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.

Please phone your GP and get a phone appointment, occasionally the antidepressants can cause this or similar side effects. I have had antidepressant induced mania and that was not pleasant at all.

It may be a change in antidepressants will be helpful or low dose diazepam for a few days can knock the anxiety back.

It happened to me at the beginning of lockdown, but it has happened to me several times before so it wasn't a shock to me.

Look up coping mechanisms for hearing voices too.

@Gingerkittykat thank you. I have an appointment with my doctor later this week. I am just looking if other people have had experience of this in the meantime. People's responses have been very helpful so far.

Just wondering if anyone has anymore experiences of this?

I'm reading this with interest OP, I too have experienced this, not regularly, but definitely when I've felt harassed or stressed.. Hard to describe but a bit like someone shouting 'hey' to me from the left or right. Sometimes I can hear the telephone ringing. I've never told anyone. I had a breakdown 3 years ago and sometimes feel a bit like I've dragged myself back to some kind of normality. It still upsets me and I can't talk openly about it, I'm very aware I could easily slip back and that scares me. In some ways I feel stronger though! I think it must be more common than we think? Thankyou for sharing and best wishes to you... You can get through this xx

That's what I have, Flea, amongst other noises. But since I read about Exploding head syndrome on Reddit, I just kind of accepted it and it doesn't bother me anymore. Not very useful to those it does cause distress, though!
My main ones are banging on the front door, one of the kids calling me, hearing my name whispered in my ear or like a 'huh!'

@OP

My friend had that after she lost her Mum. It lasted a while, a couple of months I think, and then went.

@Notredamn
Yes that's very similar, like you it doesn't particularly disturb me, I recognise it's when I'm stressed or tired. I'm going to have to google Exploding head syndrome.

Thank you for your kind words @Fleamaker123. I feel like I'm having a nervous breakdown right now. I totally understand your concerns about not being able to talk openly about it. It's not something to easily do for fear that people may think your crazy. I think it's the fear of going crazy that's most unsettling so I know how you feel. At least on here we can share experiences and hopefully help each other.

@Notredamn thanks for your message. I don't know much about exploding head syndrome. Is this something you can experience during the day? Do you think it's stress related?

Thanks for sharing @MrsKypp I hope your friend is much better now. Did she need medication to help her get through? Was it mostly panic attacks or hearing things she experienced? I dread to think I'll be hearing things for months to come I have been through a lot.

Hope you start to pick up soon OP. It can feel like a slow process, but keep looking back to how you were, and you'll realise how far you've come. Whenever I achieved something, such as getting back to work, I'd tell myself wow well done! Sounds mad but it really helped, just being kind to myself. You have to almost build yourself back up, the same as you would a physical illness. Talking to a professional therapist helped too, particularly if you've had a traumatic experience..I probably should have had more, but it's expensive. I hope you have some support in your personal life, someone to lean on a bit. One day (soon I hope!) you'll feel like you've turned a corner x

@Fleamaker123 thank you. I wish I had more people to talk to. I guess that's why I'm on here. Desperately need reassurance I'm not going crazy and this will pass x

Yes, it can. I've had it myself. You need to reassure yourself that it's just the anxiety and please don't be afraid to seek help for it

Thank you @RuffleCrow. I see my doc later again this week. May I ask what sort of things you heard when you had anxiety?

@Wishful7415 I'm always awake when it happens and I'm 100% it's connected to stress/being emotionally worn out/medical anxiety but it can happen 'out of the blue' as I don't always recognise that's I'm feeling that way. I suppose it's one sign that I need to start taking it easy or addressing problems.

@Notredamn thanks for your feedback. I will need to Google this. I also need to learn to destress!

@

Omg! I have this all the time I never thought that's what it could be! Mine always sounds like a pp said a muffled radio or tv in another room or coming from next door, I can never hear words sometimes can sound like mumbled talking of a few people or sometimes a muffled music! Iv often got out of bed looking for the source thinking next door are having some sort of party when they're actually in bed! 😂I too have thought Iv heard my little girl cry even when she's not been here!

@Wishful7415

I am not completely sure, but I think she took something at the time - she was pretty distressed by it, and like you, concerned that it wouldn't go away. It did go though, of its own accord.

From what I understood, very stressful things can cause it, and in her case it was grief after losing her Mum.

She was the last person you'd think would be susceptible to stress - she was a very strong minded person, confident, successful in what seems like a tough profession to me (contract law).

But stressful events can have a huge effect on us I think. Different minds and bodies will react in their own way I suppose.

Take care, and remember that you are far from alone. It certainly can disappear, just like it appeared.

These medical conditions can affect absolutely anyone, it's not about being strong or weak, Mrs.

@Notredamn

Exactly, that's what I meant.

That people can appear strong, successful, resilient in tough situations, etc but they can also be affected by these conditions.

Yes, that's because they are strong, successful, etc.

@Notredamn

I think it can affect anyone.

So, people who have very successful careers and who lead busy & stressful lives, but also others who are completely different.

What I meant to say (sorry if it didn't come across correctly) was that it doesn't matter who you are, anyone can be affected.

@MrsKypp thank you. So her mumbling voices she heard went away after a few months? Nice to know there's hope. I have been very stressed lately and now even more distressed over this. I don't know if it's a viscous circle. Trying to find ways to relax and block it out but it's hard. x

@MrsKypp no problem I just think phrases like 'she was the last person you'd think would be susceptible to stress' aren't actually very helpful and insinuate the opposite of what we both actually think and agree on. Sorry to go on.