Is it normal to still have your childhood imaginary friend?
I grew up with abusive parents and after my grandmother died when I was about 4 I had no one to talk to about it. I made up an imaginary friend that was my age and talked to him when I was alone in my room. Every time I would cry he would just kind of appear and comfort me. The Middle School I went to was full of kids that wanted to feel hardcore and bullied people they weren't friends with. When I first told my parents they said it was probably my fault and I must have done something to the kids at my school because no one bullies people for no reason. When I told my imaginary friend about it, it made me feel so much better because he understood, even though I was pretty much talking to myself. I'm in college now and I still talk to my imaginary friend. I've caught myself having long conversations with him out loud. It's like he grew up with me and became a part of me. Sometimes I spontaneously refer to myself as "we" (like "shit we're going to be late"). I've talked to him about pretty much everything, and when my first girlfriend broke up with me talking to him was the only thing that made me feel better. I have real friends that actually exist, but I prefer talking to my imaginary friend when it comes to feelings. Is this normal or am I slowly going insane?