Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Depression and voices

134 replies

bonjour16 · 30/01/2020 08:24

I've been diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety and was wondering if anyone experienced hearing voices (angry ones) with their depression? And if so, did they go away once your depression was lifted. Feeling low and scared and in need of some reassurance. I'm on 20mg citalopram and 5mg olanzipine. Thank you in advance.

OP posts:
j712adrian · 30/01/2020 15:28

Hi, do go back and tell your doctor about the voices. He/she would want to know about it.

DustyMaiden · 30/01/2020 15:30

Please go back to your DR, the medication may not be right for you.

Mitzicoco · 30/01/2020 15:48

aripiprazole works wonders for hearing voices! Don't be scared. It's the depression. Go back to the dr and explain what is going on. You don't need to put up with it (the voices). Sounds like you may need a referral to a psychiatrist?

Original poster
bonjour16 · 30/01/2020 15:59

I'm seeing a psychiatrist who says I have severe depression. I've been on and off citalopram since 2006 with no probs. Im just wondering if anyone experienced voices with their anxiety and depression. It just started a few weeks ago and making me afraid and low.

Hope someone can help.

OP posts:
Original poster
bonjour16 · 30/01/2020 16:03

@Mitzicoco thank you. I'm seeing a psychiatrist who says I have severe depression. I've been on and off citalopram since 2006 with no probs. Just started back on 20mg. Did you hear voices with depression? I assume ariprepazole helped you. Thank you in advance.

OP posts:
GiveBetteDavisHerEyesBack · 30/01/2020 16:08

I do. It's not so bad these days, usually happens when I am extremely tired and anxious. It has been terrible in the past though, I didn't sleep at night for almost 2 years it made me that afraid.

I hope you are telling your Dr about it, they will understand and what to help you.

Wolfiefan · 30/01/2020 16:12

Please do go back and tell your GP.

Original poster
bonjour16 · 30/01/2020 16:24

@GiveBetteDavisHerEyesBack thank you. Did you need antipsychotic medication when you experienced it or just antidepressants? Did they help? My anxiety is through the roof Sad. Thanks again x

OP posts:
Mitzicoco · 30/01/2020 16:30

That's great that you're seeing a psychiatrist- he will know how to alter your medication correctly if necessary. I think (only my opinion) that the voices come when we are in the real dark depths of depression and anxiety. Acknowledging them is good- it will help you be less afraid. As I'm sure you're psychiatrist has told you, they aren't real (although I know this can feel hard to believe), but it's chemical imbalances in your brain, which luckily can be fixed! Don't lose hope. Tell your psych everything so that he/she has the best opportunity to help you out of this. I really feel for you but you are not alone. Hearing voices is more common than you might think. Flowers

B0bbin · 30/01/2020 16:31

Not experienced this, but want to offer you a hugFlowers.

WhoWants2Know · 30/01/2020 16:36

Yep, that's a definite sign that you need to get back to the doctor. No need to panic or anything, but it sounds like your brain chemistry isn't responding to the medication in quite the way it needs to. But it can be sorted, and you'll feel better.

GiveBetteDavisHerEyesBack · 30/01/2020 16:53

Mine was caused by perinatal depression and postpartum psychosis. Once I finally got treatment I did take antipsychotics - I did have delusions, severe paranoia and hallucinations as well though. It was the right decision for me to take those medications.

Nine years on I only take 100mg of Sertraline. It helps so much. I will probably take it for the rest of my life.
I did a lot of therapy to find coping techniques for the paranoia, hallucinations and the voices. They work 98% of the time (with help from the sertraline!). I can recognise when a bad episode is brewing, I tell my husband, my therapist and I do my techniques so I don't lose myself to it.

It's tough and it's frightening but with the right support you can get through it. There's no shame in needing additional help or medication.

Original poster
bonjour16 · 30/01/2020 17:20

Thank you everyone for your replies. Just hoping I'm not alone in this. I would appreciate any further experiences and/or thoughts. I have an appointment with my psychiatrist next Tuesday. Anxiety still through the roof!! x

OP posts:
Stompythedinosaur · 30/01/2020 17:24

Voice hearing is not uncommon with severe depression. In my experience (but I'm a nurse not a doctor) most people start a combination of antidepressant and low dose antipsychotic, then potentially look to reduce when the symptoms are less present.

Yes, for many people the voice hearing completely goes away when the depression lifts.

Voice hearing is much more common than most people think, it's just something that people often hide.

LatentPhase · 30/01/2020 17:25

No experience but just here and offering you a Brew while you hang in there. Good you are seeing your specialist soon.

HerRoyalFattyness · 30/01/2020 17:28

Hi OP

I have psychotic depression.
I'm severely depressed and I am hearing a voice.
It's awful.
I am on 40mg citalopram and 150mg quetiapine a day.

You're not alone Flowers

Bekstar · 30/01/2020 17:46

Defo go back, from personal experience Olanzapine can cause paranoia and suicidal tendencies. It may not be the right drug for you.

Original poster
bonjour16 · 30/01/2020 17:49

@HerRoyalFattyness thank you for sharing. I hear angry yelling at times and hear my name over and over in my head. What about you if you don't mind me asking. Do you feel your medication is helping? Have you been depressed for long? Sending you a huge hug. It's horrible I know x

OP posts:
Original poster
bonjour16 · 30/01/2020 17:53

@Stompythedinosaur thank you. I hope that's the case with me. Hoping this all goes away soon. x

OP posts:
Monsterjam · 30/01/2020 17:53

It’s not uncommon sweetie. If you are on olanzapine at 5 mg that’s a low dose and an increase could shift those voices, help you sleep and hopefully that’ll reduce your anxiety x

HerRoyalFattyness · 30/01/2020 17:57

My voice is constant. It tells me I'm worthless and that I should just die. It tells me my kids would be better off without me and that everyone hates me.

Deadposhtory · 30/01/2020 17:58

Hugs for you op. Voices are pretty common, like previously stated most hide itFlowers

HerRoyalFattyness · 30/01/2020 18:03

Sorry, I only answered one of your questions there! My concentration is awful.

I've been depressed since September 2018.
I lost twins, which was an extremely traumatic experience.

I think the medication is helping. I started it as the voice was getting worse, and although there's not been an improvement, there's been no further deterioration.

Original poster
bonjour16 · 30/01/2020 18:24

@HerRoyalFattyness so sorry to hear of your loss. That must have been very traumatic. Sending you hugs. My depression started around September last year after a series of health scares and panic attacks. It's such a horrible illness and very frightening when there's psychotic symptoms added in. Please pm if you ever need to chat x

OP posts:
Bakingqueen23 · 30/01/2020 18:31

That's really scary, but rest assured it's just the depression. I'm not saying that to underplay it and how frightening it is, merely to explain. I'm seeing a neuro psych at a top London hospital for a physical thing and he was telling me that between 20 and 25 percent of people will suffer from exactly what you're going through at some point in their lives. That's a huge number, so you're not weird, you're not alone. Saying that, you do need to see your doc and prob also got a referral. Hugs. This is the shit part x