- superior social cognition
- more sociability
- boosted creativity
- better coping strategies
- increased emotional understanding
Imaginary friends may provide your child with friendship, support, entertainment, and more.
5 purposes for having an imaginary friend
In 2017, researchers described these five purposes for having an imaginary friend:
- problem-solving and emotion management
- exploring ideals
- having a companion for fantasy play
- having someone to overcome loneliness
- allowing children to explore behaviors and roles in relationships
While some parents may be concerned, it’s completely normal for a child to have an imaginary friend.
Compared to children who don’t have an imaginary friend, children who do aren’t different in the following ways:
- most personality traits
- family structure
- number of nonimaginary friends
- experience in school
In the past, experts believed having an imaginary friend indicated an issue or a mental health condition. According to current research, this thinking has been discredited.
While most people associate young preschool-aged children with having imaginary companions, it’s actually normal for older children to have them, too.
Older research found 28 percent of children ages 5 to 12 had imaginary friends.
Girls are more likely than boys to have imaginary friends.
Imagination can be an important part of a child’s play and development. Having an imaginary friend can help a child explore relationships and work their creativity.
If your child tells you about their imaginary friend, ask questions. You can learn more about your child, their interests, and what the imaginary friend may be doing for them.
For example, is their imaginary friend teaching them how to deal with friendships?
It can also help to play along. Set an extra place at dinner, or ask your child if their friend is coming on trips, for instance.
If your child or their pretend friend becomes demanding or causes problems, you can set boundaries. There’s no need to give into bad behavior, pretend or otherwise. Plus, setting boundaries can be a teaching moment.
What if the imaginary friend is scary?
While most imaginary friends are thought of as kind, friendly, and obedient, not all have been described as so.
Some have been called disruptive, rule breaking, or aggressive.
It’s possible that some imaginary friends even frighten, upset, or cause conflict with children. While many children express control or influence over their imaginary friend’s behavior, other children describe it as out of their control.
While it’s not entirely understood why an imaginary friend would be scary, it seems these imagined relationships still provide some sort of benefit to the child.
These more difficult relationships may still help a child navigate social relationships and cope with hard times in the real world.
Some parents worry that children with imaginary friends don’t have a good grasp on reality versus imagination, but this isn’t typically true.
In fact, most children understand their imaginary friends are pretend.
Every child is different and will grow out of this part of their lives at their own time. There are more reports of children under 7 with imaginary friends, though other reports have shown imaginary friends existing in children up to 12 years old.
There’s no need to worry if an older child still speaks about their imaginary friend.
If you do have any concerns because of your child’s behavior — and not just that they have their pretend friend — you can reach out to a mental health professional who specializes in pediatric care.
When it comes to a vivid imagination, parents may question whether their child is in fact experiencing hallucinations or psychosis.
Having an imaginary friend isn’t the same as experiencing these symptoms, which are often associated with schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia doesn’t typically show symptoms until a person is between 16 and 30 years old.
Childhood-onset schizophrenia is rare and difficult to diagnose. When it does occur, it usually happens after age 5 but before 13.
Some symptoms of childhood schizophrenia include:
- paranoia
- changes in mood
- hallucinations, such as hearing voices or seeing things
- sudden changes in behavior
If your child has sudden disruptive changes in their behavior and is experiencing something much more than an imaginary friend, reach out to their pediatrician or a mental health professional.
While schizophrenia symptoms and imaginary friends are often different and separate, there are other mental and physical conditions that may have a link.
Research in 2006, for instance, found that children who go on to develop dissociative disorders had a much higher likelihood of having an imaginary friend.
Dissociative disorders are mental health conditions where a person experiences a disconnect from reality.
Other research has suggested that adults with Down syndrome have a higher rate of imaginary companions and are more likely to keep these friends into adulthood.
There’s not a lot of research on imaginary friends in adulthood.
In a recent study, researchers did find that 7.5 percent of those studied reported experiencing an imaginary friend as an adult. However, this was a small sample size and had some limitations. Further research is needed.
With that being said, there seems to be no indication that an imaginary friend continuing into adulthood means anything different than one in childhood.
It may just be a sign of coping or of a strong imagination, though experts are unsure.
On the other hand, if an adult hears voices, sees things that aren’t there, or experiences other signs of hallucinations or psychosis, an underlying mental health condition, such as schizophrenia, may be at play.
