[liquidfox]

If you walk into a restaurant, do you imagine a real person you know is watching you? Or if you're in the car, do you imagine in the car behind you there's someone you know?
Does anyone else do this? And, if so, do you think it's a way of coping with loneliness?

[LaborIntensive]

I do not. Do you just go places to hang out and maybe drink coffee or tea? Rad a book and look around, just people watching. That may help you.

[liquidfox]

Originally Posted by LaborIntensive

I do not. Do you just go places to hang out and maybe drink coffee or tea? Rad a book and look around, just people watching. That may help you.

Nope - I stay at home a lot. I just meant when I do go out that's what happens.

[soIcouldbelovely]

yeah, ive done it a couple times before, because at least for me, it makes me feel a little more safe, and like u said not alone and comfortable kinda

I've created daydream scenarios in my mind, and told them to friends as if they were real or really happened. It was my way of experiencing something very vividly in my mind, because I was not able to in reality.

Getting a response from my friends gave it even more reality. It helped me temporarily escape from my own inner pain and frustration. I usually felt sad for myself afterwards, for feeling so deprived of what I needed that I did something like that. Now, I'm trying to use that kind of daydreaming to create stories for my writing projects.

[Thunder Bow]

If this explodes in to full blown Paranoia, then see a Therapist. Otherwise this feeling is quite normal.

[CurioussKent]

Like you pretend they are there when nobody is near? I do the same thing (because I have no real freinds) and yeah....

Sent from my SCH-I405

Well, I usually imagine that someone is with me everywhere I go, especially at work. Ever since I was 4 I had imaginary friends and created worlds in my head to live in. All I do is daydream about them in my head. They're all I have really and yeah... Loneliness is a big factor.
It's comforting knowing I can hang on to them.

[RileyRonan]

I know exactly how you feel as I deal with this too. I think it's very normal, particularly when you're alone a lot or feel lonely. Human beings are social creatures by nature and any form of company is better than nothing at all. I've wondered in the past if I was crazy because, like you, I grew up with imaginary friends and pretended that my favorite musicians were with me or watching me, almost like I was in my own reality show that was much more interesting than I felt my real life to be. I was very social as a kid and pre-teen but after some traumatic family events and kind of isolating myself, those imaginary celebrity friends and audiences became instinctive, so much so that I grew uncomfortable in my own room because of the posters I had on my walls. I took the posters down and, despite being crushed due to a poster/picture obsession, I felt like my mind had been lifted out and emptied, I was so relieved. I had no idea the mental energy I was exerting. I still have the habit of pretending that I'm "the star" or whatever, but I'm also still pretty lonely and depressed because of it.

I say all of this about myself because I know how vivid imaginary company can become and I know how insecure it can make you feel about your sanity and stuff. But I've come to realize that human beings need company of any sort.

So, I think what you're doing is perfectly normal. Particularly in public settings where social pressure to look or be a certain way can creep up.

~RileyRonan

[bluecloud]

I think you've a special coping mechanism! You're creative! I think your way can boost confidence. For me, if I imagine to have someone next to me, I know I'd feel more confident.

I drag going out to places or cafes, especially with crowds, if I am going alone. If I must then I usually bring a book or a laptop or a tablet or a phone, something that I can use to shield me from looking like I'm isolated by the people around me.

[monkeybrains21]

I'd feel better if they were ppl I knew. I just always feel like I'm being watched and not I'm a good way. I randomly change directions if I feel I'm being followed. I change clothes and my hair or put a hat on. I always have hats with me and hair gel, different shirts. Hoodies, jackets, different colored polo. The works.

If I see an official looking vehicle or a cop car I watch it intently and see if it follows me.