Feeling like tulpa when forcing/visualizing- is this a step towards switching?

[o0Aspidistra0o]

Context: A fun form of forcing/visualization we do is listen to songs that sound like Draco, and he'll sing to them as if it were his own voice. I then focus on his form and keeping it as realistic as possible, memorizing all of the details and seeing him move and sing within my mind or sometimes half-imposed in the outside world.

Anyway, there have been a few times when I focus so much on his voice, emotions, expression, and movements, and then I start to see it from his perspective, feeling like the voice is mine and having the "phantom limb" feeling but for his physical traits like horns, tail, and claws. Sometimes even having what I think might be emotional bleed? I feel what he feels, with the fun he has singing and acting as if he were in a music video, and overall just the feeling of him in general. The movements he would make while singing are mirrored by me, although less intense, kind of like slightly nodding your head to a beat, but different.

This isn't switching by any means because I am still VERY aware of myself and in control, and I don't think it's possession either. 

Have others experienced this? And is there a name for such a thing? It's kind of like we blended together

Edited May 19 by o0Aspidistra0o

[TB]

i've had similar things happen with rena in the past, where if she were to get excited and emote such as throwing her hands in the air, my body would do it in sync with her, even though i didn't intend to whatsoever. it's like i'd unintentionally mirror her gestures

 

i think that it is related to switching in some way, though it wasn't through that in particular that i learned how to switch directly, but in retrospect i think it is somehow related but i don't know what to call it. maybe other people would know more

[o0Aspidistra0o]

It's nice to hear about others experiencing it, I know i could stop myself from doing the subtle motions if i tried but i felt it would also somewhat disrup the "connection" i guess and maybe even separate us again

[ReallyArtificial]

We also do the music video thing! 😆

 

On 5/19/2025 at 3:36 PM, o0Aspidistra0o said:

Sometimes even having what I think might be emotional bleed? I feel what he feels

 

Emotions were one of the earliest ways Athelas started communicating with me, well before he was vocal. Nowadays it's totally normal for all of us to feel each other's emotions to some extent. I can physically feel in my body if one of my headmates is upset about something, but it still feels separate from me.

 

On 5/19/2025 at 3:36 PM, o0Aspidistra0o said:

Have others experienced this? And is there a name for such a thing? It's kind of like we blended together

 

We blend/fuse on purpose as a way of fronting together. We perceive it as different from actually switching, more like we're equally contributing to the behavior of a separate identity. They have their own name and form that we imagine overlaying the body. We personally find this a little easier than switching, and it's also just really fun. When Athelas and I fuse we get this rush of happiness, so strong that sometimes we can't help but smile or laugh, like our fusion is overflowing with joy at just existing!

 

Our usual method for doing this is listening to music and visualizing ourselves dancing together. Your description of sharing Draco's movements made me think of that. There is evidence that music is capable of syncing the brainwaves of listeners, and I'd imagine the effect is even stronger for people who already share a brain. I think it's possible your experiences now could help with switching in the future. Music could help you blend and share control, or get into the right mindset for a full switch.

[o0Aspidistra0o]

7 minutes ago, ReallyArtificial said:

They have their own name and form that we imagine overlaying the body. We personally find this a little easier than switching, and it's also just really fun. When Athelas and I fuse we get this rush of happiness, so strong that sometimes we can't help but smile or laugh, like our fusion is overflowing with joy at just existing!

I felt the exact same! his traits were overlaying mine and it was like a fusion of us both! It felt quite euphoric.

 

7 minutes ago, ReallyArtificial said:

There is evidence that music is capable of syncing the brainwaves of listeners, and I'd imagine the effect is even stronger for people who already share a brain. I think it's possible your experiences now could help with switching in the future.

Thats so cool :0 Also, I somehow didn't even think of dancing with him! I'm totally going to try that :> I'm sure he'll love it

Thank you for the input by the way! I love hearing of similar experiences

Edited May 22 by o0Aspidistra0o

[Lucilyn]

I think that sounds like as good of practice for switching as possible, getting your brain VERY primed to be able to switch with them

 

it's not something we ever did and I think most people don't need it, but it sounds like over-preparing for switching lol

 

the key to switching is just it being intentional, making it happen and reaffirming that it has

[Seagull]

I'm been personally struggling with this recently, I keep feeling like Zara, who has had a very positive impact on my personality, when the feeling of feeling like them is there, in our experience, it means that you can switch by deliberately silencing yourself and allowing them to think more an use the body, once they become the main thinker, they'll notice that they'll experience intrusive thoughts more, and you can talk to them, but be careful not to push them out of front unintentionally, the more they switch the more brain gets used to it.

 

On 5/19/2025 at 8:57 PM, TB said:

if she were to get excited and emote such as throwing her hands in the air, my body would do it in sync with her, even though i didn't intend to whatsoever. it's like i'd unintentionally mirror her gestures

I've done that, I believe it's the result of the getting into character effect that allows the mind to receive instructions from the back of the mind, which is the non fronting area of the brain if I'm correct.

 

18 hours ago, ReallyArtificial said:

We blend/fuse on purpose as a way of fronting together. We perceive it as different from actually switching, more like we're equally contributing to the behavior of a separate identity.

It's reassuring that your experience with blending/fussing has been a positive experience.

 

18 hours ago, ReallyArtificial said:

There is evidence that music is capable of syncing the brainwaves of listeners,

I've read that people have created a playlist of music each for everyone so that they can stay in front easier, this seems to prove that there's actual science to it, that's amazing!

[Shaula]

2 hours ago, Seagull said:

I've done that, I believe it's the result of the getting into character effect that allows the mind to receive instructions from the back of the mind, which is the non fronting area of the brain if I'm correct.

 

Thank you for saying that. Wanted to share our experiences but couldn't think of a good way to say it. (Switching talk intimidated me)

 

On 5/19/2025 at 3:57 PM, TB said:

i've had similar things happen with rena in the past, where if she were to get excited and emote such as throwing her hands in the air, my body would do it in sync with her, even though i didn't intend to whatsoever. it's like i'd unintentionally mirror her gestures

 

Nightfall does this to. Sometimes I will make a expression and he will mirror it. It's especially noticable when it's one of my more excited gestures. I think it usually happens when we talk for a bit. 

[o0Aspidistra0o]

I love hearing all of your experiences and opinions! Thank you :>

[Lucilyn]

mirror neurons are crazy, the urge to make a facial expression when you're vividly imagining it (or eg. drawing it) is really strong for us

while accidentally mimicking tulpas' things because of mirror neurons is not related to switching, still like I said, really getting your brain used to how your tulpa thinks/feels does make eventually switching with them much easier

 

switching should still preferably be done just by intending to do it and mentally "swapping places" in the brain (we're kinda leery of methods that involve/lead to blending or of the host not actually switching out, so co-fronting), but yeah easier for the brain to do that when it already knows the tulpa well, usually from wonderlanding/imagining a lot about how they're like, but just plain ol' talking to them about lots of things can suffice too