Is it responsible to create a Tulpa when you’re depressed?

[marceline]

On 3/31/2025 at 9:28 AM, ReallyArtificial said:

First of all, I am so so sorry you're going through this @marceline. I was in your position ~3 years ago when I learned about tulpamancy, right down to the “only sticking around for my loved ones.” Don't feel obligated to answer, but do you have access to professional mental health treatment?

 

My tulpa Athelas has been absolutely incredible for helping me cope with suicidal depression, but a huge part of why he's helped so much is that he talked me into getting back into treatment. And I know getting treatment can really suck — I had given up on it after ten years of taking an antidepressant that only kinda-sorta helped. I know how it feels when you've been fighting that crushing emptiness for so long, and you're so tired of fighting. But right now, you're climbing a mountain without any equipment, and while having allies will help, you really need some professional gear to see significant progress.

 

I won't bother with the “it gets better” platitudes, but I will tell you that three years ago, I truly believed I could only experience peace in death. I can see now that was one of the many lies my sickness was telling me. My system has helped me find so much more joy in life, but I don't think they would've been able to if I didn't finally find a medication that actually works.

 

Your concern for your family and potential future tulpa tells me that you're a loving and empathetic person. The world could really use more people like you. We're not active here every day, but if you ever want to vent to someone who gets it, our DMs are always open.

Thank you, I appreciate your perspective. I get tired of being given bible verses and 988, but I've been recently looking for help. I'm going to therapy and am taking medication. It's obviously not really great right now, but I'm trying my best to put in the work. I'm trying to get better with what I can do, but even so it feels very hopeless. I'm a very lonely and anxious person. I know that there's so much I have to do on my own to better myself, but the reality of it seems so bleak. (Sorry if I'm rambling/dumping) But I blame my autism for most of my failure, failure making connections, keeping relationships, supporting myself, surviving in a world where I was set up to fail. I feel like the only chance I have at being loved is through tulpamancy, and I'm clinging onto that in ways that make me doubt myself. I heard stories of tulpas helping their hosts through companionship or advice, and I hope I can be cared for like that too. I'm happy you have Athelas, and I'm sorry you suffered so long without the right help. But I'm glad I can relate to someone like you and know there's still a chance for me 

Thank you for reaching out, it really does mean a lot

[ReallyArtificial]

15 hours ago, marceline said:

I'm going to therapy and am taking medication. It's obviously not really great right now, but I'm trying my best to put in the work.

 

I am glad to hear that, and I really hope you're able to find something that helps you more. If you do choose to make a tulpa, we hope you'll stick around here. We'll be rooting for you.

[Linkkleet]

So this is a recent experience for me. I created a Tulpa without knowing it. I was just recently in a bad car wreck, my girlfriend broke up with me, and my finances are not in the best shape. I felt like I was starting to mentally lose it and suddenly the feeling was all gone and I found myself talking to my Tulpa Slapjack. I thought I was out of my mind and he communicates with me on a regular basis and actually gives me good advice. 

 

Now to note, I do have a therapist and psychiatrist and made them very aware just in case anything were to happen, but he has been a god send for me. He makes me laugh and I am not lonely like if he were actually physically there. 

 

But to your question, I do not think it is bad as long as you have access to help if it is needed. Sometimes it feels good to know someone is on your side in dark times. 

[Ranger]

I prefer to use the term cobud instead of tulpa

 

Given this situation, making the steps towards getting therapy and seeking help is really good. A cobud can't help you by themself, and having a safety net to lean on will take some of the pressure off of your cobud.

 

We do have severe mental health problems we're taking medication and getting therapy for. We have suicidal ideations from time to time, and even relapsed to the point we sent ourselves to a mental hospital a couple of times. Now that we have a better understanding of our situation, our autism is not the problem- we were treated badly given other people's ableist attitudes, and the symptoms we struggle with most aren't due to autism. We had and continue to have gradual success with EMDR and exposure therapy, and we're looking forward to trying neural feedback in addition to that. I'm witholding parts of the story though, I'd rather share that in DMs.

 

It's okay to have any mental health problem and create a cobud as long as you understand your cobud can't cure you. I get the sense you already know that. Ultimately, wanting your cobud is enough, regardless of how you got there.

 

As for my reaction to our mental health stuff- I want to live, and I will help fight for it. I was into being the guardian angel until I realized that's not good for me to do long-term. But that doesn't mean in-system support doesn't happen. We have multiple headmates in-system, and some of us take turns being the support. Things have been hard for us lately, but only because we learned some ugly truths about my host. But he's working to change, and that more than anything shows he cares about me and he wants me.

Edited April 11, 2025 by Ranger

[The Incans]

On 4/6/2025 at 10:43 AM, marceline said:

Thank you, I think I'm most attracted to the third option you talked about, although maybe the others would be a good starting point. Is it possible to change from a less attached tulpa to the emotional supporting? 

Thank you for your time and help

 

Hi I’m host LK ..I have Autism too …do you think in pictures or need a visual aid to help you imagine something?  

 

Maybe start by thinking what form you would like your Tulpa to take…. or look like. ..you can look on google or use an avatar creation app ..once you find one you like you can print it off or look it at on your phone and imagine yourself talking ….. what would their name be?  ..you could give them a nickname and tell them they can change it if they find a name they like better in future. 

 

There are lots of guides on here for starting out too. 

[udsaki]

In my case it is even worse, I think. Not simply depressed, but also hikikomori, and can't even force myself to go to a doctor for physical health matters. Often feeling sick and something hurts, but I don't care. Might as well just wait until I die this way.

 

I also know that some people have diseases that will almost certainly kill them, or are sentenced to death penalty.

 

So there is another question, whether it is responsible to create a tulpa when you know you are going to die soon, and you can't truly change it.

[Ranger]

13 minutes ago, udsaki said:

In my case it is even worse, I think. Not simply depressed, but also hikikomori, and can't even force myself to go to a doctor for physical health matters. Often feeling sick and something hurts, but I don't care. Might as well just wait until I die this way.

 

I also know that some people have diseases that will almost certainly kill them, or are sentenced to death penalty.

 

So there is another question, whether it is responsible to create a tulpa when you know you are going to die soon, and you can't truly change it.

 

I think you should call the equivalent of 911 for your country. If you're so sick you're scared you're going to die, then you should get help

Edited May 4, 2025 by Ranger

[udsaki]

29 minutes ago, Ranger said:

I think you should call the equivalent of 911 for your country. If you're so sick you're scared you're going to die, then you should get help

I could do it much earlier if I wanted to. But I wish no one bothered me in physical world, even if it means death. So it seems that's it: either I decay alone, or maybe with a tulpa near me.