[*Beth*]

For those who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder and hear noise or voices, how does it manifest? Do you hear the noise/voices inside your mind or do they come from outside of you? Do you believe the noise/voices are real entities speaking to you, or do you have the feeling that they come from your own mind?

[fern46]

Mine was voices of people who had passed that were close to me. It came from inside my mind. No, I do not feel there were ghosts or some other phenomena speaking to me. I believe it was a manifestation of my subconscious. I had some memories of childhood trauma resurface and the voices spoke to me and tried to help explain what happened to me when I was a child. They behaved like guides or therapists. I found them comforting and didn't second guess their presence. I went into heavy psychosis shortly after this happened. I know now that I need help asap if it ever happens again. The voices had good intent, but I was going through PTSD as the memories came up, so I see them as a sign something was clearly wrong.

[Sometimes psychotic]

For me both internal and external voices/sounds. I did believe they were real, I was lost in that world for a month. That was the first time....on antipsychotic though I can tell it’s not really happening even if I hear occasional knocking noises or whatever.

[Moose72]

Mine are two-fold. Sometimes they are like another person inside me that Im talking -usually arguing- with. Otherwise, they come from the outside and are as real as any other person.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by Sometimes psychotic

For me both internal and external voices/sounds. I did believe they were real, I was lost in that world for a month. That was the first time....on antipsychotic though I can tell it’s not really happening even if I hear occasional knocking noises or whatever.

Those knocking noises freak me out! They sound as real and i think theres someone at the front door!

[bpcyclist]

I've had both. For me, when I have had the external ones, they kind of freak me out. Often frighten me, like, hey, where did that come from??? Who was that?? I hate those. These, I know they are due to my illness, for some reason. Not sure why, I just do. At least, so far.

The internal ones are way, way more dangerous for me. These usually come as commands from God to do certain things. Won't get into it here. But, they're bad. Fortunately, I have only ever had these when I have been bad psychotic. They have caused me to do dangerous things in the past. Hope that never happens again!

[Under*Over]

Most of the time they come from outside me. I dont really have voices IN my head- except sometimes in my dreams. Sometimes I also have ideas- the feeling that thoughts are being inserted into my head by god or demons. Sometimes at night, like I said in my dreams god will talk to me. Also sometimes I think the radio is sending messages through me and “ talking” to me- but thats not hallucinations I dont think. Thats the only voices that are in my head and Im not sure how much of that is just- thoughts- and how much of it is something else. Mostly these sort of voices only happen when I am REALLY sick. Or rarely when I am stressed out.

Otherwise they come from around me, either as chatter (several voices talking on top of each other, impossible to make out what they are saying) or Ill have a word or phrase repeated. Or my name. Sometimes its just my name repeated. Once or twice- I think once for sure and twice maybe as a little stretch- I have had command hallucinations. My hallucinations tend to be worse when I stop taking medication. Colors seem brighter, the world seems slightly distorted like someones gotten me a little tipsy and spun me around a bit (the severity of this depends on how long Ive been off meds/how psychotic I am)-but with this- sounds are louder and scarier for some reason. Peoples voices slightly start seeming- syruppy? Like a mixture of them going in and out and them talking to me like I am stupid or a child they are humoring(thoigh the stupid thing might just be because at this point I start freaking people out).

I dont really get auditory hallucinations that arent voices thankfully. Or at least not that I notice. Just perceptual problems sometimes with things that are actually there. Laughter seeming “evil” people talking seeming to take on a malevolent tone.

I havent hallucinated much lately, thank goodness. I am so glad that my hallucinations arent constant. It helps me feel like I can function and have nice life and not be “messed up”. But unfortunately I have to be really careful when it clmes to that thinking because it makes me want to stop my medication.

But Im getting a little away from the point now! I mostly hear voices. I cant, at this time, think of much else.

[cashart10]

I only hear voices/noises when I’m psychotic and to varying degrees. For instance, if I am extremely manic, I may hear the voice of God telling me to do things and if I’m extremely depressed, I may hear demons telling me to do things. These can be both in and outside of my mind (sometimes internal, sometimes actual voices). These voices range from incredible to terrifying. However there are other times, if I’m having a mild episode, that the voices/noises are completely insignificant and don’t bother me. For instance, I might be listening to music on my headphones and suddenly voices will come through as though I am listening to a transitional radio. I know those aren’t real. I may also hear, for instance, thunder, that my husband says isn’t there. That doesn’t bother me because I can recognize it isn’t real.