I Mistake Strangers As My Dad And Sister. Is This Normal?

Dear TeenHealthFX,

lately i’ve had a issue, for example mistaking a middle age man for my dad. every middle aged man i see i mistake for my dad. But i also see other people, like my little sister. every little girl i see i think its her. its becoming a real issue since i panick everytime this happens. im not in bad terms with my dad or little sister etc. i just don’t see them as often. is this normal? mistaking strangers for close family/friends? for some people this is common and not weird. but for me it had become an daily issue

We are sorry to hear that you do not see your dad and sister that often. It is normal to see similar features in strangers that remind you of your family members. However, you mention panicking daily because you see someone that looks like them. We recommend reaching out to a trusted adult, school counselor or your doctor and let them know what is happening. They may be able to help you understand why you feel this way and help you get professional help if necessary.

If you live in northern New Jersey and need help finding a healthcare professional, you can call the [Access Center from Atlantic Behavioral Health at 888-247-1400. If you do not live in New Jersey, click [here for National Mental Health resources that are available.  We hope this helps!