To think I'm not mental?

[Maybemental123]

I was chatting to my DH today about an "episode" I had the other day. I wouldn't call it "normal" but I also don't think it means I have some sort of disorder. Basically I had a very vivid imagination episode where I could see souls ascending to heaven. My DH said it was definitely not normal, but also no need to be concerned.

No I didn't "sense" anything. But I could "see" flame like imagery coming out of people heads, and floating towards the sky, circling it in the middle and turning it read.

OP you do need to get this checked out. Some of it sounds similar to synaesthesia, but not all of it.

You are hallucinating which is a sign that something in the brain is not working as it should. Which, currently, sounds quite nice with what you see!-but it could progress to become far more extreme and that might become really problematic at some point. That's aside from the risk of seeing these kinds of things when driving etc which tbh may be dangerous.

I say this as someone with people in the family who have specific mental conditions and I see similarities! These things can't be left alone and your husband is right, it isn't normal (normal doesn't always equal good, of course, but you know what I mean!). Please do seek the input of a GP or health professional over this. I'm of the mind that mental issues are no different than say, a broken arm, so why wouldn't one get it checked if there's a niggle/worry/issue? Leave anything and it risks getting worse in ways we can no longer mask/self-manage.

I agree with @Softplayhooray - you are having hallucinations and you need to see your GP and tell them you are having hallucinations. None of this 'second reality' etc, they are hallucinations so present them as such.

The only thing I've ever experienced that I would call more of the hallucination type, is when I've had migraines with aura. When I've had them (only twice) no matter what I did, the strobing and zig zags wouldn't go away, they definitely affected my vision.

This soul episode got triggered by a song, and would go away if I changed song.

When I've had hallucinations they have always been in the theme of whatever I'm having delusions about, I fully believe they are real and that fuels the fire in my belief of the delusions. But there are always varying versions of these things I guess. What you have added does make it seem like you might benefit with chatting with your gp to be on the safe side. Previously I have slipped within a few days to weeks and months of constant hallucinations and delusions and trust me no one wants that.

Wow it sounds harmless and really interesting. I’ve never experienced such a thing but as it’s not upsetting or harming you in any way it sounds fun. Keep an eye on it and tell someone each time. I’d say. Sounds like your DH is really sensible about it

Yes, I think interesting is a good way to describe it. The flowers are actually quite nice to feel.

My take is that I either have synesthesia or a very vivid imagination or a mix of both.

None of it has ever been threatening nor scary.

are you on any medication where this could be a side effect?

Well only if you don’t actually want to be open and honest and receive appropriate care and treatment

I'll pass that recommendation to St Teresa of Avila, and so on.

I once talked to a psychiatrist about the letters and he said it was within the realms of "normal".

No medication beyond my daily levothyroxine

What you have described are visions. Generally best to not mention visionary experiences to mental health professionals, especially psychiatrists, in my experience.

Your post is incredibly harmful. It's disgusting to advise anyone not to seek medical treatment.

I hope you currently have support

What a viscious response. I wrote from my own experience. I don't find visions odd, but then I am not a concrete rationalist. There is nothing wrong with the OP, other than posting on such things on MN, where one must not believe in or experience anything non-rational, unless one is posting on one of the myriad of threads for witches and wiccans, that is!

I don't need support. I had a vision when I was a teenager. That was many decades ago. But thanks ever so much for your concern.

Your advice was to lie to mental health professionals.

This is appalling advice. Period

If you mentioned to a priest you’d been seeing things while driving and thought they might be visions from God, I’d expect them to be concerned. We’re not in the dark ages anymore.

Please see your GP ASAP. This could be neurological in origin or a mental health condition or other. Whatever it is you should seek help and let your Doctor and other relevant professionals decide if it's of concern.

I couldn't begin to diagnose you as I'm not qualified but my Mother developed Temporal lobe epilepsy and had some very vivid hallucinations though she was always aware that they weren't real. It isn't always down to a mental health condition though I wouldn't dismiss that either but regardless you really need to see someone to learn what's causing these.

So why advise the op to lie to any mental health professionals about seeing them?

What a viscious response.

Not nearly so vicious as advising people not to talk to medical professionals, regardless of the cost to them and their health.

My suggestion is, unless you want to be unnecessarily medicated, you really do need to choose your audience.

You are utterly toxic. Do you know how many neurological and mental health conditions can cause symptoms like this? Do you know how harmful it can be if they aren't treated? And that you may be causing great harm by encouraging people not to seek medical advice. But you really don't give a shit, do you?

This is why I have absolutely no time for religion or anything "woo".

I’m another one who doesn’t think that driving while hallucinating seems ‘harmless’ at all. Not for other road users and pedestrians at any rate. Sounds like the opening scenes of a ‘Casualty’ episode, to be frank.

I think the need the OP needs to check in with her GP about this, including the driving. Best to be safe.

Do you have children? I hope you don’t spew forth with this negative stance on mental health professionals to them if you do (but sadly I suspect you would)