Iiii have a slight issue. I was hyperfixating on a character I really like (Albedo from Genshin Impact if you need to know for any reason) and um- I heard his voice in my head today and I am not familiar with ANY of this and I’m scared. I did a quick few google searches and I remember hearing about tulpamancy elsewhere on Tumblr so I searched it and here you are.
What do I do in this situation?? I was not prepared nor did I expect this to happen?? Idk if I should even interact with him when he tries to make conversation bc I’m not sure if he’s even real?? Idk I’m lost and need advice…
Take it from us: hearing a voice from a hyperfixation does not automatically mean they're a full-blown systemmate. However, if you do keep feeding that thought attention, then they will inevitably evolve into a systemmate.
Whether you want them to become a proper systemmate is up to you.
If you do, then continue interacting with them. If you don't, then I suggest you find something else to hyperfixate on. And with the not wanting a systemmate part, a huge factor with this kind of thing is your mindset.
If you're dead determined not to get a fictive of this person, then it's pretty damn likely that they won't turn into one. That's how my systemmates and I manage to not get fictives of our interests is by firmly believing that this system is meant to be a system of six, not seven.
But with that strategy, you have to legitimately believe it instead of just being like, "Uhhh... I don't know..."
One final thing to note that if this voice is legitimately displaying signs of sentience and sapience, they might already be conscious. Which at that point, letting them die off would be cruel.
Some signs of sentience/sapience include existing without your input, not going away when you try to force them to, being able to surprise you, showing up without even thinking of them, etc.
Sorry that this is a long answer, but I wanted to be thorough. I wish you luck regardless of what you want to do.