Most people’s first thought when they hear the phrase “hallucination” is a mental health issue like schizophrenia. And if you’re going through them yourself, you might automatically attribute them to a mental condition like that. However, this is not always the case; contrary to common belief, hallucinations are a typical symptom of a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression.

It is possible that hallucinations indicate a mental health problem, although this is not always the case. In reality, many people experience hallucinations occasionally.

Types of hallucinations

It’s important to note that hallucinations don’t automatically indicate mental illness.

Every time brain activity shifts, the possibility of hallucinations increases. Some people are more prone to hallucinations, for instance, as they are slipping into sleep or when they are only partially awake.

According to a 2019 study conducted on mice given a hallucinogenic medication, the animals’ brain activity decreased in regions connected with processing new visual information.

This finding provides support for the idea that hallucinations may represent the brain’s attempt to make up for a loss of sensory input.

Hallucinations come in a wide variety and can include:

• Hearing voices or radio broadcasts that aren’t actually there is an example of auditory hallucination.
• A person having a visual hallucination may perceive an imaginary creature or person.
• In cases of olfactory hallucinations, the affected individual believes they detect a scent that is not actually present.
• In the case of gustatory hallucinations, the sufferer experiences a false taste sensation.
• In the case of tactile hallucinations, the hallucinated touch is real.
• Experiencing a somatic hallucination is like having a bug crawl all over your body.

Anxiety and hallucinations

Anxiety might make you overreact or worry excessively about things that are usually not the reason for alarm. Although severe hallucinations, especially visual hallucinations, are exceedingly uncommon among people who suffer from anxiety, this doesn’t rule out the possibility of less extreme but nevertheless disturbing hallucinations being linked to this condition.

Ensure that all other potential causes have been eliminated. Hallucinations are one effect of drug misuse.

Those who are actually hallucinating due to some form of mental health problem rarely have enough of a handle on reality to know it’s a hallucination, despite the fact that it’s always a good idea to contact a psychiatrist if the hallucinations are strong. Those who are actually experiencing voices in their heads or seeing things that aren’t there typically have such severe reality distortion that they aren’t aware of their delusion.

How do hallucinations develop?

All sorts of mental and physical disorders, and in rare circumstances, substance abuse, can bring on hallucinations. Whatever the root cause, hallucinations and other psychotic symptoms have devastating repercussions. The first step in helping a person who is suffering is discovering what is causing their condition. Without proper treatment, psychosis can cause irreparable harm to the patient’s mind and emotions.

Psychotic episodes could result from a number of different factors.

• Schizophrenia and other psychotic diseases
• Disorders of Mood and Depression
• Diseases of the Nervous System
• Bipolar disorders
• Trauma disorders
• Certain recreational drugs
• Certain prescription medications
• Substance withdrawal
• Conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia
• Movement disorder caused by dopamine receptors
• Seizure disorders
• Migraines
• Sleep disorders (including narcolepsy) and lack of sleep
• Some infectious diseases
• Sarcoma in the brain
• Diseases of the liver and kidneys

A comprehensive, expert evaluation is the only method to pinpoint the root cause of hallucinations. And because of the grave dangers connected with psychosis, immediate therapeutic intervention is required. Fortunately, there are promising therapy and management options for psychotic symptoms after a proper diagnosis has been made. In most cases, prognoses improve with early intervention, and serious mental and emotional decline can be avoided.

How to determine the exact cause of hallucinations

Hallucinations can only be explained by a thorough professional evaluation. A professional will chat with you and conduct tests to determine the extent to which stress, life circumstances, substances, and other things are affecting your mental health. This may involve blood and urine testing and a brain scan if necessary.

Sometimes hallucinations are more upsetting than that. If you have trouble telling reality from fiction, they can seriously interfere with your life and perhaps put you or others in danger. Due to the seriousness of the potential consequences, prompt action is required.

A better outcome can be expected if hallucinations are recognized early on and the underlying cause is treated. Hallucinations are associated with a loss in mental and emotional health, which can be avoided with early intervention.

Treatment for hallucinations

The treatment options for hallucinations depend on the underlying reason. Psychological therapy and pharmaceuticals are both viable treatment options. The treatments available to you are condition-specific. You may need to overcome an addiction, resolve past trauma, or master stress management techniques.

Understanding and overcoming hallucinations is easier with the help of loved ones and medical professionals. Due to misconceptions about hallucinations and associated social stigmas, many people have trouble opening up about experiencing them.

Takeaway

Caused by its effects on the central nervous system, the senses, and brain function, stress is a common contributor to hallucinations. Anxiety can bring on hallucinations because it stresses the body. If you believe that you are hallucinating, you consult a psychiatrist in Lahore right away. Before treating you, your doctor will need to rule out any medical causes.

FAQs

• How do you deal with visual hallucinations? Engage in something that will take your mind off the problem, including reading, singing, listening to music, gardening, or working out. Just shoot back at the voices: Raise the stakes and demand that they go. Learn to control your stress and worry. Check your sleep habits and make sure you’re getting enough.
• How do I distract myself from hallucinations? This can be a quiet diversion, for example watching television, listening to music, utilizing headphones, or relaxing. As an alternative, one can engage in a physically active diversion like exercise, gardening, strolling, writing, reading, or playing an instrument.
• Are hallucinations natural? Numerous medical issues, from drug abuse to neurological disorders, can trigger hallucinations. Without the activation of the corresponding organs, these hallucinations can be of any sensory type, including sight, sound, touch, and smell.

Adam Mulligan did his degree in psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. He is interested in mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.