Is it normal to have imaginary friends?
Yes—imaginary friends are a normal part of imagination, especially in childhood. Adults can have them too, and it’s generally not a problem if you know they’re imaginary and they aren’t upsetting or disrupting your life.
Imaginary friends are especially common in childhood: kids use them to play, work through feelings, and try out ideas. Plenty of adults also imagine companions or have an ongoing inner character they talk to; people just tend to mention it less.
If you know the friend is imaginary and it feels enjoyable or comforting, there’s usually nothing to worry about. If it feels frightening, hard to control, or you’re having trouble telling imagination from reality, it’s worth talking it through with someone you trust or a mental health professional.