[Secretum]

In the last few days, I've heard a cough (while alone), a high-pitched giggle on several occasions (again, while alone), and even a few seconds of a male opera singer?! I also have been seeing people/objects out of the corner of my eye, only to turn and discover that they don't exist. Should I be concerned about this stuff? Mention it to my pdoc?

I know that people w/ bp II can hallucinate while depressed, and I have been mostly down for the past month. But I thought the hallucinations were mostly "mood congruent"; i.e., I should be hearing a voice telling me how worthless I am, not opera music!

Can anyone explain this to me? Anyone have similar experiences?

[Moose72]

The corner of your eye thing could just be a normal thing, IMO.I've seen people "disappear" because they were hallucinations and I didn't know it. My hallucinations have consisted of a voice saying a word llike "hi" or "hello" or "hey" and then nobody else is in the house with me, or the same room or next room, or even a femalle voice when there are no other females near enough to hear. I've heard jazz music coming from the tv box (no speakers and never plays music) and a voice at the same time giving me commands in a weird, whispery, buzzy voice. I usuallly end up doing a reality check- look for the source of the voice, and see if it could really have happened. If it doesn't check out, I think its a hallucination plus there are patterns.

Yes, mention it to your pdoc. Maybe its just stress or maybe you are hallucinating. My hallucinations are always a clue to pay more attention. I just started zyprexa tonight- though only a few days- because of mine this past week.

[roads]

Whenever I've not known what sights (especially in peripheral vision or shadowy areas) or sounds (often at a distance, in another room) are, my mind has always been quick to whip up an--usually creative--explanation. Wind becomes cheering crowds. Breeze in a tree becomes a string quartet. Sunlight & shadows become wolves approaching the house. You get the idea.

People always found this "quirk" delightful & said it was just a sign of the artist in me (I'm in theatre). Now of course I'm told they're probably hallucinations since my bipolar II dx nearly 3 yrs ago.

I don't know. These go back as far as I remember, way predating the depression which settled in by 15. I would check the strange events out when I got older & figure, when there were no crowds, no string quartets, that chances were I was imagining things. So am I really hallucinating?

Both pdoc & tdoc have explained the difference. I don't understand.

I've never heard voices telling me to do anything, violent or otherwise. While I've had a few unpleasant whatever-they-ares, I just haven't been willing to add yet another drug into the mix for what I don't consider a condition that requires managing. I'm not aware of my experience of this becoming any worse since childhood.

I hope you'll let us know how this goes & how you decide to deal with it. I must say, your "events" intrigue me. I want to know what they are too...so many possibilities in the theatrical realm that I'm fascinated on several levels!

[Raindropvampire]

I have had this too. I also smell things that aren't there. They are not sure if this is from my BP or from my PTSD. Don't know if you happen to suffer from both but they said that for whatever reason BP can cause it. As far as PTSD causing it the way my T explained it is that the mind is like a record. Certain things can make the "record " skip and bring up visions, smells or sounds that actually occurred at the time of the trauma. T told me not to be concerned about the hallucinations unless it causes me distress or affects my life in some way. good luck to you.

[hsurp1]

I was told my my Psychiatrist (who is also a Neurologist) that as long as I was not paranoid or afraid of the voices then I am ok.

[hsurp1]

Oh, yeah, Secretum... no matter what, ALWAYS tell your pychiatrist and/or psychologist, even if the sounds/voices are not threatening (I've heard men's laughter, women on a CB, music and singing to music, and growling). But I also do scream in my sleep and have been known to act out in my sleep. That is how I originally ended up seeing a Psychologist. I did that to my ex-husband (was my live-in bf at the time). I called a therapist the very next day while at work (at break or lunch). She didn't help me but I went elsewhere and was amazed at the diagnosis and I cried my eyes out when she was given leave when her boss wanted to go into private practice and I lost my Physician's Assistant. I've been diagnosed since for Bipolar again, PTSD, ADD, Borderline Personality Disorder, General Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attacks. I also have OCD things that I told doctors where I trace telephone poles, speed limit signs, any other traffic signs. I trace them with my fingers. But no one adds that although I know and I need to put a cup down 3 times and just right, etc. I am constantly changing meds so I hope for a LONG TERM remission. Sorry for the ongoing babbling.

