My sister told me just recently that she thinks her books can hear her thoughts so she talks to them.

I laughed and said "very funny, Kate." She got really mad at me for not believing her. She said "promise me you won't tell anyone?" Lately all she has been doing is reading and sometimes I hear her talking to herself. It could be just a normal thing, after all, I talk to myself and I read, but I wasn't so sure after she told me about books reading her thoughts. I was thinking of telling my parents about this, because I'm worried and I care about my sister.

But I don't know...Do you guys have any thoughts/advice for me?

How old is your sister?

I sure as heck talk to myself, and when I used to have dozens of band posters in my room, I kinda felt like they were watchin' me at *certain* times... But I definately don't think books can read my thoughts. Hmm...if she's young, then it might not be a serious problem, although you might want to tell an parent/adult/authority figure who you trust to see if they think they should contact someone about it. It's definately different, but I don't think it's a huge problem. It sounds kinda of like paranoia to me, so you might want to get that check out. ...as long as the books don't talk back to her...

I just realized something: If she thinks they can read her thoughts then she wouldn't even need to talk b/c they would know what she was thinking... And if she thinks they know what she's thinking, then that might be a bit paranoid, and it might lead to something else. What does she talk to them about? Stuff to do with the book or just talking as if it was a person?

13

She explains what she was thinking and why she was thinking that. That's what worries me. She feels she has to explain herself to her books...

Please don't take this the wrong way, but your sister is very young. Its probably just something she's going through. Still, its probably best to keep an eye on her, but I wouldn't worry too much

hmm... I explain stuff when trying to figure out the Bible, but that's for me, so I can better understand what the heck it's saying. Yeah, I'd say tell someone, like I said before. She may need some therapy or something. If she believes it (assuming the books *can't* read her mind. ), it may not effect too much, but it very well could. There's many open-minded people that believe in all sorts of thinks from aliens to vampires. It shows that we're not really 100% certain of pretty much anything. I may believe something 100%, but it doesn't mean it isn't true. Heck, maybe books *do* have amind of their own! (...I wouldn't count on it though )

I think by 13 you're over things like that... Um, yeah, that's all.

That might be a way for her to channel her emotions.. and talking to herself might help her to sort out her thoughts. The books might be like a source of comfort to her... or a way to bring back lost thoughts and happiness if something really made her sad. There's nothing really wrong about it, at least if those are her reasons. It's like having her own special place, and she chooses books.

Hmm. I never thought of it that way before. Well, I am going to keep an eye on her in case there are any changes.

It's kind of like a different vent. Some people keep journals and such, others do other things... Like talk to books, I guess. ; I wouldn't worry about it too much, tho' if something drastic changes, I suppose that might be some sort of grounds to tell your parents... Though even then, parents can't solve everything, y'know? Good lucky~!

... If she starts having.. eemm.. "Intimacies" with them, then I suppose that is grounds to say something.

Really, I think thats kind of wierd. I don't know I never talked to a book so I wouldn't know. I've never known anybody to talk to a book? Hmm.. I really don't know what to say. It is confusing, and I would want to know why she is thinking that... Thinking that books? Can read her mind and hear her...

I would want to say something to somebody.. Or maybe try talking to her yourself? Or something..

Yeah I was definately considering talking to her. 'Smater of fact i think I will right now...

All I do is read. All the time. But I've never talked to my books. I was over anything of that sort by the time I was 13, (muahahahahaha, I've been 14 for a month!) but it's probably just a phase. I would worry about it if it got worse, but for now, I would leave it, or talk to someone without mentioning who it is. If it's no problem, then why ruin her trust in you for no reason? Only mention her name if it is a high possibility she has a problem.

I was a much stranger 13 year old than that, and look how I turned out...



What?

Oh, ok, fine, she's acting a little weird, but at least she's reading. And yes, like it was said before, she's got her own special place... It sounds like something as harmless as an imaginary friend, but thriteen is a little old for that. At the same time, I think we can all look back at that sort of age and think "jesus!", it's an embarrassing age, and it's very possible that in a week she won't even acknowledge that she said that to you.

