Video: How the Voices in the Heads of the Mentally Ill May Sound
The “voices” in the heads of the mentally ill have been depicted in countless movies and TV shows. As a common symptom of a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, the experience of hearing voices can be difficult to both explain and understand. For many that suffer from mental illness, auditory hallucinations are very real and not as common an occurrence as most think. Other than schizophrenia, people who suffer from disorders like bipolar disorder, manic depression and psychotic experiences report hearing the voices, as well.
For those who do not suffer from hearing voices, Jarrad Wale, a mental health worker, created a video which he posted to his Youtube channel, that portrays what, he says, the voices may sound like. “This is designed to provide the listener with some understanding of what it might be like to experience auditory hallucinations. Content in this presentation is based on things our clients tell us they hear through my experience as a mental health outreach worker,” Wale explains on his Youtube account.
The Video – Auditory Hallucinations: An Auto Representation
Watch and listen to the video here:
Warning: Some of the voices can get very dark and graphic. You will hear whispers, laughing, heavy breathing and name calling. There is some profanity in this video.
Though this video clearly depicts more than one voice hallucination at a time, it does give you a very clear idea of what people with mental illnesses may be suffering from when they hear auditory hallucinations.
Tips for Mentally Ill Individuals Hearing Voices
If you or someone you know reports hearing voices in their head, here are some tips, according to the Mental Health Foundation:
- Connect with other voice hearers and share your experiences.
- Talk to someone you trust about the voices to recognize patterns such as the games or tricks they may play. This may help you better understand and prepare for future onset of voices.
- Seek explanations to account for the voices to understand where the voices come from and why, and what triggers them can be a helpful coping strategy.
- Develop your own point of view and take responsibility for yourself to accept the voices.
- Understand that the voices may express what you are feeling or thinking deep inside.
Source: http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk
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How do you feel about mental illness after watching and listening to the video? Does this change what you initially thought of auditory hallucinations?