[Detach]

A few yrs ago I was in the hospital and they didn't think I needed my Klonopin....I went through withdrawal and had auditory hallucinations. It started suddenly (after no sleep for 2 days, chills and legs restless). I heard 50's music in my head and my sisters voice was the DJ. It was constant and I couldn't turn it off. It was very scary to me, I don't even think the music were real songs...I hate 50's music! Anyways, I was transferred to the psych unit and they knocked me out with ativan so I could sleep and gave me seroquel, the next day it still was going on for a few hours but then stopped....completely.

[dirt69juggalo]

I hear random noises like laughs and giggles and coughs and short words from time to time never really thought of it as a problem maybe I should

I thought that hallucinations were Not a symptom of BPII?

[Detach]

Originally Posted by roxiesmom333

I thought that hallucinations were Not a symptom of BPII?

I also thought that if you had hallucinations related to BP that your diagnosis would be changed to Bipolar I.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by dijmart

I also thought that if you had hallucinations related to BP that your diagnosis would be changed to Bipolar I.

Me three...

[BNLsMOM]

Interesting topic. I have had one instance, recently that I am sure was a hallucination, and my pdoc agrees. Other than that it is usually shadow things and far off voices, thinking the tv is on in another room and finding that it is not. I had someone whisper in my ear and heard my husand's voice saying my name.

I had an instance when I was a child when I heard my grandfather calling my name over and over. I ran downstairs and got into bed with my parents. Then my grandfather called out to my sister. I think I remember her running downstairs. We either both halucinated or it was supernatural. The only thing is my grandfather was alive when this happened. Maybe he was trying to astral project or something. He is the grandfather that I inherited bipolar from.

The point is that I never know if I am halucinating or not, other than that clear as day one I had a few weeks ago.

[Secretum]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I don't really think that whatever is going on is a big deal, since it doesn't really bother me much. It's just...weird. But I'm weird too, so maybe I can make friends with it.

My understanding is this: people with bp II can have psychotic symptoms, but only in a depressive episode. Unipolars can be psychotic too. If the psychosis occurs during an up phase, than that episode is automatically labeled as mania and the sufferer has bp I. And if someone with a history of mood symptoms has psychosis outside of a mood episode than they are schizoaffective.

Regardless of whatever is going on, I definitely do not have bp I. My highs are very mild; 80% of my pain with bp comes from depression. (The remaining 20% is due to constant cycling and dysphoric hypomania and mixed states.)

[Detach]

Bipolar I disorder may experience additional psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, Bipolar II by definition cannot have psychotic features.

[Secretum]

Here is my logical proof:

1. Bipolar II disorder is partially defined by major depressive episodes.
2. Major depressive episodes can lead to psychosis.
Therefore, bipolar II disorder can lead to psychosis (but only in a major depressive episode).

But really, it's not worth fighting over. The lines between classifications are blurry and arbitrary anyway. Let's just be one great big bp family.

[Detach]

Originally Posted by Secretum

Here is my logical proof:

1. Bipolar II disorder is partially defined by major depressive episodes.
2. Major depressive episodes can lead to psychosis.
Therefore, bipolar II disorder can lead to psychosis (but only in a major depressive episode).

But really, it's not worth fighting over. The lines between classifications are blurry and arbitrary anyway. Let's just be one great big bp family.

Yes, I understand your theory, however it is wrong...lol. Major depression is a completely different diagnosis, then Bipolar Disorder, therefore allowing it's own DSM code for psychotic features. Everything now a days is coded for billing, docs MUST put a code on all diagnosis. For Bipolar with psychotic features it is under Bipolar I.

But I do agree the lines seem blurry, it just seems like I'm running into post after post of people confused on this very subject. I've said my peace, now I'll let it go...LOL.

[Detach]

Also....

The DSM lists schizoaffective disorder under "Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders," but a strong body of opinion suggests that even though bipolar and schizophrenia are distinct disorders, they form part of a spectrum with overlapping features. Schizoaffective disorder occupies the middle ground between bipolar and schizophrenia, characterized by mania and depression as well as psychosis (delusions, incoherent speech, hallucinations) or other features of schizophrenia.

Perhaps you and the others with your same opinion are actually describing schizoaffective disorder...