[ToeJam]

Hello, I'm new to these forums so I hope I've posted in the right section.

Since I hit puberty (many many moons ago... 36 now) I've been having these weird aural hallucinations when tired (but before I've gone to bed).

Now, I've read up a bit on hypnagogia (can't link as a new member but wiki seems to have a decent synopsis) and it doesn't quite fit since these do not happen during the transition from awake to asleep. Has occurred at different times of the day from morning to evening... though I am always tired at the time of the occurrence.

Symptoms: muttering conversations or normal audio sound conversations that I can't quite discern what is being said.

Occasionally I'll be doing a task and I'll hear my name called (happens at home when I know full well nobody is around), so I'll look up.

Now, nothing that is said is suggestive so I think I can happily rule out schizophrenia... but it is a little surreal and does feel like I'm really hearing it (through the ears) rather than some inner voice.

I have a history of depression so I have broached the topic with a couple of therapists but I've either been shrugged off or they've avoided the subject... which is fine if it's nothing to worry about, but doesn't quell my curiosity.

Any help on the matter is greatly appreciated and if you have any questions for narrowing things down I'll help as best I can.

Thanks for your time.

[dumburn]

I experience what sounds like a very similar thing, not necessarily when i'm tired but when my mind is peaceful. Because it doesn't really have an affect (or effect?? never quite sure which is right) on me apart from at times constantly looking over my shoulder to see who it is when actually it isn't anyone.
I haven't actually bothered telling anyone about it.

I did try to do a little reading on it an it appears that as long as voices are not having a profoundly negative impact on a person it can be considered almost as a variation of normal.
This page is quite informative
Hearing Voices

My conclusion about the "normalness" of this experience is explained about halfway down the page...

Research has shown that many people hear voices, and some cope well with their voices, without psychiatric intervention. It has also been found that many people who hear voices regard them as a positive part of their lives.
Throughout history and even today there are people who hear voices who find their voices inspirational and comforting. Many researchers, practitioners and voice hearers believe it is mistaken to regard voice hearing as part of a psychopathic disease syndrome. Rather, they consider it to be more akin to a variation in human experience - a special faculty or difference that definitely does not need a cure.

[kaliope]

hi toejam
welcome to psych central. I have experienced what you are talking about too, especially hearing my name called out. one pdoc thought that I had hypnogogia as well. since I have been on medication I haven't experienced these voices at all though. I don't know if that would be the case if it was hypnogogia. so no answers here, just know you are not alone.

[ToeJam]

Reading that article right now and just hit a section that struck a nerve a little bit (not at the article itself but at an experience):

In the past mental health professionals were taught not to let voice hearers talk about their voices as this was thought to be colluding with the person’s delusions and not helpful. Most often professionals sought to distract the voice hearer from their voices.

In my first year at University, my depression hit me hard and I made an attempt at my own life. It was stopped (much to my irritation at the time as it was not a cry for help... now though when I look back I am glad beyond words) and resulted in a week forced trip to the hospital, meeting with a social worker and assessment. To continue with study I had to agree to see a therapist for however long it took. Many sessions in I mentioned the voices that I'd been experiencing for years and she almost bit my head off, basically saying that I was dramatizing the situation/attention seaking. Being young and insecure I didn't mention it to anyone again.. and have dealt with it in silence until last year... but even then the therapist (cbt specialist) didn't really entertain the notion so I still had no inkling as to what it was.

Anyway, I digress...

Thank you for the link... it's was very interesting.

I haven't as yet been able to discern what the voices are saying to be totally frank... best way to describe it is as if I'm reading a book in a cafe... and a table away some people are chatting. I'm not able to follow their conversation because I'm reading the book... but I can hear them! If that makes sense? Now that I'm used to it, it's quite a peaceful occurrence and I kind of enjoy the experience when it happens... I generally keep these experiences to myself though... mentioned it to my wife once and she got a little concerned haha.

[ToeJam]

Originally Posted by kaliope

hi toejam
welcome to psych central. I have experienced what you are talking about too, especially hearing my name called out. one pdoc thought that I had hypnogogia as well. since I have been on medication I haven't experienced these voices at all though. I don't know if that would be the case if it was hypnogogia. so no answers here, just know you are not alone.

Thank you for the reply :-)

I am actually on medication at the moment for my depression (citalopram) but it's not stopped these occurrences. Done wonders for my migraines though (is also prescribed for them... 2 birds one stone ).