And what's the worst case senario? She's a little batty and has an avid interest in books. Which you could easily classify alot of people as.

But have you considered that the books are reading her thoughts? That her thoughts appear to be translated in front of her on the page... and that she took this as a literal sign from God/supernatural power or whatever. I experimented with my spirituality in not entirely similar but just as weird ways when i was around 12/13, but I certainly wouldn't have gone up to my big sister and told them the details, because they'd look at me funny and then treat me like a leper, which, perhaps not worded as strongly as I put it, is exactly how you've reacted. Instead, why don't you play along and get the details. Also, remember that being a child and being completely insane is very similar in terms of symptoms. Little kids are batty like that.

I talked to her, and I guess its okay. I haven't treated her like a leper, which I would never do anyways. She's my little sis.

Yesterday I sat her down and asked her if she still believed that books can read her thoughts. She said yes, but we sorted it all out and she explained things to me. It's alright, and like I said before, I'll keep an eye on her.

She had said that she feels she can't talk to anyone, so she talks to her books and her books 'read her thoughts'. I told her that if she needs to talk to anyone, she can talk to me, and that I'm here for her.

Does anyone suggest that I say anything else?

Handled admirably DOH

You think so? Well that's good. I was hoping I was doing the right thing.

hmm, I never thought of that either. I talk when no one's around, too (as I *think* many people do ) b/c...I'm self-centered and always have something to say. Now, most of the time, I use my friend's email to say stuff...kinda like therapy or something...getting things figured out. I never thought about claiming anything could hear me or read my thoughts...well, sorta. I *know* they don't, but yeah, nm. I agree, you handled that well, DOH.

Okay, I confess. I am odd too. But it's just like writing in her journal. I talk to mine as if it's real and knows all about me.... Heck, I talk to myself, get angry at myself, and write myself emails. It's just a way I let out my feelings.

when i'm alone, i talk to myself, to the furniture, the plaster teeth... sometimes it's just nice to voice a thought. it makes it more real, you know?

so my question is, when your sister says the book "reads her thoughts", does she mean that in an imaginary friend way, or does she seriously believe it? the reason i ask is because schizophrenia surfaces in individuals between the ages 15 and 34. your sis may only 13, but cases that young do occur. if she is schizophrenic, the earlier she begins treatment, the better chance she has of keeping it under control.

here's a list of warning signs for the disease, just keep in mind that a number of them are warning signs that your sis is a teenager too!

-Confusion
-Inability to make decisions
-Hallucinations
-Changes in eating or sleeping habits, energy level, or weight
-Delusions
-Nervousness
-Strange statements or behavior
-Withdrawal from friends, work, or school
-Neglect of personal hygiene
-Anger
-Indifference to the opinions of others
-A tendency to argue
-A conviction that you are better than others, or that people are out to get you

hopefully after looking at the list you are reasured that your sis is a perfectly normal book-talker-tooer and that i didn't just freak you out...

...


You've pretty much just described me... except that I'm pretty hygenic. Is it possible that that's just my personality or should I go see a shrink or something? Seriously, I'm sixteen, all these things just started. I feel pretty based in reality, and I've always marked off subtle hallucinations as acid flashbacks... I haven't withdrawn from my friends, but well, all the rest really explains me in a nut... And I'm starting to freak out a little about it... I know this thread is supposed to be helping DOH's sister but ermm... this is very weird...

-Confusion yes
-Inability to make decisions yes
-Hallucinations not yet-Changes in eating or sleeping habits, energy level, or weight yes
-Delusions not yet..i dont think
-Nervousness not yet
-Strange statements or behavior yes but i make strange statements all the time..so I'm just going to ignore that one
-Withdrawal from friends, work, or school definately
-Neglect of personal hygiene eh...not really
-Anger sometimes
-Indifference to the opinions of others yes
-A tendency to argue GOD YES
-A conviction that you are better than others, or that people are out to get you second one


eep. Well, hopefully it's just a stage and just a way that she vents her feelings and not the first signs of schizophrenia...