I struggle with that concept a lot. The only time they ever feel real are when I'm having flashbacks or remembering them in a dissociated state. It makes me question their validity... along the lines of what amandalouise said, unless you are trying to prosecute for the abuse, whether or not they are real doesn't really make much of a difference for therapy. T and I focus on how I'm dealing with the images in my head, and how to heal from them, even if they are exaggerated or stories.