Topic Thursday // Hearing Voices - functioning day to day // *IN SESSION*

[Former-Member]

@leitor Great first step!

You will be surpried how relieved you feel when you start talking to someone about whats going on for you. Remember you cant look after your partner if you become unwell!

[Former-Member]

@Former-Member Great techniques!

[Former-Member]

For those who hear voices - do you recognise the voices? or know who they are?

Does it make it easier to manage if you identify with your voices?

[sjmilne]

This may sound crazy but I used to think that everyone heard voices. In my late teens I thought that I could hear the spirit world.

I don't hear so much from my 'friends' since I started meds to help with depression and delusional thinking, but they are still there, providing a commentary on what I'm doing

My voices are 'non-directive' and have never been a source of concern for me - they have never interfered with my functioning either at home, study or at work.-, but psych doctors get all sorts of worried when I mentioned them.

 I was inspired when I read "Recovery an Alien Concept" by Ron Coleman, who talks of his experiences (recommended by me - easy to read).

[leitor]

@Former-Member I really could have used some advice back when this all started. I was casting around trying to find out what was going on, what I could and should be doing, how I should be handling the accusations. The GP was happy to provide a psychiatrist referral (over 2 months wait to get in, during which time things became worse and worse), but then she "couldn't talk to me" due to privacy laws.

And that meant she wouldn't see me at all, so I got no advice.

When the police responded to my wife's midnight 000 call, they were very good. But the only help we got was a letter saying "sorry, you have been referred to us but you are not in our service area" from a mental health organization in Melbourne.

[Kurra]

I can hear voices at any time of day or night. These voices are external to me and I hear them in the same way I do when someone is actually talking to me. In fact I will quite often not realize that I've become psychotic until a real person asks me who I'm talking to or what on earth I'm talking about.
When things aren't going so well at work my colleagues always put a hand on my shoulder so I know it's a real person talking.
I tend to hear voices when I'm experiencing a dysphoric mania or a full blown mania. I'm also hyperalert at these times.
Listening to talk back radio at night sometimes helps but they tend to continue relentlessly unless I take large doses of antipsychotics.

[Former-Member]

Just clarify please, if the voices are in my head & not external, that's not 'hearing voices' ? Sometimes its a committee meeting in there lol (so glad this forum is anonymous)

[Former-Member]

Hi @vv_haha

There are a lot of different techniques that people can use to support someone who is hearing voices, especially more than one voice. Acknowledge the voices are real, and scary and confusing. 

I would suggest talking to the resident about the voices - ask - do they know who they are, what are they saying, are they giving commands, or just talking. People hear voices for a reason, usually it is the minds way of trying to get someone to deal with an underlying problem.

Perhaps support the resident to come up with some things they can do when the voices get bad - listen to music, art, journaling, mindfulness activities.

They could join a hearing voices group - or art therapy to work thought what the voices want.

There are some great resources you can get from the Hearing Voices Network that might give you some more ideas.

Hope this helps. 

[Former-Member]

Oh @Kurra, i'm so glad your work colleagues are helpful & don't isolate you. You are so brave facing this every day. Thank you for improving my understanding here tonight.

[Former-Member]

Hey @sjmilne

That does not sound crazy at all, actually really common. Hearing Voices is a symptom of a lot of different mental illnesses, and some people hear voices and don't have a diagnosis.

Your description of ' a running commentray' is also something I've heard before. Some people even talk about their voices being complementary and caring. 

Well done for learning to manage this commentary! 

I will have to check out that book!

Thanks