[supportu]

Hi,
My friend is beginning to share what his voices are telling him. He has never shared them with anyone before. When he started sharing about one of his voices with me, he said that three others who he just heard as mumblings before began to torment him.

Have any of u had this happen when u started to get close to someone or began to trust them? It really scared him.

[faerie_moon_x]

Voices that say mean things are common, unfortunately. I don't have regular voices just random ones, but I know a lot of people have that problem.

It's good he is opening up to you. The best thing you can do is listen and let him know you're his friend.

[DePressMe]

I have a few "people" voices that repeat themselves to me. It's almost like I really know them. If they start in I know what they are going to talk about. I also have mumbling voices but they seem to be fairly consistent too. Talking about them is difficult--I feel like I'm breaking a rule by...I don't know really--like betraying them. I'm glad you are supporting your friend--that is a very special relationship and he must really trust you.....D.

[LoveForMyChild]

My daughter has 27 voices. 5 of them are recent. She talks to me about them. What I have noticed with her is that when she is under more stress. the voices get louder. Recently, during a time that was the most stress she's been under, she acquired the 5 new voices. She is on medication, but that only seems to quiet them some and not be so violent. When the voices first started with her, they acted like protectors and would tell her how to "protect" herself. But eventually they became violent and started telling her to cut herself or hurt herself...or even someone else. Eventually they started to tell her to kill herself. Once she was on the right combination of medications, she started to do better. I don't know if she will ever not have voices...even with medication, but at least they are more under control now. My daughter feels best when she is able to talk to me about it.
Your friend is blessed to have you. Keep listening to him and being there for him. That is a wonderful gift to give him.

[Tsunamisurfer]

Originally Posted by LoveForMyChild

My daughter has 27 voices. 5 of them are recent. She talks to me about them. What I have noticed with her is that when she is under more stress. the voices get louder.

I found that too. I didn't have it any where near as profoundly as your daughter had it, but stress certainly was a huge catalyst in making voices (and visions) more prominent and louder.

Originally Posted by LoveForMyChild

...She is on medication, but that only seems to quiet them some and not be so violent.

Sounds familiar. Many symptoms seem to hang around, and no med has completely removed them for me. I just have to accept that these are part of my life.

Originally Posted by LoveForMyChild

When the voices first started with her, they acted like protectors and would tell her how to "protect" herself. But eventually they became violent and started telling her to cut herself or hurt herself...or even someone else.

This is interesting to compare my experience to. I had a mix of protectors and harmers. When the protectors spoke, there were harmers trying to destroy me, and the protectors were warning me to keep me from harm. Unfortunately the predicted forces of harm included my doctors, the police, aliens, zombies masquerading as musicians, and more. Most of my voices remained benign in terms of directly violent threats.

Originally Posted by LoveForMyChild

My daughter feels best when she is able to talk to me about it.

Ditto, except when I felt paranoid that the pdocs and medical people were part of the plot to destroy me - I would keep those experiences (hallucinations) to myself as much as possible. Even now, I tell my wife, but I won't mention it to the docs, unless I really believe they are going to be able to help me.

[ickydog2006]

My hallucinations get worse with stress. It did help me in the long run, being more honest about them. The scariest part was losing friends. A lot of people wish that we could just compartmentalize the voices from the normal us, so that they don't have to worry or deal with the abnormal. But we can't. For most of us, the voices are a huge part of what we are, and when other's can't accept them, it feels a lot like they can't accept us; and sometimes that is the truth, that they can't handle it. I try to forgive the ones that leave, honestly, if I could leave that part of me forever, I would too.

[supportu]

Thank you everyone. You are amazing people!!