Well, each person's definition and understanding of "Real" is certainly varied. You should read my piece entitled "Oh, the Humanity!" In this piece, your question is analyzed by many different perspectives and an ultimate outcome is reached through the looking glass of many collective eyes.

To me, my "hallucinations" (sorry if my quotations offend some, I do not intend to offend) are only understood as such to others who are not able to see the things that I see. I have found purpose and reason for these things that I have seen and do see every day.

I have only heard two Outside voices in my lifetime. However, I do struggle with many many intrusive thoughts each and every day of my life. This has been all of the days of my entire life, seventeen years before I was diagnosed by professionals with paranoid schizophrenia.

In my opinion, and many others' as well: for something, ANYTHING, to qualify as "Real"; it solely has to be REALIZED by a living breathing human being. That is where the root word "Real" is derived from in our English language.

My visions and intrusive thoughts, and yes, the two outside voices that my physical ears actually HEARD, were REAL. I really experienced these things. They were brought into my reality, by an outside force that is not by my own will.

For someone to insist, (rather, the whole world who does not experience the things that you and I do), That these things are not in fact REAL, is very cruel indeed. Cruel yes, and also IGNORANT.

Would a Starfish, who lives underneath the surface of the Ocean Deep, say "There is no such thing as an African Zebra, because I have never seen one?" Foolish. Wrong. I reject that narrow view. I hope others will also do the same.

Now, If a voice, or an intrusive thought, or a vision, is telling someone to harm himself or others, A CHOICE BY THE HEARER/SEER IS REQUIRED FOR THE FULFILLMENT OF THE HARM TO BE DONE.

Every single human being on planet earth has this choice to make daily; regardless of their experience with symptoms that we batte. It is called "DO NO HARM" by the Hippocratic oath that our medical physicians are bound by Federal Law upon graduation and entrance into medical practice here in The United States of America.

There exists a need to control the volatility of psychosis. The psychotic episode is very real indeed to the psychotic patient, nonetheless. Any lesser perspective which places defective language upon the sufferer is cruel and ignorant; in my humble opinion which I am only entitled to.

Instead of condemn the sufferer to an existence that has been deemed UNREAL by others, perhaps others could admit that they happen to have been blessed or cursed with an entirely different reality? That perspective seems merciful to me.

Shall we tell the handicapped children, "You don't have two Real arms because you are defective". Or, is it merely that we "Whole People" choose to label you as defective for our own peace of mind? The latter is closer to the truth. Sorry so long yall, I am kind of fed up today lol. Carry on.