[Confused1441]

Ive been hearing lots of voices that never say anything good sometimes their little whispers others its screams and i always look to see if anyone else has heard them just to find out only i did. I dont know what i should do if i tell my family im afraid of what they will say. The voices are very hurtful sometimes i can hear crying and sometimes its like someones calling my name other times they tell me worthless useless they tell me im going to die in a car sometimes the vocies arent clear and hard to under stand. and lately ive been very afraid of sleepin and being alone going in the car and dark places. i also began to feel like someones watching me or something like that and sometimes i freak my self out and feel like i cant breathe. I hate being in crwed areas now for fear of being trampled or suffocating its really starting to affect my life and i dont know what to do.

[costello]

I'm really sorry you're having a hard time. Hearing voices isn't necessarily a sign of "illness." Some people hear voices and never find them distressing. Others find ways of managing them without ever talking to a doctor or counsellor.

You're finding them distressing and if they're beginning to limit your life, so you should do something about them.

Some people manage their voices without medication. Others opt for the meds. The meds don't help everyone, so you might have to use other coping strategies even if you take medication.

You know your family better than I do, so I don't know how they'll react if you tell you about your experiences. Some people do overreact. You might do some research before talking to your folks, so that you can reassure them. Here's some information about the hearing voices movement: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearing_Voices_Movement

It would help if you could find other people who hear voices to talk to. I'm not sure how you find these people in Texas. In places like the UK there are support groups for people who hear voices.

I hope someone on this forum who hears voices will respond with advice and encouragement.

[costello]

I wanted to add something about how people will react if you tell them you hear voices.

I have a son adopted from foster care. As a result I know quite a few people who have adopted foster children or who are foster parents. It's amazing how many of these young children hear voices. And the foster/adoptive parents always seem to take it as a sign that they're mentally ill, possibly inherited from bio family. Almost invariably the parents reach for powerful psychotropics.

To end up in foster care, though, a child has likely suffered tremendous trauma. Then being in the foster care system is further traumatizing. I don't think these kids have an "illness" or a "broken brain." They're suffering from trauma. The trauma needs to be addressed.

I don't know your story but keep in mind that the kind of distress you're suffering right now may have either emotional or biological causes - or a combination.

[mgran]

I hear voices sometimes, even a little bit now that I'm on meds. But they don't bother me anymore (partly because my thinking has cleared up since I've been on the right meds, and it's easier to remember they're not real.) You can learn to live with them, through a combination of therapy, and if necessary meds. There was a time when I thought they were angels, ghosts and demons, and I often thought I could hear the thoughts of others (they were always negative about me, and made me feel that I was despised and hated.) The first step to getting better was finally having the courage to tell my Doctor. I'm sure that you can make a recovery too... if you ever need any support tell me, and we'll meet up in chat or something. Would that help?

[Confused1441]

Thank you both i will try to do this and recover still trying to figure out how to tell my family

[SophiaG]

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/voice-hearers/

you'll need a yahoo email address to access it.

[costello]

Originally Posted by SophiaG

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/voice-hearers/

you'll need a yahoo email address to access it.

There's also a link to a group for people who are supporting people who hear voices.