Why do I hear voices?

I was diagnosed with BPD a few months ago and the fact that I heard voices was pretty instrumental in my diagnosis. I just don't understand why I'm not considered schizophrenic or why it's not perceived as psychosis.

I told them that the voices were only 'people' shunning me during stressful situations and that they came out of my head (by the way, why is that question important? Is there a difference between auditory hallucinations that 'come out' in or out of your head?) But I was told by my therapist that I wasn't psychotic because I'm aware that they're not real and I don't automatically believe what they tell me.


I understand that not a lot of people with BPD experience hallucinations but it is sometimes a symptom and I wish there was more reading material on it because I can barely find anything that sounds genuine or professional. Maybe if someone could send me links of anything of the sort it could help me understand. Otherwise I'd just like to understand this thing.

Hello cherrya: I believe this is your first posted thread here on PC. So... welcome to Psych Central. I'm sorry I cannot address your concerns related to BPD & hearing voices. I at least also could not find any articles, in Psych Central's archives, that talk about hearing voices as a symptom of BPD. Perhaps there will be some other members who will have had some experiences with this they can share.

In the meantime, here are links to 4 of the articles, in Psych Central's archives, that discuss BPD the first by our host Dr. John Grohol, Psy.D. The fifth link is to a BPD-related blog here on PC:

Characteristics of Borderline Personality Disorder

Living with Borderline Personality Disorder

6 Gifts of Borderline Personality Disorder

Dialectical Behavior Therapy in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder

Therapy Unplugged | A blog about psychotherapy and therapy, by Sonia Neale.

I hope you find PC to be of benefit.

not to 2nd guess your therapist, but...

ive had lots of questionable therapists. i was diagnosed with a 'severe personality disorder,' and deemed 'untreatable.' i apparently actually have 'schizoaffective,' and im in recovery, thanks to standard treatment. oh, and my IQ was underestimated...by over 20 points.

id get a 2nd opinion, honestly.

I also would get a second opinion.

Glad to have you here!

What the therapist said doesn't seem true. I've talked to people who are diagnosed as schizophrenic who are aware that the voices are not real.

The thing is though, I've had at least four opinions on the matter. I met with a nurse, two doctors and two psychiatrists (in one night, it was a hospital that specializes with mental illnesses) and only then did they referred me to a therapist. I think I remember them telling me that it was something that could happen with people with BPD and I did read something online about BPD patients hearing voices as well (in this case of people they recognized) but no explanation on the subject aside from the fact that it happened. I would like to know why and how but I don't know if my therapist is the right person to ask since he's not exactly a doctor or a psychiatrist.

Certain SSRI meds can make you hear voices!