For example, you may hear voices that nobody else hears or see something that nobody else sees. You probably will know if a person is having a hallucination. It may scare you, because you can't see why the person is behaving as he or she is. The person also may be very scared.
Current as of: September 23, Maldonado PhD - Behavioral Health. Author: Healthwise Staff. The hallucinations commonly appear as a person falls asleep or wakes. In some cases, the hallucination occurs with an episode of sleep paralysis , which happens when a person wakes up and is temporarily unable to move. Treating sleep disorders may help ease symptoms. In some cases, knowing that the hallucinations happen because of brain changes during the sleep cycle can make them less frightening.
People with hearing or vision loss may experience hallucinations. This may be due to brain changes in sensory processing regions or in the visual or auditory information the brain receives.
In some cases, hallucinations may not relate to an illness or drugs. Sometimes, suggestive forces trigger the hallucination. For example, in religious traditions, where hearing the voice of God is common, a person might report an auditory hallucination. A person sleeping in a house they believe to be haunted might hear noises or see ghostly figures due to heightened anxiety.
A hallucination is not a delusion, though the two are closely related. A delusion is a false belief, while a hallucination is a false perception. Many people may have fallen for optical illusions and other mental tricks. However, a hallucination is more than an error in perception. People experiencing hallucinations see or hear things that are not actually present, and that do not match the experiences of others around them.
They may also believe in the realness of their hallucinations or attach specific meaning and false beliefs to them. These attached false beliefs are delusions. Hallucinations often signal an underlying problem with how the brain is processing information, such as when a person with dementia develops hallucinations or depression triggers psychosis.
It is sensible to see a doctor following any hallucination, even if there are no other symptoms. It is particularly important to seek medical care if someone with an illness that may cause hallucinations experiences worsening hallucinations or other changes in mood or behavior.
Not all hallucinations require treatment, especially if the hallucination is a singular event. A hallucination is not a medical emergency, but only a doctor can determine whether it signals a serious health issue.
Hallucinations are more common than many people might realize. Although they can be frightening, they do not always mean a person has a serious brain disorder or mental health issue. Skip to navigation Skip to main content Site map Accessibility Contact us. Search this site Search all sites Search. Go to whole of WA Government Search.
Open search bar Open navigation Submit search. Health conditions. Facebook Youtube Twitter. Home Health conditions Hallucinations and hearing voices. Hallucinations and hearing voices Hallucinations refer to the experience of hearing, seeing or smelling things that are not there.
Hearing voices speaking when there is no-one there is known as an auditory hallucination. Voices can talk about very personal matters, which can be quite frightening. Often, other sounds like music, animal calls and the telephone ringing can be heard. The noise volume varies from very quiet to very loud. The experience is different for different people. Seeing images when there is nothing in the environment to account for it is a visual hallucination.
Simple visual hallucinations may include flashes or geometric shapes. The voices can be critical, complimentary or neutral, and may make potentially harmful commands or engage the person in conversation. They may give a running commentary on the person's actions. The experience is usually very distressing, but it's not always negative. Some people who hear voices are able to live with them and get used to them, or may consider them a part of their life.
It's not uncommon for recently bereaved people to hear voices, and this may sometimes be the voice of their loved one.
If you're hearing voices, discuss any concerns you have with your GP. If necessary, they'll refer you to a psychiatrist. This is important in determining whether you have a serious mental illness. If your voices are due to schizophrenia, the earlier your treatment is started, the better the outcome. The Mental Health Foundation has more information and practical advice about how to deal with hearing voices. People can experience hallucinations when they're high on illegal drugs such as amphetamines, cocaine, LSD or ecstasy.
They can also occur during withdrawal from alcohol or drugs if you suddenly stop taking them. Drug-induced hallucinations are usually visual, but they may affect other senses. They can include flashes of light or abstract shapes, or they may take the form of an animal or person. More often, visual distortions occur that alter the person's perception of the world around them.
The hallucinations can occur on their own or as a part of drug-induced psychosis. After long-term drug use, they may cause schizophrenia.
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