How do we hallucinate

For example, research suggests auditory hallucinations experienced by people with schizophrenia involve an overactive auditory cortex, the part of the brain that processes sound, said Professor Waters. Similarly, people with Parkinson's disease appear to have an overactive visual cortex, which results in images being generated in their brain of things that aren't actually there. Psychoactive drugs could also upset the relationship between the sense processing parts of the brain and the frontal lobe in a similar way, said Professor Waters.

The big question is whether the same kind of processes are responsible for less extreme hallucinations. Hallucinations aren't always intrusive, negative and scary, even in conditions like schizophrenia. About 70 per cent of healthy people experience benign hallucinations when they are falling asleep, said Professor Waters.

This includes hearing their name being called, the phone ringing or seeing someone sitting at the end of their bed. Research into this kind of hallucination is in its very early days, said Professor Waters. And what makes a hallucination distressing in some situations and not in others? Professor Waters' best guess is that "everyday" hallucinations may share common mechanisms with more serious hallucinations.

She said factors including lack of sleep, stress, grief, and trauma could make the brain more vulnerable to hallucinations by upsetting the relationship between the sensory cortex and the frontal lobe. Interestingly, certain hallucinations are seen as part of normal life, and indeed encouraged in some cultures, said Professor Waters. He said young people were more prone to hallucinations and this could be because their brain circuitry was less robust.

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Hallucinations are actually fairly common. This results in random sounds and speech fragments being generated. Almost two out of three people have benign hallucinations Hallucinations aren't always intrusive, negative and scary, even in conditions like schizophrenia. An important aspect of helping a loved one who is experiencing hallucinations is reassuring them that treatment is available. Here are a few more practical steps for helping your loved one cope with hallucinations.

The environment can play an important role in misperceptions and worsening of hallucinations; for example, a poorly lit room and loud, chaotic setting may increase the likelihood of a hallucination. Depending on the severity of the hallucination, gently touching or patting your loved one may help serve as a distraction and reduce the hallucination. Other possible distractions include conversation, music, or a move to another room. If they ask: "Did you hear that?

Keeping normal and reliable day-to-day routines can make it less likely that your loved one will stray from reality and experience hallucinations. Consider keeping a record of when hallucinations occur and under what circumstances.

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. Dealing with racing thoughts? Always feeling tired? Our guide offers strategies to help you or your loved one live better with bipolar disorder. Sign up for our newsletter and get it free. Chaudhury S. Hallucinations: Clinical aspects and management. Ind Psychiatry J.

Hallucinations in healthy older adults: An overview of the literature and perspectives for future research. Front Psychol. Bipolar Disorder. Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. Updated April Ali S.

Hallucinations: Common features and causes. Current Psychiatry. November ;10 11 Sosland M, Pinninti N. If your voices are due to schizophrenia, the earlier your treatment is started, the better the outcome. The Mental Health Foundation has more information and practical advice about how to deal with hearing voices. People can experience hallucinations when they're high on illegal drugs such as amphetamines, cocaine, LSD or ecstasy.

They can also occur during withdrawal from alcohol or drugs if you suddenly stop taking them. Drug-induced hallucinations are usually visual, but they may affect other senses.

They can include flashes of light or abstract shapes, or they may take the form of an animal or person. More often, visual distortions occur that alter the person's perception of the world around them. The hallucinations can occur on their own or as a part of drug-induced psychosis. After long-term drug use, they may cause schizophrenia. 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.

Heavy alcohol use can also lead to psychotic states, hallucinations and dementia. Find out how to get help for a drug problem. Various prescription medicines can occasionally cause hallucinations. Elderly people may be at particular risk. Hallucinations caused by medication can be dose-related and they usually stop when you stop taking the medicine.

However, never stop taking a medicine without speaking to your doctor first and, if necessary, after being assessed by a psychiatrist. Speak to your GP about how the medication is affecting you, so you can discuss the possibility of switching to another medicine. Some people experience hallucinations just as they're falling asleep hypnagogic , or as they start to wake up hypnopompic. The hallucination may take the form of sounds, or the person may see things that don't exist, such as moving objects, or a formed image, such as a person the person may think they've seen a ghost.

Hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations are particularly common in people with narcolepsy. However, they can also occur in people without narcolepsy or any disorder. They're essentially like dreams, and in themselves are nothing to worry about. Hallucinations can sometimes occur in children who are ill with a fever.