Most times, imaginary friends are harmless and normal. But if you believe your child is experiencing something more, see their primary doctor.
Any time the behaviors and moods of your child shift dramatically or start to worry you, reach out for support from your child’s doctor or a mental health professional.
If your child’s imaginary friend ever becomes scary, aggressive, or frightening to your child, an evaluation with a mental health professional can give you peace of mind.
To find a doctor near you, follow these links:
- psychiatrist locator
- psychologist locator
You may also seek a licensed counselor, psychiatric nurse practitioner, or other doctor who can help.
Having an imaginary friend is a normal and healthy part of childhood play. Having one has even shown benefits in childhood development.
If your child has an imaginary friend, it’s totally OK. They can grow out of it in their own time as they stop needing the skills that their companion is teaching them.
What you need to know about imaginary friends
Having an imaginary friend, sometimes called an imaginary companion, is considered a normal and even healthy part of children's games.
Research into imaginary friends has been going on for decades, and doctors and parents are wondering if it's great or "normal."
Most research has shown over and over again that for many children this tends to be a natural part of childhood.
Earlier research shows that 65% of children under the age of 7 have an imaginary friend. nine0003
What does this mean?
Children often create imaginary friends or companions—someone with whom they can talk, interact, and play.
These imaginary friends can take the form of anything: an invisible friend, an animal, something fantastic, or inside an object such as a toy or stuffed animal.
Most studies have shown that having an imaginary friend is a healthy form of child's play. Research has even shown that there may be developmental benefits to children making imaginary companions. nine0003
Benefits may include:
- higher social cognition
- more sociability
- increased creativity
- better coping strategies
- increased emotional understanding
5 reasons to have an imaginary friend
In 2017, researchers described these five goals for making an imaginary friend:
- solving problems and managing emotions
- exploring ideals
- having a fantasy companion
- having someone to overcome loneliness
- allowing children to explore behaviors and roles in relationships
Although some parents may be concerned, it is perfectly normal for a child to have an imaginary friend.
Compared to children who do not have an imaginary friend, children who do have one are no different in the following respects:
- most personality traits
- family structure
- number of non-imaginary friends
- school experience
In the past, experts believed that having an imaginary friend indicated a mental health problem or condition. According to Current Research, this thinking has been discredited.
While most people associate young preschoolers with imaginary companions, they are actually normal for older children too. nine0003
Old research found 28 percent of children aged 5 to 12 had imaginary friends.
Girls are more likely than boys to have imaginary friends.
Imagination can be an important part of children's play and development. Having an imaginary friend can help a child explore relationships and develop their creativity.
How should the parent react?
If your child tells you about an imaginary friend, ask questions.
You can learn more about your child, their interests, and what an imaginary friend can do for them. nine0003
For example, does an imaginary friend teach them how to deal with friendships?
It can also help to play along. Set up an extra seat for dinner or ask your child, for example, if a friend is coming for a trip.
If your child or pretend friend becomes demanding or creates problems, you can set boundaries. There is no need to give in to bad behavior, pretend or otherwise. Also, setting boundaries can be a learning moment. nine0003
What if an imaginary friend scares me?
Although most imaginary friends are considered kind, friendly, and obedient, not all of them are described as such. Some of them have been called destructive, rule-breaking, or aggressive.
It is possible that some imaginary friends even frighten, upset or conflict with children. While many children express control or influence over their imaginary friend's behavior, other children describe it as behavior beyond their control.
nine0003
Although it is not entirely clear why an imaginary friend can be scary, it seems that these imaginary relationships still bring some benefit to the child.
These more complex relationships may still help the child navigate social relationships and cope with difficulties in the real world.
At what age do children grow out of this?
Some parents are concerned that children with imaginary friends have a poor grasp of reality and imagination, but this is usually not the case. nine0003
In fact, most children understand that their imaginary friends are pretenders.
All children are different and will grow out of this part of their lives in due time. There are more reports of children under 7 with imaginary friends, although other reports have shown that imaginary friends exist in children under 12.
No need to worry if the older child is still talking about his imaginary friend.
If you have any concerns about your child's behavior, other than just having a pretend friend, you can contact a mental health professional who specializes in pediatric care.
nine0003
Is it related to schizophrenia?
When it comes to vivid imagination, parents may wonder if their child is really experiencing hallucinations or psychosis.
Having an imaginary friend is not the same as experiencing these symptoms, which are often associated with schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia usually does not show symptoms until the person is between 16 and 30 years of age.
