Hearing voices

What does ‘hearing voices’ mean?

Each experience of hearing voices is unique . There can be one or several voices, and it can occur frequently or infrequently (for some people, it may only happen once). The voice itself may be familiar or not (someone you know or don’t know).

For some people, the voice could be a commentator. It can be brought on by certain experiences or feelings in some cases. However, it can be helpful to make the distinction between hearing voices and our inner self-talk or inner critic.

Inner critic vs. hearing voices

The biggest difference between the inner critic and hearing voices is that one is our own thoughts, and one is an auditory experience (sounds in our ears). We all have inner ‘self-talk’ when we are thinking things through in our head.

It’s possible to “talk ourselves” in or out of things. In most cases, this describes an internal ‘voice’ that helps us evaluate our choices for example.

On the other hand, hearing voices is an auditory experience. This is where the voice could feel like it’s right next to us, or more in the distance.

Why would someone hear voices?

There isn’t necessarily a ‘cause’ to hearing voices. Though there are experiences that can inspire them to come on, or amplify them in general. These include:

• Sleep deprivation
• Increased stress or anxiety
• Physical illness (even something such as an increased temperature)
• Use of drugs or alcohol
• If someone has experienced a bereavement (in some cases they may hear the voice of the deceased)
• If someone has gone through a trauma (such as abuse for example).

Understanding the experience

If you are hearing voices, it’s worth noting what the voices are saying. Are they critical, complementary, positive or negative? It could be that the voices feel protective or supportive.

You might like to try interacting with the voices rather than ignoring them or getting angry with them. Try understanding what they say and note when you hear them (does it happen at a certain time or event?).

Address any stressors

Stress can often aggravate the experience of hearing voices and amplify it. Hearing voices can be isolating and distressing at times. You can try breathing and relaxation exercises when you hear the voices.

Learn more about strategies to cope with stress here.

When does hearing voices become a problem?

Hearing voices is often negatively portrayed in movies and TV, making people who hear voices appear “crazy” or out of control.

In reality, hearing voices is not uncommon. Many famous people have acknowledged hearing them. For some people, voices are a meaningful part of their lives and don’t need  “getting rid” of.

In many cases, the voices themselves aren’t necessarily a problem. But we may need to learn how to deal with them. There are many ways to cope with voices and how to manage them.

Though you may feel scared by voices you hear, if they are extremely critical or negative. Or you may feel compelled to do things you don’t want to do. In these cases, you should talk to someone you trust and access support.

Find out more about services that can help for under 18’s and over 18’s.