Can anxiety cause auditory hallucinations?

[Wishful7415]

Had an awful panic attack this morning and when I was trying to calm down I swear I could hear people talking and mumbling voices when noone was there. Now I'm in a greater state of panic. Can anxiety cause this or is my mind playing tricks on me? I've been under a lot of stress lately.

Bump

Yes it can. Try not to be concerned unless it happens very frequently or if the voices tell you to harm yourself or others. If you are concerned it might be worth giving your GP a ring tomorrow x

Thank you. Just wondering if anyone has experienced this with anxiety / panic attacks?

Yes. About 5 weeks ago when I was dealing with a load of stress at work. When I woke up in the night I could hear noises that sounded like people mumbling on the other side of the room. I also felt a few times like I wasn't properly in my body. It settled down once work did and since working from home and not seeing the people who caused me the most stress it's completely gone.

@Councilworker thank you. I'm just concerned because it happened during the day and not whilst I was half awake.

Yes. Sometimes it sounded like people mumbling, other times it was faint music like a radio left on in another room. I was always awake when it happened. No actual discernible words, just low level 'noise'. It stopped when I started taking citalopram.

Thank you @iklboo this is really helpful. How long did you experience this for? And did it take a while for these experiences to go once on citalopram? Thanks again.

@Wishful7415 - I think it was a few weeks before I took the plunge to see my GP. Once I started medication they went within a couple of weeks. Just seemed to start fading away or less frequent. I've been on citalopram about 18 months now and feel so, so much better.

@iklboo thank you. I'm glad you are feeling better now. May I ask what dosage of citalopram you take? It's so scary what anxiety can do. Do you take citalopram for anxiety or depression or both? Did you ever hear anything else? I think I can relate to the music/radio being on. Sorry for all the questions but you've made me feel better. Thank you.

I'm happy to help @Wishful7415 ☺️.

I started on 20mg then increased to 30mg after a month. I've stayed on that dose since. It's for a mix of depression / anxiety. I had quite a bad breakdown in 2018 when everything just got on top of me. I've been much better since. Still have the odd 'down' day but nothing as bad bad I've learned to recognise my triggers.

I'd sometimes hear a baby crying as well as the music. DS was 13 at the time and the neighbours have no children at home. It was worse when I was tired and could happen at any time of the day.

Yes. I used to hear my baby crying when she was fast asleep and silent. Always when there was white noise eg kettle boiling, washing machine etc. I was very sleep deprived and couldn't sleep even when she was asleep.

Hope you feel better soon OP.

Yes, I get that. It’s very disturbing.

@iklboo thank you so much. Glad you made a good recovery. Sending you a hug

@TheReluctantCountess may I ask what you hear?

@Wishful7415 - you too. Stay strong

Anxiety attacks suddenly came upon me when I was overworked and abusing food and alcohol to cope. The first time it happened, along with my heart pounding out of my chest, I was also hearing voices telling me to do terrifying, horrible things that I am truly not capable of. I think I had two more of those hallucinatory panic attacks, equally scary.

The voices went away but the panic attacks became more frequent, sometimes 3 or 4 times a day, waking me up at night. I would walk and try to breathe and speak calmly to myself until they dissipated. They could happen anywhere at any time. I eventually could no longer take underground transportation as they just provoked one attack after the other.

I told no one what was happening, so I applaud you for reaching out.

The attacks were so debilitating that I was missing work as I would have an attack on the way and just feel too scared to continue as they did make me feel like I would collapse and die.

I should have sought medical advice. But I was living in a country whose metal health care I did not trust. So I read about diet and how high blood sugar can lead to heart problems. I cut out everything but meat/fish, veg, nuts and limited fruit. Prioritised food fats. No sugar. Except I was addicted to alcohol, right? I would drink beer at night. A lot.

But the panic attacks diminished and my life was better until they came back again about 5 months later.

I got off alcohol (joined AA) and turned my life around. I had one brief panic attack after giving up the booze, but now have a normal life for the past 5.5 years.

Apologies for the very long post, but I want to share my experience as panic attacks were such a terrifying and miserable part of my daily life.

I just recently went to an art exhibition about epilepsy which included descriptions of how epileptics feel when an attack is imminent. It was the same as I felt before my panic attacks. And a light went off in my head: one treatment for epileptics is a ketogenic diet. It was developed specifically for epileptics.

So my instinct about changing diet was a good one. I still do best when limiting sugars and carbs and enjoying good fats. But even when I eat a lot of sugary crap and starches, I don't get attacks any more.

I really hope you find something that works for you.

My mum had this it was a whispering voice she had anxiety while going through the menopause she used to sing or turn the taps on when it happened it went away when she started getting better .

Talking, mainly. It’s not clear. It’s as if the window is open and there are people taking down the road. I hear it when I wake up. Sometimes I think I can hear a tv, as if next door has it on really loud, but no one else can hear it.

@forsucksfake thank you for sharing your experience and coping tips. I do believe diet has a part to play and I'm going to make the effort to eat more healthy. I'm glad you are much better now. Panic attacks are plain horrible.

@Bluewavescrashing I hope you are much better now. Did you need medication to help you get through?

@Babyg1995 thanks for sharing. Did your mum need medication for her anxiety to get better?

@TheReluctantCountess Sounds scary just a bit like what I experienced today. Thank you for sharing. Have you seen a doctor about it or do you feel it's just anxiety playing tricks?

I had 100mgdaily sertraline and it completely sorted me out. It took a good 8 weeks with nasty side effects, clenching jaw constantly, headaches etc but it was a huge help and I'm still on them now. That baby is 9 now! Please phone your GP and get help xx

Yes she was put on an antidepressant can't remember which one and hrt as well . She was really reluctant to go on either of them but when she finally did things improved alot .

@Bluewavescrashing thank you. I'm hoping my antidepressant sorts me out too!