As-Salamu ‘Alaikum,

Well done for reaching out for assistance with this problem you are having now. Reaching out for help in such situations can be very difficult, but the fact that you have taken the first step in trying to overcome this is a good sign. It’s a sign that you are willing to try and overcome this difficulty.

If you feel that you are genuinely hearing the voices of others and seeing others who are not actually there, then this is a more serious problem that I would recommend you get some more local assistant from a psychiatrist for. However, you describe in such a way that implies that these are people you just make up in your head, but you are not actually seeing them or hearing any voices. In this case, there are other things you can try to overcome this. If it begins to have any impact on your life and disturb your deen, work, study, or relations with anyone in any way, then it is more cause for concern.

Firstly, understand that since it seems that this is something you have been doing for such a long time, it will be something that might take a while to reverse. You will, therefore, need to be patient with it and keep working at it. If it has been going on for a long time, then it has likely become a habit, and habits are difficult to break free from. But be reassured that it is possible, so have hope.

It could, indeed, be a result of that which you suggest – a lonely childhood. As a result, you have created an imaginary world to fill in this gap in order to have social relations in some way, in this case, in your mind. Therefore, the way to overcome this is to become more socially active in order that you develop real friendships and have real people to speak to rather than those in your head. 

If you have little experience of being with others, then you might find this difficult at first so you might begin by joining a club that does something you enjoy. So, as a start, the people you are around are those with similar interests. This will make conversation easier as well as keep you busy in meaningful activities so that you simply won’t have the time to be making up scenarios in your head. This will help you to snap out of your habit, even if only for a temporary moment.

Reinforce this regularly by keeping up with this new hobby. Being with others will assist you in gradually breaking free from your imaginary world. By not allowing this imaginary world of yours to play such a big part in your life, you will eventually not feel the need to turn to it as you become more engaged in more meaningful activities. Eventually, in time, as you begin to open up and make more friends, more opportunities will open in your life and you will be more willing to engage as you become more experienced at being with others and leaving your imaginary world. As you experience the benefits of being with others you will feel less need to even be in your imaginary world as you gain more pleasure form what is happening in real life.

It may also be that your lack of confidence in yourself makes you do this. Creating n imaginary world allows you to become someone else. Mixing with others through a hobby as I suggest will eventually bring you more confidence in yourself as you make good friends and achieve positive things. You no longer have to slip into an imaginary character of yourself as you become more confident and happy with who you are.

May Allah (swt) make it easy for you to break free from this cycle and bring happiness and contentment into your life.