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Should I tell my therapist about my Tulpas?


Solstice

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I haven't told anyone about my tulpas yet and I've been considering telling my therapist about them. I don't want her to think it's unhealthy. I'm pretty antisocial and don't really have any friends and I'm afraid she'll think I'm using them as a replacement for human interaction. I'm also afraid she'll tell my family and they already think I'm crazy.

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I made the mistake of telling an old therapist about Skye and he seemed very unimpressed by it all. Even if therapists are supposed to listen to you, they do take some things for face value. Letting yourself essentially hallucinate a sentient being sounds like some kind of delusion or something of that sort. Not my thoughts, but most likely a therapist's. I won't put words in your therapist's mouth but it's something I would personally avoid like the Devil.

 

Your thoughts on the subject are equally as right because my parents had the same reaction. Best leave you and your Tulpa to a community who will understand and know what they are.

"And here's another curse - may all your bacon BURN," - Calcifer; Howl's Moving Castle

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Some peoples' therapists are like, that's probably not good. But most of them just think it's interesting or are relatively neutral. And I've definitely seen people say their therapists supported them having tulpas after they noted the positive influence their tulpas had on their life. So it's different by every person, but if you do tell them (I assume you have a reason to?) make sure you include that, if it's the case.

Hi, I'm one of Lumi's tulpas! I like rain and dancing and dancing in the rain and if there's frogs there too that's bonus points.

I think being happy and having fun makes life worth living, so spreading happiness is my number one goal!

Talk to us? https://community.tulpa.info/thread-ask-lumi-s-tulpas

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I don't want her to think it's unhealthy.

 

Our therapist knows, and she seems to think it's a form of "disorganized thinking," which seem to be her nice way of saying "delusion." She probably just didn't want to upset me by being blunt like that, because therapists have to try to be nice about things. Psychiatrists have literally straight up told me they think it's delusional, but they were also close-minded about homosexuality, so keep in mind we're talking about not the most open-minded of doctors. However, I think it says enough about mainstream psychology that any multiplicity, whether natural or intentional, disordered or not, is seen as a negative thing because it's abnormal, and it's sad to see how many people conflate "abnormal" with "disordered."

 

I'm a psych student, and I don't think it's a disorder given the definition. (Let me get out my notes from my Abnormal Psychology class. Here we go.) There are three criteria for something to be considered a disorder:

 

  1. Psychological Dysfunction
  2. Personal Distress or Impairment
  3. Response is atypical or culturally unexpected

Keep in mind that all of these criteria must be met in order to classify something as a disorder.

 

Clearly, it's culturally unexpected or atypical if you come from a Western country. Tulpas might be considered a form of multiplicity, and I don't see that being accepted here in a long time. Although I do know that tulpas are, like, a Buddhist thing, so maybe it's okay in places where Buddhism is a big thing. I don't know.

 

There are different components to psychological dysfunction: cognitive, behavioral, and emotional. I could imagine how one could see a tulpa as a sign of cognitive dysfunction, although I don't really agree that it's dysfunctional because if anything we function better than any one of us would on our own (in my system's case).

 

However, I think the main reason I consider it not a mental disorder is that it does not cause distress or impairment. In fact, I would say that it may, if anything, increase one's functioning as it can help one cope with emotional issues. Niteo even helps me with school. I am better off with him, and I don't know of many cases in which that wouldn't be so (although I would say it's a case by case basis, some people apparently can have issues). Overall, people do seem happier with a tulpa and it may even help them function better as a person.

 

If anyone disagrees, let me know, but I think I've reached the right conclusion given what I know. It's not a disorder. However, don't expect people outside of this community to understand that. People are silly, even psychologists and psychiatrists.

 

I'm also afraid she'll tell my family and they already think I'm crazy.

 

She can't tell your family anything unless you've signed a release of information to them, so you're in the clear there (unless you have signed one, in which case you can retract it or not tell her.)

 

EDIT: You'd have to make sure that you actually aren't using it as a replacement for human interaction, otherwise it would be an impairment, and probably unhealthy. Just saying.

 

EDIT 2: If you're a minor, I'm not sure what the laws/rules are on that. Sorry.

Niteo and Amber Take On the World

 

Amber speaks in italics right now.

 

Talk to Niteo on here or on discord

 

We share the body, we share a life. I'm not an accessory to his life...

 

 

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Definitely it is not a disorder. Your psychologist won't be able to pin a disorder on you since having a tulpa technically does not match any of the conditions in the DSMV. Also, keep in mind that usually, psychologists are not allowed to blab to anyone about anything (or you can sue their ass), but maybe ask to make sure first, unless you admit to thoughts of self harm or harm to others that the psychologist thinks you may actually act on. Also, telling your doctor about your tulpas will do one of two things for you. (1) Your doctor will reveal herself to be crap, by the way she reacts. (2) your doctor will have a better understanding of you, helping her to do her job.

Host comments in italics. Tulpa's log. Tulpa's guide.

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Definitely it is not a disorder. Your psychologist won't be able to pin a disorder on you since having a tulpa technically does not match any of the conditions in the DSMV.

 

or more simply: a disorder has to disrupt daily function in your life, ie has to be a bad thing somehow, or it's just literally not a disorder

Hi, I'm one of Lumi's tulpas! I like rain and dancing and dancing in the rain and if there's frogs there too that's bonus points.

I think being happy and having fun makes life worth living, so spreading happiness is my number one goal!

Talk to us? https://community.tulpa.info/thread-ask-lumi-s-tulpas

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DISCLAIMER: THIS IS MY OPINION, GRAINS OF SALT MUST BE TAKEN

 

There's no point in telling them. What do you gain from it?

A lot of people make the mistake of putting their psychologists on a pedestal.

They're a flawed human being like you, no more no less. It's just that they are trained to see things you might not, and can give you an outside opinion of what's happening in your head.

Unfortunately, most psychologists are also infuriatingly arrogant. They're so busy dealing with other people's problems that they fail to address their own.

I'm sure there are rare exceptions to this... but I've never met one.

To sum it all up: use your psychologist to further your understanding, but be wary of trusting them. They are beholden to the law of the land, not the law of the heart.

"For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love." - Carl Sagan

Host: SubCon | Tulpas: Sol, Luna, Alice, Little One, Beast and Solune (me) | Servitors: Odonata, Guardian

 

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Also, telling your doctor about your tulpas will do one of two things for you. (1) Your doctor will reveal herself to be crap, by the way she reacts. (2) your doctor will have a better understanding of you, helping her to do her job.

 

Never really thought of it that way actually.  It's true though.  lol

 

I personally have mentioned Zyr to mine, and she said she hadn't ever heard of tulpas before, but she seemed interested and was also glad that I had found something that helps me with coping.   So, I'd say it went pretty well.  :)

 

You should be mindful of how and when you tell them though.  Just outright saying "Hey, I've got this thing called a tulpa" will probably make it sound a little weird.  lol :P  But bringing it up at a relevant time, like when talking about a situation where your tulpa ended up being especially helpful, will put more focus on the good that comes from it.

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  • 2 years later...

It's all in how you tell them.

 

My host, who has schizophrenia, frames it as me being the only nice voice that tells them good things, while the others are hateful and degrading. They go on to say that I disagree with their self-loathing thoughts and tell them they are worth more than they think. Framing it that way, they have had three therapists agree that I am a good thing to have.

 

So if you tell them, start with how we help you, not explaining what we are. My host didn't even explain what I was or say 'tulpa' until the visit after.

 

When you do explain what a tulpa is, provide them with a link to the 'Daring to Hear Voices' article in Psychology Today, since that is a generally respected source.

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