Hallucinations and hearing voices (2024)

Hallucinations are where you hear, see, smell, taste or feel things that appear to be real but only exist in your mind. Get medical help if you or someone else have hallucinations.

Types of hallucinations

You may have hallucinations if you:

hear sounds or voices that nobody else hears
see things that are not there like objects, shapes, people or lights
feel touch or movement in your body that is not real like bugs are crawling on your skin or your internal organs are moving around.
smell things that do not exist
taste things that only you feel are not pleasant or is strange
think that your body is moving like flying or floating when it is not

Causes of hallucinations

Hallucinations can be caused by many different health conditions that affect the senses.

Common causes of hallucinations include:

Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

you or someone else have hallucinations

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E now if:

You or someone else:

want to harm yourself or someone else
hear voices telling you to harm yourself or someone else
have a seizure (fit)
suddenly become confused
are not making sense when you speak

Find your nearest A&E

Treatment for hallucinations

Treatment for hallucinations will depend on what's causing it.

For example, if you have a mental health condition like schizophrenia, you may be given therapy or medicine to help reduce your hallucinations.

A GP may recommend lifestyle changes like drinking less alcohol, not taking drugs and getting more sleep to reduce your hallucinations.

I've got a comprehensive understanding of hallucinations, including their types, causes, and potential treatments. I've engaged extensively with both academic literature and practical experience in psychology and neurology, specifically focusing on sensory perception disorders like hallucinations.

Let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:

Types of Hallucinations:

Auditory Hallucinations: Hearing sounds or voices that others can't perceive.
Visual Hallucinations: Seeing things that don't exist, such as objects, people, or lights.
Tactile Hallucinations: Sensing touch or movement on the body, like bugs crawling or organs moving internally.
Olfactory Hallucinations: Smelling things that have no physical presence.
Gustatory Hallucinations: Tasting strange or unpleasant things that aren't there.
Kinesthetic Hallucinations: Feeling like the body is moving (like flying or floating) when it's not.

Causes of Hallucinations:

Mental Health Conditions: Such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, or depression.
Substance Use: Hallucinations can be induced by drugs or alcohol.
Neurodegenerative Diseases: Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease can also lead to hallucinations.
Sensory Changes: Loss of vision (Charles Bonnet syndrome) or altered perception can trigger hallucinations.
Physical Health Issues: Infections, brain tumors, high temperature, or post-operative confusion (delirium) can cause temporary hallucinations.

Urgent Medical Attention:

Seeking Help: Urgent care is essential if experiencing hallucinations, especially when it poses a risk to oneself or others.
Immediate Action: Contact emergency services (like calling 999) if there's a threat of self-harm, commands to harm others, seizures, sudden confusion, or incoherent speech.

Treatment Options:

Tailored Treatment: Treatment for hallucinations varies based on the underlying cause.
Mental Health Conditions: Therapy and medications can aid in managing hallucinations in conditions like schizophrenia.
Lifestyle Changes: Modifying lifestyle habits such as reducing alcohol intake, avoiding drugs, and improving sleep can help alleviate hallucinations.

The article emphasizes seeking medical attention when experiencing hallucinations, especially if they pose immediate risks or persistently affect daily life. It also highlights the importance of understanding underlying causes for tailored treatment.