Distinguishing imagination from tulpa

[Senna]

So, basically, I've been having a lot of trouble. I imagine things in my head a lot. I imagine scenarios, story possibilities, and images, and they all come to my head naturally, maybe it's because I like to read or write, either is possible. It's easy for me to imagine things, really, but this also means I jump from one thing to another a lot. I mentally stutter, which is where I stop whatever I'm imagining when it doesn't go the direction I like and redo it, whether it's a sentence, or a scene, etc.

 

All this sucks because, when I try to talk to my tulpa, I jump from one thing to another, I can't tell if I'm unconsciously imagining him or if he's actually talking to me, and he, when I try to think of him, mentally stutters, and I can't tell the difference between imagination and actual conversations, you know? How do I pull the line between imagination and tulpa? Or are they one and the same?

 

This is just really confusing, and I'm getting sort of tired and frustrated, and I really don't know anymore, so if someone could help me, I would really appreciate it :)

[Chupi]

There is a difference, but it can be hard to tell at first. With time you'll learn to tell the difference more easily. When your tulpa is able to communicate decently, you can ask him whether a given thing is him or not.

 

For now, you're pretty much flying blind. If something seems to be him, take it as being him. If he seems to do something totally out of character, it's probably not him.

 

If you mistake simple imagination for your tulpa, there's no real harm done. Worst that will happen is you might annoy him a bit. But if he puts in a lot of effort and does something and you continually assume it's just you and ignore it, it will tend to discourage him from trying more. This is why I recommend assuming it's him if you're unsure. He'll be able to correct you when you screw up soon enough.

[Tulpony]

I had a similar issue when starting Pix. The best strategy is to just assume that if you didn't actively try to imagine something, it's him. Best case scenario, you accept something that actually is him and you're now one step closer to understanding each other. Worst case scenario, you accept something that isn't him and he gets a bit annoyed, but at least you're not doubting and stifling him. If you're unsure, try asking him "Was that you?" or "What are you trying to say?" and see if you get any response. And keep in mind, if he's still young some seemingly random responses may just be him "testing the waters" so to speak. Pix pulled up a lot of random quotes in the first few weeks to get my attention.

[NekoiNemo]

This "alien" feel for some thoughts that everyone talks about. I think it differs from person to person. For me it was like some thoughts just not really connected to my main train of thought or any of its branches, like they're encapsulated. Or then i think of something some thoughts just popup outside of my mind's main focus.

Also on early stages if you ask them something (for example "what do you want to do?") and get response like "Γ▒ΓΆΓ╞Γ╗ΓΆΓ╞ΓιΓΆΒB" instead of "this, this and that" - that's probably your tulpa. One thing that i encountered early on - when get this "alien" thought and then ask Yami "was it you?" i get just some random pulse/noise like response.

And last but not least. In early stages they really tend to respond with quotes, your own words, thing like simultaneous "yes" or "no" (or both at the same time) and just some mix of words like "You. Like... I lik--" instead of "I like you".

 

TL;DR: If you get something with even little bit weird or unusual feel to it - it's your tulpa for sure.