Anyone else see messages and bad words in signs

[Midnightfeasts]

I was out walking last week and a van dro ve past with a sign on, I glanced at it briefly and saw the words 'childhood demons' quite clearly before it drove past. Obviously I know it didn't really say that. This has happened before, I have seen the words 'suicide' for instance on a child's alphabet toy. I know they are illusions or delusions of some sort, are they common or normal, does anyone know.

No experience with this particular thing but suffered with a severe psychotic episode where for months I heard voices, clear as day. It was impossible to distinguish real voices from imaginary.
This sounds very hard OP and you should speak to someone professional about it.

Thanks for your reply, it's not hard so much as strange, I've tried to look it up online but can't really find out anything about it.

I've often seen signs/adverts quickly at a glance and read something very different to the actual words written.
It can be related to something I've been thinking about or something at the forefront of my mind. or unrelated.
I don't think reading words wrong is an issue, more that those particular words are going through your mind enough to make you "see" them in real life.

I would suggest looking up Psychosis- overview on the NHS website. It's more common than you might think but you shouldn't ignore early signs. The earlier it is treated the better.
A gp will take you seriously if you share your concerns with them and won't judge you at all. It can be caused by stress, trauma, depression or even a side effect of some medications. X

It is a psychotic symptom. I get them sometimes but I have Schizoaffective disorder. I would definitely see a doctor.

You should see your GP and tell them about this if you are concerned, particularly with the nature of the words your mind is coming up with because it suggests you may be preoccupied with such thoughts. I wouldn't jump to it being delusions, hallucinations, or otherwise psychosis though. The brain is known to fill in gaps and make predictions on what it expects to perceive based on past experience, and this thing of seeing the wrong, and sometimes the right, word(s) jump out when glancing quickly at a page etc is pretty common I think. As with a pp, it certainly it happens to me, and people I've known have said the same when I've mentioned this and other things like the stopped clock illusion. The van was moving so you only caught a glimpse of the writing. Perhaps it was the van of a small business whose name you couldn't possibly know, maybe two words starting C and D, so your brain just produced words with which you are familiar to fill in the blank. Similarly, the toy was probably spelling out no word at all, but your brain is more familiar with letters being part of words rather than just lying about randomly, so in the moment came up with a word that might have fit based possibly on some of the letters involved, or things you had been thinking or reading about recently.

Not saying it couldn't be something serious, you would need to get a medical opinion on that. But I do have a psychotic disorder and no one's suggested to me that this is part of it.

Thanks for the replies,
@flourella I agree with what you say about my mind filling in the blanks, I am very preoccupied with past experiences and do think and ruminate about them a lot, I think this is maybe a symptom of this.
@SommerTen you get these same symptoms, are the words benign or like mine, if you don't mind me asking.
I'm on a waiting list for intensive CBT, my GP is aware of my long standing mental health problems.
Thanks again for the replies.

What I meant was that seeing words that aren't there could be a symptom of psychosis, I don't actually see words myself though.

I get other types of psychotic symptoms. Like seeing objects or hearing voices. And especially paranoia.

However your seeing various words may well not have a symptom of psychosis - your brain could even just be overtired from thinking of the past, making you imagine that you see words.

So try not to worry about it yet until you've seen your doctor.
I do think talking to your gp would be best and being honest with them about how you are feeling too.

CBT will be good to help with ruminating thoughts.

@SommerTen I get what you mean now, sorry. I think my brain probably is tired from all this thinking I do, I wish I could switch if off sometimes. Yes I'm hoping the CBT will help, thanks again.

That's ok take care

Great news that you've been referred for CBT Op. I hope the waiting list isn't too long.

In the meantime, have you looked into mindfulness? There are various techniques you can look up online and try at home. It doesn't have to be difficult, just buying some colouring in books and concentrating on that for an hour can give your mind a "rest". There are other simple techniques similar to meditation. Just finding something completely absorbing can take you out of your thoughts.

ASMR online is also something you could try.

Wishing you well

Do you get headaches, have you had a head injury?

Oh, no headaches or any injuries or anything physical. Just a lifetime of stress and trauma I think.
I do yoga, that helps.

I don't want to go out anymore though, I mean to be around people anymore, I want to be on my own all the time, it's got much worse the past couple of years and I just avoid contact with people as much as possible now.

Definitely see a doctor.

A relative has something similar. I remember his doctor saying people with his condition always see "negative" words/thoughts - demons, suicide, etc, instead of positive things.

To answer your question, it's not normal, but there are solutions. My relative is taking medication and now is very stable, with no intrusive thoughts. He feels such relief.

I wish you best of luck.

@Apollonia1 I'm glad your relative is okay now, do you know the condition he had/has?
These thoughts are unpleasant to have and the fact that it's coming from what's in my head isn't nice. I will definitely mention it when I have my assessment appointment.