Talked to the tree outside my apt. today and he is still worried about the squirrel population. Talked to some of the house spirits last night and I agreed to clean up and excersise. Talked to some kind of God figure and she's worried about my Mom. But I was able to cook two nice meals, do my dishes, shower, write some friends, and watch several episodes of family guy with no problem, voice, delusion, or anything. It did take me eight years to balance this system and a lot of hardship. I'm glad meds work for some, none have ever worked for mine, I was on 600mg Seroquel a day when they started. I was able to fade out of the world and be imaginative and hopeful and with the help of friends and family keeping me together, I came through just fine. There's nothing wrong with hearing voices, it's your behavior that counts. Just got a nod from a shadow person I didn't know was in my house, but my cat caught a look at him, she watches empty chairs and follows things with her eyes I can't see now, but have seen before when hypermanic. Sorry if this type of thinking doesn't fit the DSM mold, but if I'm happy with it and able to do the best I can. . .it's like quicksand with these voices. . .the more you struggle the worse it will get, hopefully there is a vine you can pull on whether it be distraction, psychotropic drugs, faith. I chose to embrace it. And now I live with it. So instead of staying up with these very real feelings of people around me and smoking another cigarette, I'll skip the last cigarette of the day and day dream in bed until insomnia breaks. I have a lot to share about my voices, and if this thread continues I hope I can share more since there really is no other outlet. Even my friend who practices a dull brand of witchcraft, drops acid, eats magic mushrooms as a solution, and has open, out-loud relationships with her voices, isn't much of a comfort. When she started hearing voices at age 11 her mother took her into to the pastor where they assaulted her and forced her to throw up to get rid of the demons. And her voices at the time wanted to play games. Take serious action if your voices do. If not, like me (I consider myself lucky) a little music and some deep breathing may do the trick. Thank you and good night. I'll be thinking of you guys.