Hallucinations are when someone sees, hears, or feels things that aren’t there
Symptoms
- Perceptions without stimuli
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t present
- Involuntary and vivid imagery
Experiencing detailed and realistic sensory perceptions
- Difficulty Distinguishing Reality
Confusion between hallucinations and actual events
- Emotional Responses
Reacting emotionally to imaginary stimuli
- Interference with Functioning
Impact on daily life, work, or relationships
- Variability
Symptoms can come and go unpredictably
Types
- Visual Hallucinations
Seeing things that others don’t
- Tactile Hallucinations
Feeling sensations on the skin without a cause
- Gustatory Hallucinations
Perceiving taste sensations that aren’t real
- Olfactory Hallucinations
Smelling things that have no physical source
- Mixed or Multisensory Hallucinations
Experiencing a combination of sensory distortions
Causes
- Mental Health Conditions
Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression
- Substance use
Intoxication or withdrawal from drugs or alcohol
- Medical Conditions
Neurological disorders, fever, or head injuries
- Sleep deprivation
Lack of sleep can trigger hallucinations
- Medication Side Effects
Some drugs may cause hallucinations as a side effect
- Stress and Trauma
Emotional distress or traumatic experiences
Diagnosis
- Clinical Assessment
Interviews and observations by a healthcare professional
- Detailed History
Gathering information about the persons experiences
- Psychological Testing
Assessments to understand mental health conditions
- Medical Examination
Checking for underlying physical causes
- Collaboration
Involving specialists like psychiatrists or neurologists
- Diagnostic Criteria
Matching symptoms with established criteria for disorders
Treatment
- Medication
- Antipsychotic drugs to manage symptoms
- Therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for insight and coping
- Supportive Counselling
Emotional support to address underlying issues
- Hospitalization
In severe cases, to ensure safety and proper care
- Addressing Underlying Causes
Treating contributing factors like substance use
- Regular follow ups
Monitoring and adjusting treatment as needed
Local Supporting Services
- Mind
- Qwell
- Thinking Ahead
https://www.selfhelpservices.org.uk/service/thinking-ahead/
National Supporting Services
- Mind
- Carers UK
- Qwell
- Thinking Ahead