Various prescription medicines can occasionally cause hallucinations. Heavy alcohol use can also lead to psychotic states, hallucinations and dementia. Some people take cannabis to 'calm themselves' and relieve their psychotic symptoms, without realising that in the longer term, the cannabis makes the psychosis worse. After long-term drug use, they may cause schizophrenia. The hallucinations can occur on their own or as a part of drug-induced psychosis. More often, visual distortions occur that alter the person's perception of the world around them. They can include flashes of light or abstract shapes, or they may take the form of an animal or person. They can also occur during withdrawal from alcohol or drugs if you suddenly stop taking them.ĭrug-induced hallucinations are usually visual, but they may affect other senses. People can experience hallucinations when they're high on illegal drugs such as amphetamines, cocaine, LSD or ecstasy.

try to understand where the voices come from, why and what triggers themĭrug-induced hallucinations Illegal drugs and alcohol.

talk to other voice hearers, see more useful links section below.

You may also find the following advice helpful: If your voices are due to schizophrenia, the earlier your treatment is started, the better the outcome. It's important to be thoroughly assessed and treated early. This is important as it is to find out whether you have a serious mental illness. If necessary, they'll refer you to a psychiatrist. If you're hearing voices, discuss any concerns you have with your GP. This may sometimes be the voice of their loved one. It's not uncommon for recently bereaved people to hear voices. Some people who hear voices are able to live with them and get used to them, or may consider them a part of their life.

The experience is usually very distressing, but it's not always negative. Hearing voices is a well-recognised symptom of schizophrenia, dementia or bipolar disorder, but can be unrelated to mental illness. They may give a running commentary on the person's actions. They may make potentially harmful commands or engage the person in conversation. The voices can be critical, complimentary or neutral.

Hearing voices in the mind is the most common type of hallucination in people with mental health conditions such as schizophrenia. These and other rarer causes aren't covered here. Hallucinations can also occur as a result of extreme tiredness or recent bereavement. hallucinations in older people with delirium.hallucinations in children with a fever.The following information explains the typical types of hallucinations, including why they occur and what you can do. Hallucinations can make you feel nervous, paranoid and frightened, so it's important to be with someone you can trust. See your GP straight away if you're experiencing hallucinations and you're worried about them. Read more about the types and causes of hallucinations in sections below. loss of vision caused by a condition such as macular degeneration– this is known as Charles Bonnet syndrome.a progressive neurological condition, such as Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease.a mental illness, such as schizophrenia or dementia.For example, they can occur as a result of: Hallucinations can be frightening, but there's usually an identifiable cause. Hallucinations are common in people with schizophrenia, and are usually experienced as hearing voices. Hallucinations are where someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside their mind.

Types of auditory hallucinations