[BlueInanna]

I've been having some slight hallucinations. They don't bother me, they're subtle and interesting.

Am I supposed to be worried about this? I hear many here talk of hallucinations that are horribly bothersome. Did yours start out as subtle and interesting?

Thanks.

[faerie_moon_x]

Mine are not really interesting. I guess the phone one is interesting now, but not when it was happening... that was not sublte, either...

Like the voices I hear (which are very, very rare...) sometimes they are really subtle. Like when I heard a woman yell "Go already!" while i was driving. But... no women around... hmmm... Or the far away laughing... They kind of creep me out but they aren't bothersom. The one that really scared me was the man's voice whispering "Hey!" Really loud in my ear while I was showering. I screamed. Oh yeah, that one was scary.

The man I see, now he freaks me out! I keep thinking the man is the man who whispered to me... like... it's a connected hallucination in my mind. I can't say he's bothersome. He only is in my vision for like a second or two. But, it does freak me out.

If you're already on an antipsychotic for mood stabalization, then I don't know if it's something to worry about. I would make note of it in your mood chart or journal it or whatever. Just keepa record of what it was and when it happened. So if it becomes more frequent or bothersome, you have a record to show your pdoc. If it worries you, then do call and at least mention it.

[Anika.]

Mine started when I was about 11. They were not subtle, quite lengthy actually. Now they do start out subtle and escalate quickly. I don't have hallucinations that just last for a moment or two. When it happens it will be more like a lengthy episode, weeks. Hard to explain what I mean.

Some of it is really not that bothersome. Some of it is. Last year I was really sick for about 5 months dealing with mixed mania and psychosis. I kept seeing little tiny people, in my house, in the stores, following me everywhere, I just had this feeling like they were bad, ill intentioned, so I was also a bit delusional, same time period, I was hearing voiced in the vents, stove range, hot water tank.. ya. And some other odd things. I was absolutely convinced that this portrait painting I have of a monkey dressing in a victorian gown was protecting me. I was convinced if I put a monkey in every room I would be safe.

I couldn't eat, sleep, I felt so unsafe. And this is why I do not enjoy or crave mania. However Blue I would say if it is short lived, and not bothersome then I would not stress too much. Sometimes our mind does weird things, but if it starts to pick up in frequency and duration, if you start to get some weird thoughts going on about what is real.. then I would probably take some kind of action. I think the delusions that can accompany the hallucinations cause us the most trouble.

[~Christina]

Hey Blue ,

I have been dealing with hallucinations of all sorts for months now as I'm sure you know. Mine are very vivid and they are a constant presence to be honest. For the "most part" I don't allow them to "bother" me. But some days I honestly do start to think its all real.

I think if what you are hearing and seeing increase or you start to question if its real or not. Thats when you should probably let your Pdoc know.

Stay safe and be kind to yourself

[BlueInanna]

My other question is: Are the hallucinations associated with mania, or depression also?

I'm having other manic symptoms, nothing terribly uncomfortable.

[OutlawedSpirit]

I have some auditory hallucinations when I'm manic, they aren't really bothersome, but they are rather annoying. It's mostly been like whispers, almost like a tv is on in another room. One day I actually searched the house to figure out who left their tv on, only no one did. Lately I've been hearing birds too, but not where I should be. I know what birds sound like outside when I'm inside, but these sound like they're inside with me. So like I said not really bothersome, just sort of annoying.

[Dymphna12]

Originally Posted by BlueInanna

My other question is: Are the hallucinations associated with mania, or depression also?

I'm having other manic symptoms, nothing terribly uncomfortable.

Hi! You can have hallucinations with both mania and depression. I am currently going through a depression and have been for the last 3 months. I've had several hallucinations (some major and a couple more minor). The major happened in more severe occasions of depression and the minor happened just sort of 'out of the blue' I suppose. So, yep, it happens.

most of the time, mine are really extreme and change the way i see things

sometimes though i'll have little ones through out the day that mean nothing.. but it's the evenings where i am always worse- so that's usually when they start to intensify

[HappiestGirl]

I didn't know for a long time the voices I heard were unreal. My husband had to point out there was no way anybody else could hear them. They are mostly negative comments about myself. With medication they are just mumbling now and I can ignore them. Silence is
the worst, I always try to have the radio on.

[MommaR]

Mostly I just hear someone saying my name when there is no one around. BTW, Outlawed, I just noticed your quote- its one of my favorites! Its my sig quote on my email for college.