Mental Illness : Hallucinations

 This post is meant to provide a brief overview on symptoms of mental illness and then insight into living with the symptom. It should not be used as a diagnostic tool, but if you relate to what you read, it may be time to have a conversation with a mental health professional. 

Hallucinations are false perceptions of sensory experiences that feel real - sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. Most people will experience hallucinations in their lifetime. It is considered normal to have them when falling asleep or waking up. They can be a symptom of a physical illness such as a fever, dehydration, or migraines in addition to being caused by drug and/or alcohol use. Certain medications can cause hallucinations as a side effect. 

There are neurological conditions that may cause hallucinations such as Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, Lewy body dementia, Narcolepsy, and some forms of Epilepsy.

Multiple mental illnesses can also cause hallucinations with schizophrenia being the one most people immediately have come to mind. Severe PTSD, bipolar disorder, different personality disorders, Major Depression Disorder and delusion disorders can also cause hallucinations as a symptom. 

The treatment for hallucinations will depend on the cause. Chronic hallucinations as part of a mental illness are typically treated with medications such as antipsychotics. It is considered a manageable symptom.

Types of Hallucinations

• Auditory - Sounds
• Visual - Sights
• Tactile - Touch
• Olfactory - Smells
• Gustatory - Taste
• Presence - Feeling as if someone if in the room or standing behind you
• Propioceptive - Feeling as though your body is moving when it is not

How do you know you are hallucinating?

You may not realize it all, but it is possible to be aware you are hallucinating due to context clues in your environment (i.e. hearing someone who has passed away talking to you, being in a room alone, etc.)

Can you do anything to prevent hallucinations?

There are some things you can do to reduce the frequency, but they will not prevent hallucinations if you have an underlying medical issue.

• Ensuring you have good lighting
• Checking for sounds that may be misinterpreted (i.e. sounds from an appliance)
• Correcting lighting that can cause shadows, reflections or distortions
• Covering mirrors

If you are medication for hallucinations, taking it consistently as instructed.

How do I help my loved one having a hallucination?

It depends on the type of hallucination they are having but a good starting point is to stay calm and assess the situation. Listen to the person having the hallucination and then decide on a course of action.

• If asked, calmly confirm if you are experiencing the same thing. 
• If they are adamant that the hallucination is real, you may be crossing over into delusion territory, in which case playing along may be more comforting.
• Understand that you may not be able to do anything but be a calming presence until the hallucination has passed.
• If this is a new development, encourage them to see a medical professional.

The information for this section was pulled from the Cleveland Clinic's website

My Experiences with Hallucinations - D.M.

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