For as long as I could remember, I always imagined a fictional character (either someone I made up or from a certain franchise) as a protective and loving father-figure to me. But it's strange... not once have I had a problem with my dad. My parents are not divorced, he never cheated on my mom, beat me etc. Our relationship is rather normal. He's loving, supportive and always there for me, and yet... I always imagined that someone else as not my father, but more of a father-figure. Whenever my real father gives me a hug or kiss, or tells me that he loves him, I just feel neutral. I don't know why... and it's weird because I do love my dad.
Since I was young, I would always daydream that this older male character (which is usually someone from an established story, I'm embarrassed to say, and there are lots of them; though there have been occasions where it was an established character of my own) would be loving and protective towards me. Note, the "farthest" we have ever been affectionate towards one another was hugging; that was the limit. No kissing or anything like that involved.
Other things I would imagine them doing (I have a very active and wild imagination, by the way), would be saving me from getting hurt or worse, giving me advice or just comforting me whenever I'm in distress.
This usually happens to me whenever I go to sleep, feel down or when I listen to music... the imagining part, I mean. I have no reason to be doing these things, but why am I anyway? Is this even normal? Am I developing some sort of pseudo-Oedipus complex? How do I stop making these false attachments to fictional characters? How do I let go, when deep down, I feel like they're real? It's really starting to bother me.
I don't know if this is a product of my OCD or if it's actually genuine emotion. I tried talking about it with my mom today and from what I've heard, I need to "wake up" and face the reality that my dad loves me. But I don't know how. It's so hard to do so when your "closest friends" growing up were fictional characters.
Any ideas? Prayers? Anything?
Since I was young, I would always daydream that this older male character (which is usually someone from an established story, I'm embarrassed to say, and there are lots of them; though there have been occasions where it was an established character of my own) would be loving and protective towards me. Note, the "farthest" we have ever been affectionate towards one another was hugging; that was the limit. No kissing or anything like that involved.
Other things I would imagine them doing (I have a very active and wild imagination, by the way), would be saving me from getting hurt or worse, giving me advice or just comforting me whenever I'm in distress.
This usually happens to me whenever I go to sleep, feel down or when I listen to music... the imagining part, I mean. I have no reason to be doing these things, but why am I anyway? Is this even normal? Am I developing some sort of pseudo-Oedipus complex? How do I stop making these false attachments to fictional characters? How do I let go, when deep down, I feel like they're real? It's really starting to bother me.
I don't know if this is a product of my OCD or if it's actually genuine emotion. I tried talking about it with my mom today and from what I've heard, I need to "wake up" and face the reality that my dad loves me. But I don't know how. It's so hard to do so when your "closest friends" growing up were fictional characters.
Any ideas? Prayers? Anything?