Hearing your own name (in the plural sense as we both get that) is quite irritating Resulted in an frustrated wife a couple of times as I'd been convinced it was her but she was quite happily snoring away till I woke her up :-p

[dumburn]

Originally Posted by ToeJam

I haven't as yet been able to discern what the voices are saying to be totally frank... best way to describe it is as if I'm reading a book in a cafe... and a table away some people are chatting. I'm not able to follow their conversation because I'm reading the book... but I can hear them! If that makes sense? Now that I'm used to it, it's quite a peaceful occurrence and I kind of enjoy the experience when it happens... I generally keep these experiences to myself though... mentioned it to my wife once and she got a little concerned haha.

I hear my name mentioned and the word "she" pops up every now and then so i am convinced that they are talking about me. But like you it's just slightly irritating background noise.

I just liken it to the same thing just like when people hear a phantom knock at the door or the phone ring when it hasn't
Not just sounds but other senses can have a bit of a wobble too, like feeling your phone vibrate in you pocket when it hasn't, smelling apple pie when no one is baking (I hate that one lol) or being convinced you saw something or someone in the corner of your eye.

It seems the general thinking these days is that the human brain and nervous system is actually so complicated it is actually pretty rare for it to be working with 100% accuracy.
Therefore, there really is nothing to worry about unless it starts to cause significant problems with day to day functioning.

The problem is we'll probably never know just how normal it is because people generally have a "Hollywood" view of mental illness, so they may be reluctant to admit to anything being less than perfect out of fear of being sent to the "loony bin"

[elliemay]

Well, it could be that there is absolutely nothing wrong with you at all. One thing I know for sure is that our brains are constantly scanning our environment - whether we know they are or not.

We hear sounds, and then our brain tries to process those sounds into something familiar. A lot of the time, just random noises our brain will pick up as words.

Just like we can create patterns and see objects in a random collection of shapes etc...

Now, *what* you hear may be probative (like interpreting a dream), but the fact that you hear it may just be an extension of an active brain surveying and making sense of its environment.

[ToeJam]

Originally Posted by elliemay

Well, it could be that there is absolutely nothing wrong with you at all. One thing I know for sure is that our brains are constantly scanning our environment - whether we know they are or not.

We hear sounds, and then our brain tries to process those sounds into something familiar. A lot of the time, just random noises our brain will pick up as words.

Just like we can create patterns and see objects in a random collection of shapes etc...

Now, *what* you hear may be probative (like interpreting a dream), but the fact that you hear it may just be an extension of an active brain surveying and making sense of its environment.

Thank you for the reply! I don't exactly see it as something 'wrong' with me... though I get that might not be quite what you're implying. It would however be interesting to get a better understanding of what is the cause (like you mentioned... an active brain surveying is a possibility). They are very very vivid though and literally feels (SOUNDS) like there is someone there when there isn't... if our brains are naturally programmed to do things like that then it's kinda cool.... but no one ever talks about it

[ToeJam]

Originally Posted by dumburn

Therefore, there really is nothing to worry about unless it starts to cause significant problems with day to day functioning.

The problem is we'll probably never know just how normal it is because people generally have a "Hollywood" view of mental illness, so they may be reluctant to admit to anything being less than perfect out of fear of being sent to the "loony bin"

Thanks also, certainly not worried... I just have an abundance of curiosity and it annoys me when I can't put a pin in something happening

It is annoying with regards to the 'Hollywood' depiction. Fear of people jumping to conclusions is a bit of a pain in the rear as it just ends up stifling understanding and self investigation

[elliemay]

Originally Posted by ToeJam

Thank you for the reply! I don't exactly see it as something 'wrong' with me... though I get that might not be quite what you're implying. It would however be interesting to get a better understanding of what is the cause (like you mentioned... an active brain surveying is a possibility). They are very very vivid though and literally feels (SOUNDS) like there is someone there when there isn't... if our brains are naturally programmed to do things like that then it's kinda cool.... but no one ever talks about it

Nope, no one ever talks about it, but our brains do this. We seek patterns, familiarity, and our brains will create it - even when it's not there.

Music and voices are the most common things that people hear. I have an air purifier at my house that runs all the time. You should hear the things that I've heard!

No worries, as another poster said, unless it is interfering with your daily life, I would just kind of go with it.

I think it's just part of living, having senses, and a brain that tries to make sense of our world.