Hearing Voices

[BarborousBarbra]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone has any experience with hearing voices, I could really do with some reassurance. For a few weeks now, I have been hearing voices, and it's really worrying me but I'm scared of seeing the GP (if I could eve ever get an appointment) because of what might happen if I tell them. How do they handle it in your experience?

I have been diagnosed with depression in the past, but I am not currently taking meds as they did not agree with me, and I actually wonder if it could be something else like bipolar. Family history of psychosis and various other serious MH conditions.

Will I be okay to see the GP or will I end up on a psych ward - literally my worst nightmare after visiting friends/family there?

Hi OP, that must be terrifying. Are they hostile voices and what do they say? If they are telling you to hurt yourself or other people then you definitely need to seek help asap.

I don't have experience with it personally, but things like this run In my partners side of the family.
I understand why you're worried to speak to the GP out of fear of how they'll handle it.
They won't take you away, and put you into a facility that's for sure. Unless you're a major danger to yourself or others.
They will most likely do a mental health assessment to find out the route cause of this and to get you diagnosed so they can find the right medication for you as quick as possible x

Thanks both. No, they are not particularly hostile right now, just random nonsense really but I know how quickly that can change. It's almost impossible to get a GP appointment right now so I'm not sure what to do.

You need to call the GP or 111 right away and tell them what’s happening. They can help, stop it before it gets any worse.

It's very common to hear voices. Have a read of this:

www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/hearing-voices/about-hearing-voices/

My son hears voices. He has medication but does really need hospital stay now. He can go voluntarily so not needing a section. It's that bad that he can't deal with day to day life. Any trauma in his life sparks off his psychosis. One drug he was prescribed was omnizaprole. Side effects are weight gain and fatigue. He has changed meds because of this. Please seek help now as your situation could get worse. His team here are fantastic and very understanding. Good luck with your treatment.

I have Bipolar II and, as far as I know, hearing voices isn't part of the disorder. I was diagnosed 30 years ago (when it was called Manic Depression) and I've read a lot about mental health since. A hell of a lot! Hearing voices is usually part of psychosis due to undiagnosed schizophrenia.

Please don't worry about seeking help - as a PP said, that only happens if you're a danger to yourself or others. I'm in Australia so I'm not sure what happens in the UK (assuming you're there), but here it's better to go to the emergency department of a hospital with a good mental health reputation if you're "in crisis". Hearing voices is definitely "in crisis". It is better to spend time waiting in the ED where you can be monitored than it is to wait to see a GP for a few weeks, during which time you'll most likely get worse.

Try not to be frightened and good luck!

If you can’t get a GP appointment, Google your local mental health crisis line and phone them.

Try not to worry, you shouldn’t need to go to a ward unless you were at risk of harming yourself or others.

I'm a mental health nurse.

I totally understand how scary the experience is.

You really need to get hold of your GP, though i know how difficult it can be! It would be likely you will be referred to community mental health services but please don't worry about this. Mental health beds are so short they will do everything possible to avoid admission. The threshold for admission is very high, and in many places they can only admit those detained under the MHA and from what you've said you do not meet the criteria for that. You're clearly insightful and looking for help. Your hallucinations are not 'command' hallucinations ie telling you to harm yourself or others.

When you are referred you maybe allocated to and assessed by an early intervention in psychosis team. In some parts 9f the country this depends on your age....one service i worked for saw clients under the age of 35 (the rest being seen by generic mental health services) but the service im in now, our early intervention team is ageless. The team in my service aims to see people within 2 weeks but I'm not sure if that is the same in other parts of the country. If accepted by the team, you will be followed up intensively for a period of time, and offer a mixture of treatments eg medication, psychological input, OT etc.

In the interim, is there anything you can do to distract yourself eg listening to music or an audio book?

Good luck xxx

I also hear voices and have hallucinations. I went to the GP who referred me to EIP (early intervention in psychosis).

EIP are excellent, you stay with them for 3yrs and they are very supportive. I was diagnosed with many things, including psychosis and prescribed antipsychotics. The medication dials all of the symptoms right down.

It's scary when it first happens, that's why EIP are excellent. You certainly won't be sectioned or put on a ward. You'd be surprised how common it actually is.

Good luck OP, make that call to the GP and try not to worry.

If you can't get through to the GP, you can try 111 option 2 for mental health services.

I hear voices but mine come from angels who tell me to rid the world of evil. I’m sectioned at the moment. I would see your GP.

Auditory hallucinations are very common - more common than most people think. Do you actually hear voices, meaning your hear sounds that are coming from your environment but other people cannot hear these sounds? Or do the sounds you hear seem like voices, but they are just thoughts that are in your head (even if they are thoughts you cannot control and that sound like voices)? If it is latter, these "voices" could be a sign of OCD, anxiety or they could be part of your depression.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/auditory-hallucinations

I would go to the GP and get it checked. As far as I know, it is nothing unusual, so you don't need to worry (in one study almost 30% of people had heard voices at some point). You do need to get it checked though, because if these voices are psychotic in nature, then the earlier you tackle this, the better the outcome. The GP might refer you and you might get different medication depending on what they think it is.

Whilst I’ve had mental health problems in the past I’ve not had hearing voices as a symptom.

Another resource you could explore, though, is the Hearing Voices Network. https://www.hearing-voices.org/ They might have some information, resources or signposting that could help you get support that suits you. I know others who have found this Network supportive.

So you won't go to the Dr because you will clearly get told why aren't you taking your medication. You have medication for a reason to help the chemicals levels that are low in your body that are making you ill but if your not taking your medication then your going to get worse instead of better. So get back onto your tablets as it takes a fair while for them to even start working again

Thank you, @cloudglazer that was a very informative link. Even though I have bipolar disorder, I never knew some sufferers heard voices. I don't, but I definitely have some very 'out there' thoughts when I'm manic. I just don't hear/consider them as actual voices, just my mind telling me to do stuff that is (usually) inappropriate or dangerous. But I know when I'm manic, so I know to medicate and try to behave myself. Doesn't always work, but I seem to be past the stage of acting on most of the thoughts (I'm 53). Except for spending obscene amounts of money that I can't afford...can't seem to get a handle on that one!

My GP has a form on line that you can fill in to get an appt rather than calling. It's much easier to do that making a call, especially as its available out of hours, why don't you have a look at their website...

Once you're on the website, also look for the phone number and if you can't find a form then just call them.

I struggle a lot with making the first step to get help but that is what your GP surgery is there for and you deserve their care.

You need EIP.

Ask your GP for a referral to secondary mental health teams.

Yes, I do. I was diagnosed bipolar age 42 after various difficulties since childhood, on and off at times. I rationalise these voices as I recognise it is actually my voice. Either replaying a scenario that's happened or projecting onto something that may happen. I have had auditory hallucinations, being convinced someone had said something or I had said something. It's very confusing. Since I have been prescribed Lithium I've noticed a massive improvement. See your GP and ask for a referral. If you do have bipolar Sertraline can trigger episodes.

If you have insight then you have capacity. Psychosis often is in the late stages by the time you're hearing voices or seeing things/responding to unseen stimuli. The first stages are subtle.

Tell your GP, tell them you need a referral to secondary mental health services.