[Ptolemy12]

So I found this site and decided to join to ask some questions. I have heard voices and seen things since I was young. The past year it has been getting pretty bad and my wife finally started asking me why I did some of the stuff i do. So I told her some things and she wants me to go see someone.
Now I know that some of what I see can not be real. Like a few nights ago opening my front door and a whole bunch of birds flying out of my foyer while my family sat a few feet away not seeing anything. Now since I talked to her I have looked at some stuff online and I seem to see that most people say if I can acknowledge that what I see can not be real then I am not sick. So should I tell her I am fine, or maybe just depressed is why I do not leave the house and have those funky days where I sit alone in my office? I do not want to go to a doctor just to be told I am imagining things.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Well do you want the imaginary things to go away because if you go to the doc they can give you Medicine that will do that, if you like the imaginary things don't go...

Here is the thing....you don't sound delusional just hallucinating.....sometimes that's something medical like a brain tumor so I recommend a work up by your regular doc not a pdoc just to rule out anything serious.

[Goldcrest]

Unless it really is upsetting you don't go see anyone about it. I have these experiences and I also know they are not real, although they feel real and sort of believe them at the same time(!) if they cause you distress then it may be worth getting help. You will be given a label (diagnosed), powerful drugs that may help but can harm you. And all the hassle of a mental illness. If it is not causing distress and you have got on all right till now, I would continue as you are.

[kaliope]

i kind of disagree with the "if i know they arent real, then im not sick" bit. i dont think that is totally accurate. and i dont like the term sick either. seeing and hearing things indicate a mental health issue and as the above poster said may even be a health issue that should be ruled out. it should be looked into. the good thing is, you know they arent real. you do have a condition, but if the condition isnt causing you distress, isnt messing with your daily functioning, then it isnt a big deal. if you can cope with it, then go on with life as normal. it is when it becomes a problem, when it begins to interfere with your functioning, when you begin to question what is real or not, if they make you a danger to yourself or others that you need to consider meds to make those visions and voices go away.

[likewater]

Do you get enough sleep? I see bats flying and deer running in front. Of my car and stuff like that if I'm super sleep deprived and I know they aren't real. Then, just for funzies , if I go waaay too long without sleep, I start to have a psychotic break.