ABOUT HEARING VOICES
- Hearing voices means hearing, seeing or sensing something that does not exist outside of someone’s mind
- Hearing voices can be distressing, especially the first time
- Some people find comfort in the voices they hear and it can be
possible to manage the voices in their head effectively.
We all speak to ourselves as we think and go about everyday life. Hearing voices is different to that ‘inner voice’ we all have. The voices or auditory hallucinations you hear may be the voice of someone you know, background mumbling, or a conversation between several different voices. Everyone's experience will be unique to them.
If you’re hearing voices, or experiencing other kinds of hallucinations, it can feel alienating, but it's important to remember you're not alone and that support is available.
Hearing voices can be a common symptom of mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder and major depressive disorder. But if that sounds scary, it’s worth noting that it's more common than you think. Auditory illusions (that’s hearing something that’s not real) are experienced by up to 1 in 10 people.