Hearing voices typically refers to verbal auditory hallucinations. However, it can also refer to a symptom of Dissociative Identity Disorder.
Hearing voices can be a difficult experience to understand if you have never experienced it yourself, and the experience isn't necessarily the same for everyone.
Some common features of hearing voices include:
Hearing voices can be a frightening experience especially if it is new to you. If you are hearing voices, you should consult with a therapist or doctor about potential causes.
In the meantime, some things that may help include:
It is vital to seek immediate emergency treatment if:
If a young child reports hearing voices, it may be difficult to tell whether this is a mental health concern or the result of a child's imagination. If your child reports hearing voices, it is important to ask them about the experience. If your child seems to be experiencing hallucinations or is greatly distressed by the experience, you should consult with a therapist specializing in children.
Questions to ask your child that may help include:
Older children and teenagers
If an older child or teenager reports hearing voices, it is unlikely to be caused simply by their imagination. If your child reports this, it is important to consult a therapist.
Questions to ask that may help include:
Talking to Your Child About Hearing Voices
It is helpful to note that some people feel ashamed of hearing voices and find the experience traumatic. Because of this, it is important to be patient when discussing the experience with your child and not to pressure them into sharing information until they are ready. It is also important, however, to get them the proper assessment and professional help they need.
It is vital to seek immediate emergency treatment if:
Hear from a mental health advocate who lives with schizoaffective disorder about what it's like to hear voices.
Mind is a UK-based charity providing information and support to people with mental health conditions. On their page about hearing voices, find information on the causes of hearing voices including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and trauma.
Eleanor Longden shares her personal story of trauma and mental illness. After years of struggling, she recovered and became a psychiatrist herself in order to help others.
Voice Collective provides advice for coping with voices for children and young people.
Rachel Star Withers, schizophrenic and mental health advocate, creates video resources on living with mental illness. Click below to see her video on hearing voices.
In this short documentary, Jess and her alters share their life of living with dissociative identity disorder (DID).
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