Hher 22-year-old daughter confided that she had been hearing unusual voices for the past week. Initially shocked, she regained her composure. After a supportive discussion and a hug, she grabbed her tablet to quickly look up the term: “What are hallucinations?”
Many individuals believe that their experiences are genuine and will remain so. Studies indicate that about 75% of those who perceive auditory hallucinations are unaware that they are experiencing them.
We recently concluded a series of articles on derealization and depersonalization, two highly distressing experiences.
Now, we’re going to elevate the level of distress as we discuss hallucinations.
Introduction
I’ve experienced my share of derealization and depersonalization throughout my 50-year journey with emotional and mental health issues.
While I’ve worked with individuals who experience hallucinations, I have not personally encountered them.
There’s a lot of ground to cover. To do it thoroughly, we’ll split this topic into two parts: this section will focus on general information, and in part two, we’ll explore causes, risk factors, and treatment options.
Are you ready? Let’s dive in…
What is a hallucination?
I find word origins fascinating, so let’s begin there. The term “hallucinate” comes from Etymonline…
“to have illusions,” from the 1650s, derived from Latin alucinatus (later hallucinatus), the past participle of alucinari, meaning “to wander (in the mind), dream; to communicate irrationally, ramble in thought,”
A person is said to be experiencing a hallucination when they mistakenly interpret sensory input as real, despite the absence of any external stimulus.
For instance, someone undergoing visual hallucinations may perceive lights, shadows, or even figures. The voices heard by the woman’s daughter in the beginning appear to be auditory hallucinations.
What categorizes them as hallucinations is the lack of any external stimuli.
Who experiences hallucinations?
Offer support to someone dealing with emotional or mental health challenges. “There but for the grace of God go I.”
Hallucinations are most commonly linked to schizophrenia. However, they can also arise due to medications, illnesses, substance use, sleep deprivation, and more.
We must also consider emotional and mental disorders, such as schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder.
Interestingly, individuals with no identifiable cause may experience hallucinations, often manifesting as voices.
Research indicates that approximately 13% of adults will hear voices at some point in their lives. Do all of them require mental health treatment? Not necessarily; it depends on how disruptive these experiences are and their ability to cope with them.
Are they aware of it?
Have you ever pondered whether individuals experiencing hallucinations recognize their condition? Some are convinced that what they encounter is genuine and likely will remain so. Research shows that around 75% of those with auditory hallucinations do not realize they are having them.
Nonetheless, some people who experience hallucinations possess clear insight, such as a gentleman you will meet shortly. Many individuals I have worked with were aware that their hallucinations were not real, although they occasionally required gentle reminders and reassurance.
It’s crucial to recognize that hallucinations can be terrifying, distressing, and even dangerous. This also affects their loved ones and friends.
Types of Hallucinations
Hallucinations can affect all five senses, and there are unique scenarios to be aware of.
Let’s explore…
Auditory
Auditory hallucinations are the most prevalent, primarily involving voices. They may address the individual directly or involve conversations about them. The voices can range from whispers to shouts and may include music or other sounds.
Visual
People may see shadowy figures, vivid scenes, colors, flashes of light, unusual animals, or individuals during visual hallucinations. These visions can be either in color or black and white, and they may be stationary or dynamic.
Olfactory
These hallucinations involve smell, such as perceiving chemicals, cigarette smoke, spoiled food, burnt toast, fresh bread, or homemade cookies.
Gustatory
This type involves tasting something, whether pleasant or unpleasant, but is rather rare.
Tactile (Haptic)
Tactile hallucinations encompass feeling sensations on or within the body, such as the sensation of insects crawling on the skin.
Multimodal
Sometimes, hallucinations may engage multiple senses simultaneously, resulting in an all-encompassing experience.
Presence
This type involves the feeling that someone is close by or in the room.
Proprioceptive
This refers to the feeling that one’s body is moving or that limbs are detached from the body.
Hypnopompic
Hypnopompic hallucinations happen during the process of waking up.
Hypnagogic
Hypnagogic hallucinations occur while falling asleep.
*Important Note
In psychiatric or psychological contexts, “substance-induced” is not classified as a type of hallucination.
Schizophrenia Simulator
Years ago, while working at a psychiatric hospital, I attended a thought-provoking presentation. A team from a local mental health organization provided Walkman cassette players and headphones for everyone.
Each player contained an audio recording that mimicked the sounds of auditory hallucinations.
The experience left a lasting impression on me.
Kory Green
As I began working on this series, I searched for something similar on YouTube and found Kory Green, also known as the Schizophrenic Hippie. Kory, who lives with schizophrenia, effectively shares his journey to educate others.
He serves as a peer support specialist, recovery coach, suicide prevention specialist, and motivational speaker.
This is his take on a widely-used schizophrenia simulator. I believe you will find it intriguing (and possibly unsettling)…
Kory is an active individual, and this appears to be the best place to follow his latest activities.
Looking Ahead to Part Two
Hallucinations can be alarming, perplexing, and potentially disabling, not just for the individuals who experience them but also for their loved ones.
As with any emotional or mental health condition, education, understanding, and support are critical when dealing with hallucinations.
Stay tuned for part two, where we will discuss causes and treatment!
If you’re interested in more information and inspiration surrounding emotional and mental health, check out the articles page or browse by category below.
Special thanks to Psychology Today and NeuroLaunch for their assistance in providing this information.
After battling panic, generalized anxiety, fluctuating moods, and issues with alcohol for many years, Bill discovered his true passion – helping others who share similar struggles. At 49, he enrolled in graduate school to earn counseling credentials, and he continues his work through Chipur and various other projects.