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.

I think she’s dead

How do you ‘choose your audience?’ What’s the ‘correct audience’ for hallucinations while driving? Because a religious figure like a priest or pastor or such will give you the same advice as anyone else - see a medical professional. They won’t tell you you’re the chosen one and to drive down the M6 watching the souls of the departed ascend as you like.

I would advise getting some help OP, that doesn't sound healthy. I say that as someone who believes souls do ascend into heaven (but only after death, most of the time).

I have had very similar experiences, OP, and have had since I was a small child. I have not found them to be progressively intense, I do not find them worrying in any way.

I would suggest that you consider meditating in a calm setting, and letting your imagination and vision find its own course in an setting without distractions or calls on your attention.

🫶🏻

I thought of it more like a "live video" . It wasn't any more distracting than say playing yellow car, but I get what you're all saying.

@Vincitveritas I believe that's only because of what I saw, had I seen a field of horses/cows/sheep people would find it generally more amusing

believe that's only because of what I saw, had I seen a field of horses/cows/sheep people would find it generally more amusing

Hallucinating anything, no matter how mundane, is concerning and needs to be addressed by seeing your Dr.

The nature of it felt very similar to the letters/colours/flowers which have already been addressed with a psychiatrist and clinical psychologist. Neither we're concerned. In fact, both said the GP was giving antidepressants for no good reason. My trust has a hotline that connects to the mental ward, I'll call them if it happens again. I would NEVER talk about this to a GP.

I don't think the subject matter is important here OP, you're seeing things which aren't there. I've had hallucinations myself and didn't put it down to divine revelation, but I did speak to my GP.

Hallucinations can take many forms and be caused by lots of different things. People can get them without psychosis or delusions. The NHS has a webpage on this:

www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/hallucinations-hearing-voices

OP do you suffer from migraines ? My migraine auras seem very real, like flashing bugs .

Bit heavy going but this also has some useful info:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2660156

I have had migraines, that was last year. They were caused by iron deficiency.

Are you taking Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism OP? According to the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry it can lead to psychiatric disorders. Might be something to think about - have some blood tests and see if it's being managed correctly:

'psychiatric disorders often accompany hypothyroidism. Mental status examination of a hypothyroid patient may reveal a broad spectrum of dysfunction, ranging from mild attentional impairment to significant agitated delirium or psychosis.'

My levels have been manages OK for the past 10 years.

Do you have regular check ups and reviews? Something could have changed. I'm not saying it's definitely that but it might be worth looking into.

Yes, I get checkups every 3-6 months.

That's good 👍 It comes across like you don't get on with your GP. Could you change surgeries or ask to speak with a different doctor about what you're seeing?

Quote frankly I'm.not that bothered. My trust is terrible (not the GPs fault). I had to broker my own referral with a specialist at UCLH (for a different condition) and filed a complaint with PALS.

Oh dear, that's not good. The visions might not be bothering you but I really recommend going to get checked. I don't think you necessarily need a mental health team, but it could have a physical cause that needs addressing.

Most likely it's all related to my iron deficiency (everything else is including my migraines and hypothyroidism) so I wouldn't be surprised!! The doctor I'm seeing is the uber specialist in this so fingers crossed :)

Yes, best of luck to you OP.

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

well that’s disturbing.

op just speak to your doctor. Your medication could be having impacts on your mental health.

People have been having visions for thousands of years. Women in the past have found themselves locked in insane asylums for years if not life for mentioning them, which I find more disturbing than someone offering caution in who to disclose this sort of thing to - the sort of people who have the power to lock you up. Not that people who really need help can necessarily find a mental health bed these days, even for a short stay.

It might be worth being checked over by a neurologist, to be on the safe side. I have heard that temporal lobe epilepsy can cause these sorts of symptoms.

No one is locking anyone up for saying they hallucinated about souls ascending to heaven on the north circular for gods sake/