Childhood schizophrenia is rare and difficult to diagnose. When it does occur, it usually occurs after age 5 but before age 13. nine0003
Some symptoms of childhood schizophrenia include:
- paranoia
- changes in mood
- hallucinations, such as hearing voices or seeing things
- sudden changes in behavior
much more than an imaginary friend, see your pediatrician or mental health professional.
Although the symptoms of schizophrenia and imaginary friends are often varied and distinct, there are other mental and physical conditions that may be related.
nine0003
A 2006 study, for example, found that children who develop dissociative disorders are much more likely to have an imaginary friend.
Dissociative disorders are mental health conditions in which a person loses touch with reality.
Another study found that adults with Down syndrome are more likely to have imaginary friends and are more likely to keep these friends into adulthood.
What if an adult has an imaginary friend? nine0011
There is not much research on adult imaginary friends.
In a recent study, researchers found that 7.5 percent of those surveyed reported having met an imaginary friend as an adult. However, this was a small sample size and some limitations. Further research is needed.
With that said, there doesn't seem to be any indication that an imaginary friend remaining in adulthood means anything other than in childhood. nine0003
This may simply be a sign of overcoming or strong imagination, although experts are not sure.
On the other hand, if an adult hears voices, sees things that are not there, or experiences other signs of hallucinations or psychosis, there may be an underlying mental illness such as schizophrenia.
When to See a Doctor
In most cases, imaginary friends are harmless and normal. But if you think your child is experiencing something more, contact their doctor. nine0003
Any time your child's behavior or mood changes or starts to bother you, seek support from a pediatrician or mental health professional.
If your child's imaginary friend ever becomes intimidating, aggressive, or intimidating to your child, an evaluation by a mental health professional can give you peace of mind.
To find a doctor near you, follow these links:
- find a psychiatrist
- psychologist locator
You can also contact a licensed counselor, mental health practitioner, or other doctor who can help.
Bottom line
Having an imaginary friend is a normal and healthy part of children's play.
Having one has even shown benefits in child development.
If your child has an imaginary friend, this is perfectly normal. They can grow out of this in time as they no longer need the skills their partner teaches them. nine0003
People with schizophrenia talk about communicating with imaginary friends
We have prepared for our readers a selection of stories about the most terrible and frightening voices in the head that Reddit users diagnosed with schizophrenia have heard.
"I HURT!"
“The pharmacy where I usually get my medicines has run out of the medicine I need. They said that he would be delivered to them only on Monday. It's Saturday at 4am and I've been lying in bed for five hours straight listening to the little girl in my head yelling that she's HURRED! nine0003
“It's a bit annoying”
“I hear several voices, but most of them are just moaning and whispering something unintelligible, but one male voice always speaks loud and clear.
This guy (if you can call him a guy, of course) says that I should go and kill my colleagues at work, that I am above them in the food chain, that this is just natural selection. He also says that God is dead and I shouldn't go to church anymore, he says that I am God. I've been on medication for a while now and don't have the bad habit of taking advice from non-existent people to heart, but you know, it's a little annoying and makes it hard for me to concentrate." nine0003
“Sooner or later they will all be silent…”
“Periodically I hear three sexless voices in my head. One says that I am a complete nonentity, that I am not capable of anything, and I should have committed suicide long ago. Another tells me that I am the best, I am a queen, and this world should lie at my feet. The third speaks in a very low whisper and keeps repeating that I must hold on, because sooner or later they will all be silent.
"I live on an endless children's party"
“I hear children all the time.
They don't say anything, just laugh and clap their hands. Laughing and clapping all the time, every damn day of my life. It feels like I'm living on a never-ending children's party."
"Just all sorts of rubbish"
"I hear one deep and resonant infernal voice, which from time to time utters some unintelligible rubbish, as if he somehow fell asleep on the keyboard, and he reads all this."
"Broken TV"
“Have you ever heard those quiet noises that a TV makes when it can't pick up a signal? Static noise on the air. Broken TV. I hear them almost every night when I fall asleep, plus someone's unintelligible quiet muttering. At times it even lulls.
“Headphones help me”
“When it becomes unbearable, headphones help me. I don't turn on anything, I just plug my ears. My doctor explained to me that my brain doesn't process sound signals properly, and any mundane sounds I hear turn into annoying and aggressive voices. When I plug my ears with headphones, I can't hear anything and the voices disappear.
