Carlson's syndrome

The appearance of an imaginary friend is a variant of the norm or a psychological deviation? This psychological phenomenon is called Carlson's syndrome.

Imaginary friends for children of three to five years are an adequate state of mind and a manifestation of the child's creative fantasy, speaking of his normal psychological development.

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Causes of the carlson syndrome

Psychologists note several of the most common causes of the development of Carlson's syndrome:

1. Lack of impressions.
2. Deficit of communication, a sense of loneliness.
3. Sensation of insecurity.
4. Increased care. Lack of opportunity to express themselves and express their views.
5. Guilt. The desire to escape from an unpleasant reality, a person creates his world with an imaginary friend, who is protected from the outside world.
6. Increased severity. The child lives in the army.

Adults with Carlson's syndrome in medicine are referred to as "kiddals". Most are male. Mostly the cause of the appearance of Carlson's syndrome is the fear of official relations, the desire to protect oneself from encroachments on personal space and freedom, unwillingness to take responsibility for someone's life (people often have no children).

Later, the psyche of a child or an adult person blocks the real perception of the world, creating an ideal world with imaginary characters. It can be an animated toy or an invisible virtual friend.

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Symptoms of the carlson syndrome

Symptoms that should alert and force to seek advice from a specialist are constant stories of the child about a fictional character, a world in which he is calm and cozy.

For an adult, the symptom of Carlson's syndrome can be:

• child carelessness,
• refusal to perceive reality,
• shifting cares and responsibilities to loved ones,
• life in its own reality.

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Diagnostics of the carlson syndrome

In most cases, in children, this problem disappears at the age of 7 to 9 years. If the child and at the age of ten continues to communicate with the invented friend, then you need to contact a specialist. The only diagnosis of Carlson's syndrome is the consultation of a psychologist.

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Treatment of the carlson syndrome

When stating the diagnosis of Carlson's syndrome, treatment is, first of all, recommendations to parents in changing their attitude towards the child.

If the reason for avoiding reality is lack of attention, parents need to revise their daily schedule and spend more time with their baby, being interested in his problems, rejoice at his achievements.

If there is a lack of communication, it may be sufficient to record the baby in the children's sports section or mugs. In a peer group, a baby can open up and the problem will be solved.

If excessive severity or hyperope, it is worth giving the child more freedom of choice. You can designate the kid as responsible, for example, for walking the dog, cleaning your room ... This will help raise the status of the child, let him understand his importance.

The reason for the appearance of an invisible friend is the sense of guilt that a child experiences. Adults do not even guess how often this feeling visits children. They blame themselves, for example, in frequent quarrels and divorce of parents: "It's because of me, because I'm so naughty, I'm not learning well, I did not live up to my parents' expectations." To the invented friend the child can complain of injustice, whitewashing himself: "I'm good! I'm not guilty! "Or shifting the blame to a virtual friend. In such a situation it is necessary to establish a trustful relationship with the child and explain to him that his guilt is that the parents split up - no, that he is needed and both parents love him.

If the baby feels insecure (it is offended by peers or adults), he tries to come up with a defender. For example, Superman or Spider-Man can play in this role. In such a situation, the main task of adults is to do everything to make the child gain confidence in himself and his powers, feel parental support.

The monotonous life, always busy parents, the reason for Carlson's syndrome is a lack of impressions and the child aspires to connect his fantasy, compensate it with a fictitious and interesting world where there are many friends and games. In this situation, psychologists recommend that they often visit the baby in nature, attend exhibitions, sports competitions, organize a family visit to a cinema or a theme party for his birthday. Here it is already necessary to "include" the imagination of adults.

In some cases, psychologists advise slightly to play along with the kid (but not to overplay): get acquainted with his friend, ask about the nature of the virtual character. Quite often, children project their desires and dreams, endowing the invented character with characteristics that they lack. Having learned what kind of character traits a child has given to a friend, one can understand how he wants to see himself, what he lacks in order to live comfortably in the real world.

Psychologists warn parents of the categorical prohibition on their part to mention the child of a fictional character, accusing him of lying. The son or daughter will not cease to believe in a friend and "communicate" with him, his position in the child's thoughts will only strengthen, and the parents will lose the child's confidence, he will simply close in his cozy little world.

But if the situation has gone too far and the child has stopped separating reality from illusion, he is no longer interested in the world around him, he does not go to contact, then professional help of a child psychologist is needed.

Prevention

The main and most effective prevention is a warm family atmosphere in the house, love and attention to each other.

With violent children's imagination it is worthwhile to support the baby, sending it to applied art: drawing, modeling, modeling and so on.

It is necessary to give the child more attention, to be interested in his mood, relationship with peers, his problems and desires. The time spent with the baby will never be superfluous.

If a child dreams of an animal, you should let him have a dog, a cat or a turtle. This will replace the virtual friend with the real one. This responsibility will raise the child's self-esteem, make him more independent and confident in his abilities.

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Forecast

Carlson's syndrome is more of a social problem than a medical one. Therefore, with a more attentive attitude of parents to their children, the outlook is favorable.

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