Hearing voices

This content discusses trauma, depression and substance abuse or addiction (which may include mentions of alcohol or drug use), which some people may find triggering.

Summary

What’s it like to hear voices?
Why do people hear voices?
Getting support
Ways you can look after yourself

While hearing voices can be a symptom of some mental health problems, not everyone who hears voices has a mental illness. Hearing voices is actually quite a common experience: around one in ten of us will experience it at some point in our lives.

Hearing voices is sometimes called an ‘auditory hallucination’. Some people have other hallucinations, such as seeing, smelling, tasting or feeling things that don’t exist outside their mind. Whatever your experience, you’re not alone.

What’s it like to hear voices?

Everyone’s experience of hearing voices is different. The voices can vary in how often you hear them, what they sound like, what they say, and whether they’re familiar or unfamiliar.

Sometimes hearing voices can be upsetting or distressing. They may say hurtful or frightening things. However, some people's voices may be neutral or more positive. You may feel differently about your voices at different times in your life.

Why do people hear voices?

It’s common to think that hearing voices must be a sign of a mental health condition, but many people who are not mentally unwell hear voices.

People may hear voices because of:

traumatic life experiences, which may be linked to post-traumatic stress disorder
stress or worry
lack of sleep
extreme hunger
taking recreational drugs, or as a side-effect of prescribed drugs
mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or severe depression

Getting support

If you hear voices, talk to your GP. They will usually check for any physical reasons you could be hearing voices before diagnosing you with a mental health condition or referring you to a psychiatrist.

If your voices are the result of a mental health condition, you may be offered:

talking therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT can help you learn what triggers your voices and how to manage them. It can also help you stand up to them if they’re critical or negative
medication, most likely an antipsychotic drug. This may stop the voices, make them quieter or make you feel less concerned about them. You may only need medication for a short time while you learn other techniques to manage the voices

You may also be offered family intervention (where support is provided to both you and your family), art or creative therapy, or therapy for experiences of trauma.

Rethink has more information about the treatment you may be offered.

Ways you can look after yourself

Sometimes, voices are a problem because of your relationship with them. Changing your relationship can make you feel differently about them.

Understanding your voices

Understanding how your voices relate to your life may help you to manage their voices.

This could include keeping a diary of your voices. You could note what they say, how they make you feel and how you manage them. This may help you to notice patterns of what makes you feel bad, what makes you feel good, or what triggers your voices.

Taking control

Some people find that standing up to the voices, choosing when to pay attention to them and when to ignore them, and focusing on more positive voices can help them feel more in control. Talking therapy can help you with this, as it can be difficult on your own.

Keeping busy

Keeping busy can distract you from the voices, help you express yourself, feel more relaxed, and allow you to meet new people. You could try listening to music or audiobooks, keeping up with hobbies or doing something creative such as writing or painting.

Sharing your experiences

There can be a stigma around hearing voices, making it hard to talk about them, even to friends or family. Peer support groups can provide a non-judgemental space where you can feel heard, accepted and less alone. Some groups are in person, such as the ones listed on the Hearing Voices Network website. Others are online, such as the Intervoice forum, Voice Collective forum and Mind’s Side by Side community.

Looking after yourself

Though it can be difficult, looking after and being kind to yourself is important. This can include things like eating a healthy diet, finding ways to stay physically active, managing stress or spending time outdoors. It may help to set goals around these activities and to reward yourself for working towards them.

Further information and resources

Educational Voice Hearing Network aims to improve understanding of what it’s like for people who hear voices. They have a guide for employers who want to support people who hear voices in the workplace.
Hearing Voices Network provides information and support for people who hear voices and have other unusual sensory experiences.
Intervoice is an international network for people who hear voices. They have information on living with voices and offer workshops and events.
Mind has more information about living with voices, including personal stories from people who hear voices.
Understanding Voices has information on different approaches to hearing voices and ways to manage distressing voices.
Voice Collective supports children and young people who hear voices, see visions, or have other unusual sensory experiences or beliefs.