I have the problem with creating imaginary characters and talking to them. It has been both a comfort and a destruction. This problem I remember started when I was 6 years old when I would imagine all of my classmates in various situations and as every class changed then the characters changed. In high school, I began creating characters and that is where it has stood until today. The characters that I have created have these wonderful stories and lives and when I am in their world, I feel wonderful. However, when I am not, I feel alone and scared. I have tried to stop. But, when I do I feel scared, lonely and depressed. Other problems with my imagining is that I am NEVER in the picture. I become the characters but never myself; therefore, today, I am not really sure of who I am. Also, most of my characters are caucasian while I am African American (though most of my characters were African American when I was a child for they were my classmates). I have done this for so long that now I do not know if I can truly be close to anyone while I have this problem and I'm afraid that when I get older I will develop a more serious problem like Altzheimers. Is anyone experiencing this? What suggestions do you have to cure this problem?

I do the exact same thing! Do you, by any chance, have Asperger's, or any Asperger's-related traits? I've talked to people on the autism board because I was just recently diagnosed with Asperger's, and it seems that many Asperger's people talk to themselves and make imaginary characters. From what I understand, you don't actually believe these people are real, but you just become them as if you were acting out scenarios like a soap opera? That's what I do. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask! God bless! :angel:
-GatsbyLuvr1920-

That's exactly it. It's like a soap opera. I read about Asperger's and there are things there I experienced, but I am not sure if that's it. How did you get diagnosed with Asperger's?

I thought i was the only one who did this, I have never spoken to anyone about it. I also tell lies to my friends about what I did at the weekend and stuff, when really they only happened in my head. I have been diagonosed with Depression and social anxiety disorder. Is there a chance i have Asperger's syndrome?

I also have created imaginary characters in my head and spend time with them in my own little fantasy world all the time, i talk to them and it is like being with real people except i know i'm just imagining it - i'm not me in these daydreams but someone else. I live in these daydreams most of the time and sometimes i'm ok and can get on with my life and other times its all i want to do and i can't do anything else and it gets in the way of my life. I feel most of the time i just want to live in my fantasy world and be with these characters and don't even care about the real world enough because my real world is so depressing....

I tried explaining my situation to my psychiatrist but he'd never heard of anything like this much before and didn't understand it. But after reading this thread i'm worried i might have Asperger's syndrome. Does anyone think i do have it or what it is i have? what is causing me to be this way? I don't even know what is wrong with me and before i found this board i thought it was just me who was like this as i'd never heard of anyone else wanting to live in a daydream world before....

I also have had 2 psychotic episodes and most likely have schizo-affective disorder.

I don't think my constant daydreaming/fantasising is because of schizo-affective disorder i think that just caused my psychotic episodes. So i'm wondering just what it is i do have wrong with me? is it Asperger's?

I just can't stop daydreaming no matter how hard i try, now i've made up these imaginary characters, it seems this will just never go...i just don't know what to do....

Talking to yourself or to imaginary characters does not mean that you have Asperger's Syndrome.

Exactly. I only suggested that. There are MANY more things that go into having Asperger's.
-GatsbyLuvr1920-

Hey, im not diagnosed with nething as i have never bin to the docs or ever even told ne1. but i live in my own world a lot of the time. but the difference is that i only have these little world with people i know. it doesnt have to sum1 i know well-a teacher or sum1 like that. i have my own world, my situation, my own scenario and my own little relationship with these people. i posted it on the OCD boards ('healthy or unhealthy obbsession')cos i wanted to ask if it was a symptom. its just that i spend most of my time repeating and repeating these in my head, all day. i can spend ours dwelling on the same thought or scenario. its rather soothing usually unless its a not very nice thought. but the problem is i can enjoy it too much and it distracts me from doing work and sumtimes it used to alot in school. is this what u guys mean???

I'm not trying to dismiss your concern at all, but I often do this. I often make up characters in my head and give them a story. I watch people out on the streets and make up stories for them. For me, it's a normal thing. I've always done it. I've always just considered a side effect of an overactive imagination.

But, I've found something to help me to keep from letting it take control. I write them down. And, in writing this down, I've come to find out that I'm a pretty good writer. I channeled something that could have been a problem into something positive. I'm not sure if this is a help to you or not, but maybe try writing down the stories you have for these people. It might help you in more ways than one.

I sort of did this...still do in a way, but not imaginary friends. My actual friends. I would make up scenarios and day dream away situations and stuff, and I've done this for years. I'm 27 now.

I find it comforting and nice, as opposed to just living entirely in reality which can be stressful and lonely at times.

As long as it doesn't impinge on your life, well...I don't think it's so bad, but you'd have to be careful you don't completely withdraw from your real life and any friends or acquaintances you have to live in your fantasy/inside world.

Often the reason these inside thoughts and scenarios are so appealing is because (1) you're not always you, so you are free to be whoever you like and thus have a different life and/or personality, or even if you ARE you, you can act however you like with no outside restrictions, and (2) you are entirely in control. That is a big thing I think.

Just read what Pucca Chick said and yeah, I'm like that too, as I said in my own post. I will get these scenarios in my head (like right now my recurring one is that I get this job I really want), and it's sort of like, it sooths me and it's almost addictive for me to just get quiet time to myself and just daydream the scenario of the boss guy telling me about the job, and saying the hours and money, and it's always perfect of course, cause this is what I want in real life. I think this is just cause I'm stressed and not so happy with my existing job and money situation, which is why these daydreams are so nice and enjoyable. Sometimes if I'm lying on the couch in the middle of one, and I'm interrupted, I'll be cranky and feel stressed.

Also, in various scenarios in my mind, they're about my friends or family or partner or just people I deal with day to day but don't know very well. See, I think in this case, it's because I have some sort of interest in these people (the ones I don't know well) and sort of want to actually experience the scenario in real life, but wouldn't ever do it probably.

In the case of the things of my friends and family, it's usually cause I don't feel I express myself properly sometimes in real life, so it comforts and sooths me and contents me to do it in my own mind at least.

I think this must be why, as whenever I have them about my partner it's only when we're apart, and usually in the scenario in my head we're hugging or chatting or whatever we'd normally do were we together...cause when we ARE together, I don't have them about my partner cause I don't feel the need. You see? Interesting...(to me anyway). lol