Hearing voices

Mental health
1

Diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, major depression and schizotypal disorder.

My husband and I are on holiday in Greece for a month, ten days left to go. It was supposed to be a rest after I tried to take my life in May. I didn't want to come. I didn't feel safe enough but everyone said it would do me good.

Things have got worse and I don't feel safe here. The last few days I can hear voices. One is kind and talks to me. The other one is bad. She screams at me constantly. She says I should burn and die. She won't stop screaming. I'm too frightened to tell my husband in case it makes her worse but I don't know what to do.

I don't know where I can get help here. We're in the middle of nowhere and I haven't even seen a pharmacy for days.

Please help. I don't know what to do.

2

Hi Lucy, this probably will be no help to you at all but I though it was worth saying (just in case).

I watched a BBC documentary not so long ago where a psychiatrist tried a new approach with people who hear voices. I think the two women that took part had schizophrenia or bipolar, or maybe schizoaffective disorder! It doesn't really matter, the point is that they both had voices talking to them. Some were nice and some were scary. Like you are experiencing. Well this doctor got them to sit down and with his help they 'confronted' the voices. Talked back at them and told them they were not frightened of them. Then he spoke to these bad voices directly. He asked one of the women what they were saying. It turned out that these women had had bad experiences in their past.  And the voices were their brains way of coping with what had happened. It was like it has split into different parts (or characters) to protect itself somehow. And the bad, scary, voices were not bad or scary at all. They were actually trying to warn the women. To protect them. It was as if some part of their brains was trapped in the past and still trying to warn them of a danger that had long since gone. So yes they said not nice things, they said what appeared to be threatening things. But that was not their intention. (And remember, these 'voices' are not other people. They are you. Your own brain is generating them.) The upshot was, the women felt so much better knowing that these voices were not 'evil' after all. So they were not scared of them anymore. I think they were rather blown away by the whole experience!

I don't know what it is like to hear voices. I can't really know how frightening it must be to hear a voice in your own head shout and scream things at you. But it really is just your own brain doing it. And it is doing it for a reason. It is the brains way of coping (at least that is what I gleaned from the documentary). 

I'm really sorry Lucy if this is no help to you. I hope someone else can perhaps give you a better more helpful reply!

 

3

What ever u do don't self harm and listen to the horrible voices you are hearing...if u are feeling very unwell I think you could also go to a hospital in Greece and ask for help....please take care...

 

4

I honestly have no idea how hard things are for you but if I were to give you any advice it would be to talk to your husband. If he knows whats going on he can help you. If worse comes to worse, there will undoubtedly be a hospital somewhere with people that will protect you at all costs. In the meantime only focus on the good voices.

5

Thank you for your replies.

She is a little quieter today. Just trying to get through the next nine days until I can go home. I don't trust the hospitals here so don't think that's an option.

6

lucy

pretty please tell him so when you get home you can get as soon as possiable  if not sooner he loves you thats why he took you on holiday tell him the truth .

 

7

Please Lucy enjoy your holiday. If I hear voices telling me I'm stupid and thick I can now go for long walks with my headphones on believe me they actually work because it blocks the whole world out. But be careful walk somewhere safe were there is lots of people around you won't see them because your concentrating on music nothing also but at least you will be safe. Life is a battle but we must keep battling on. Trust your husband I know it's hard I find it difficult to say anything to mine because I think he doesn't understand what's in my head. Push through and talk to him he will understand and hold you close. All you need is reassurance from him and a good cuddle. All is not the end at least your away from it all at the moment try to enjoy this stay positive. From michelle

8

hi lucy

how are your voices today we are thinking of you have you spoken with your husband and told him whats going on

take care

9

I have tried to tell him but every time I try the words just dry up.

The only thing that shuts her up is cutting or taking some sleeping pills to knock myself out.

10

What an awful situation to be in.  It must be really difficult for you.  Can you not try and find anywhere that can help with some meditation to try to keep you calm and focus your mind on anything.  Your husband will see the cutting surely?  Keep trying to tell him, it may even help when he knows as he will be able to support you.  I can imagine that it is really hard but don't give up.  Keep trying and focusing on getting through one day at a time.

11

lucy

i am sorry that you can not find the words to be able to tell him whats going on it brings tears to my eyes. i wish you had the words to tell him .

please do not take to maney pills as this could do you more harm when she talks try humming a tune like humpydunpy fell of the wall  and all the kings men found and put him back together again or tiney tim had a hym that he went to sing but found himself sitting on a swing both of these have a positive not at the end if you get my drift  i tend to run on the spot and sing meatloaf bat out of hell.

and tell your husband that you love him and reasure yourself that you are alive and well try to stay positive and remember thier are people out thier that care even totall strangers no matter where you are in the world

take care petram

12

Hi Lucy, if your finding it difficult to talk to your husband then may be write it down for him to read? 

Your obviousky not very well Lucy, are these voices your own voice or someone else? I'm not sure what is the best advise for you really other than to seal help as soon as you get home, I can only think about answering back to the nasty voice.

Neil 

13

He's seen the cutting. He made me go to a walk in clinic last night to be stitched up. It's just made him angry with me.

14

He's so angry with me about the cutting, I'm not sure he can take this too.

The voices aren't my own. I thought the angry one was the baby I lost but I'm not sure now. She says her name is Rachel.

15

Hi Lucy, I think you need to get home and go see your GP asap, hearing other people's voices and saying who she is is an auditory hallucination a symptom of schizophrenia.

If you can manage another 9 days before you get home then great but I would advise you to be careful not to allow them to make you do things. Your husband needs to know if things get worse. 

Remember these voices are not real your illness is producing them so you can ignore them or tell the nasty one that your not going to listen and that your not going to do anything the voice tells you to do.

Get help ASAP. Neil 

16

I'm very sorry your going through this I've been there and won it. It will take some time but you can do it. This is an explanation you won't find anywhere else.... Anyhow.....

You are ok. You are safe. Everyone you know is the same and you are all fine.

The voices are 'scathers'. They are spirits that simply scathe you. It is a challenge to your life. You'll either learn through it and come out a better wider minded person...... or you'll end up on meds (that can work if your lucky to get the right combo, if your not you'll continue to struggle). I personally don't know anyone on meds that is ok, I'm just guessing it happens or why would they do it?.

Important thing to remember ; don't listen to anything the voices say, they are always playing on you.

Playing with your emotions and your mind. Trying to build you up or break you down is a game to them. Meanwhile your physical body will learn these extreme high and low patterns of behavior and your body and mind will start to habituate the behavior. You don't want that. You must block them out and centre yourself. Breathe, turn your thoughts to peace. If you pray call on God.

You are safe. They cannot touch you, they can only make you believe you are not safe. You must not believe them.

To be honest you can't even believe your own thoughts at this time.

Your senses can be heightened sometimes with these psychic and spiritual attacks. Your brain can automatically piece together every fragment of information around you; every sound, every visual sense, every smell, every physical and nervous feeling you have. Now since your brain is vulnerable at the moment the connections it makes can easily get twisted and make you think the most irrational things are completely logical.

Try your best to be calm, never jump or react to these impulses instead try to communicate everything with your husband. Time will be of essence for you. Your sense of time is probably way off, going faster than the rest of us.

Actively relax, actively don't think, actively enjoy the sun, or your meal or your drink. Whatever your doing you must focus and actively enjoy those things. Scathers will try their best to deter you. But you can ignore them, you know how to block noisy kids out? Same thing here, block them out and concentrate. They will try to make you fight with them but don't get pulled into their game. Concentrate on your life in front of you, get stronger, enjoy life around you with the people who love you.

The voices will try to trick you too, make you believe people are saying things. You can always ask those around you "did you say something?" for confirmation but more than likely the voices replicate people around you. Don't doubt the people who have always been around you they are the same. You are not. You are being attacked but you can win.

The voices will get quieter over time. You will only hear them if you allow them your hearing, you can actually mentally shoot a word and they'll say it and get so angry that you were able to control them.

You don't have to believe what I'm saying. I'm only saying from experience. And I'm the only one I know who's actually come out of an attack. I'm perfectly fine. I'm a better person actually much wiser

HAVE FAITH that good always triumphs and you will be fine.

People need to understand these voices are 24/7 shouting at you, it's hard to sleep, you never get quiet, you never get stillness. I would bathe and blow bubbles underwater just to not hear them. Ohh you can't hear them if your full drunk 😂 only time you'll actually be able to fall asleep without someone shouting at you. No one can possibly understand how hard it is to get a hold of yourself when your constantly being shouted at. I hope you don't have it as bad as I did. Detoxing can help your body back into a better balance. All fresh fruit and veges, plenty of water, right amount of salts and good fats. Get in a healthy routine from morning and follow it everyday. Wake, wash, breakfast, walk, hobbies, family time, work. Whatever you do make sure your busy.... Busy busy busy. When your busy and active that's where your mind is instead of wasting it hearing them. Good luck. God bless.

17

Ohh I should maybe have read more of of the comments etc before I replied. Sorry. Please don't self harm. They go quiet because they don't actually want that. They know you very well and I'm sure they generally think that pushing you can make u stronger. They aren't evil but they aren't good either. You can block them out like annoying little kids playing games on you. They're naughty. You can try wear Obsidian, sage cleanse Google smudging. Go stand in a river up to your ankles throw in a silver coin and ask God for healing. That really works.

18

I presume that his anger is really frustration at not knowing how to handle the situation and to be honest he will be worried about you and not really know how to cope.  It sounds like you could both do with some counselling so that he can understand your illness and have some help in coping too.  It can be very hard on both of you but you both need to find a way to unite and go forward.  Stay strong and also try to talk as much as you can.  If it starts to get heated then have a break then try again.  You both need some help with this and I do advise when you are back to go and see your GP to get the help you need.

19

Fantastic advice, well said

20

Hi Lucy my husband used to get angry and snappy with me. I made him come to the doctors with me. When we got back home I shared my feelings literally told him everything that I loved him so much and wouldn't be going anywhere. He certainly can see now when I'm not right and will just ask me what's bothering me so most of the time I just tell him.