Thread: Going insane?

Didn't know were to post this so i'm posting it here.

These last months i have been seeing weird hallucinations(i have not been using any form of drugs accept the occational alcohol), i have for instance seen a shadow forming into Bob Dylan(i have hardly even heard songs by him), seen walls and floors moving around like waves, seen a bird fly through a room and rain pouring down inside a room.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Have you been thinking clearly or have you noticed that you get confused easily when trying to have a line of thought? Have you been under any stress lately and if so, is that when the hallucinations occur? Also how old are you and do you have a family history of any mental illness? Have you had any past drug use that consisted of having a very traumatic experience? You can answer here or just PM me if you prefer.

Originally posted by Merck
Have you been thinking clearly or have you noticed that you get confused easily when trying to have a line of thought? *Have you been under any stress lately and if so, is that when the hallucinations occur? *Also how old are you and do you have a family history of any mental illness? *Have you had any past drug use that consisted of having a very traumatic experience? *You can answer here or just PM me if you prefer.

I usually don't get confused "trying to have a line of thought" and these hallucinations usually occurs in everyday life, not when i'm especially stressed out(i'm a pretty relaxed person).

My age is 18 and my family history of mental illnesses is that my dad's grandma had some sort of dementia(she couldn't remember things for more than seconds).

I have never really experinced anything really traumatic and especially nothing that happened because of drug use.

Hmm...I'm not sure what it could be (though I'm not a psychiatrist), you should definitely seek a professional's opinon. They can run some tests to try and get to the root of the problem. Its strange that you are having these hallucinations but its not affecting you mentally or emotionally from what it seems. Maybe if O'nus, one of our members who is a psychology major sees this thread he can possibly help you out more, but yea seeing a professional would be a good start. Schizophrenia usually starts to manifest itself around your age but don't scare yourself thinking that's what it is. It could be something totally different seeing as I am not a professional. Hopefully it won't be anything serious.

Hi Merck:

This is an interesting post. However, in order to better understand the situation, I'd like to ask you a few questions:

How do you feel when these hallucinations occur?
Do you notice any physical disturbances? Headache? Stinging in the back of the head?
How do you feel about your family? Your general life right now?

Henfe is right that the symptons you are describing are potentially serious. There is one thing to remember though and that is that the foundational factor to some of the most serious mental problems is a low self-esteem and self-awareness. If you are able to focus on yourself and truly evaluate what's going on in your life and realize, "These problems arn't nearly as bad as I make them." then you should be fine.

I like to say that, "Consider if 90% of the problems you encounter in your life are mere illusions and exist only in your mind."

The fact that they are hallucinations immediately says that they are internal. Thus, you may be suffering a chemical imbalance in your bain (or perhaps a significant change in diet). Or, you have recently went through a significant change in life.

I would prefer to speak to you on a more individual basis on this subject. If you would contact me through whichever medium most convenient to you, I would be glad to talk to you further.

~

I would say that my life is pretty stable.

When I look at my life to see what could be causing these hallucinations I really can't come up with a reason for why they appear. There hasn't really happened anything special since they started(I think it started sometime in december last year).

I really don't think there's something wrong mith my self-esteem or self-awareness.
Don't think that's the problem.

I must admit that I have actually found these hallucinations quite fun(it's rather fun seeing a computer screen starting to boil). It's fun and scary(I don't know if it'll go worse) at the same time

Is insanity heading my way?

I'd like to add something to this:

If they are fun, don't worry! Worry causes problems. If they start interfering with your life and make it difficult to communicate or function properly otherwise, then seek some help, but don't go to anyone who wants to put you on "medication". Personally I don't trust doctors any more than drug dealers.

I wish I could have a gift like yours. My "hallucinations" are mostly audible ones.

Here's something which might explain some stuff to you http://www.newsforthesoul.com/icke-may9-2005.htm

Explains a lot of the "paranormal" in simple scientific terms, and might help you understand what's happening. Somewhere in the last third of the program he talks about background "chatter" from the collective subconscious. If you can pick up this chatter, and it does not interfere with anything, more power to you. I want to be insane too!

My hallucinations haven't really been messing up my life so I don't feel so eager to go to some doctor telling me to take some damn pill and the next day i'm walking around like a zombie liking Phil Collins.

By the way, i'm currently using a computer without speakers so I can't listen to the 'News for the soul'.

Good call on the doctor thing. And too bad you can't hear the thing...Here's something which might help though: http://twm.co.nz/hologram.html Basic description of the Universe as a holographic projection of the mind, same deal

Have you been stressed lately? Have you been getting enough sleep? Perhaps these hallucinations have been occuring due to fatigue or exhaustion....?

Personally I would go to a doctor. If they don't cause any problems and you say you dont want to take any pills the doctor won't give you any. Unless its something that leads into something worse, in which case he could tell you and treat it.

Clearly its not normal, which is reason enough to go to a doctor. For all you know you could have brain caner, and because your waiting around it could spread and become incurable. Then the next thing you know your dead because you didn't want to see a doctor.

I don't mean to sound harsh but seriously go to the doctors if you don't want to die. Its not like we are talking about a funny rash or something. Your seeing things!

Originally posted by Gwendolyn+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Gwendolyn)</div>

Have you been stressed lately? Have you been getting enough sleep? Perhaps these hallucinations have been occuring due to fatigue or exhaustion....?[/b]

I have been pretty relaxed ever since I started getting them so I don't think it's that.

<!--QuoteBegin-Alric
Personally I would go to a doctor. If they don't cause any problems and you say you dont want to take any pills the doctor won't give you any. Unless its something that leads into something worse, in which case he could tell you and treat it.

Clearly its not normal, which is reason enough to go to a doctor. For all you know you could have brain caner, and because your waiting around it could spread and become incurable. Then the next thing you know your dead because you didn't want to see a doctor.

I don't mean to sound harsh but seriously go to the doctors if you don't want to die. Its not like we are talking about a funny rash or something. Your seeing things!

How fast does brain cancer grow? Anybody? You're starting to scare me btw.

Originally posted by Awaken
Here's something which might help though: http://twm.co.nz/hologram.html Basic description of the Universe as a holographic projection of the mind, same deal

I've read about this before in a swedish science magazine but that was only like two pages. Damn interesting.

It doesn't matter. If its in the brain an inch might be all it takes. Now if your not having any other problems it might not be brain cancer, but then again it might just be the first step in it. Cancer is normally a lot easier to deal with when caught right away.

I am not trying to scare you, I just want you to take this seriously. Its not funny or "cool" to just randomly start seeing thing. If you don't have insurance or anything I am sure you can call around and find some place who will give you a check up for free when you tell them that your seeing things.

Worst case, you waste a few hours and the doctor tells you, your fine and have nothing to worry about and you can sleep peacefully at night. Best case, you can prevent yourself from going "insane" or dieing. Isn't it worth it?

Well I dont think you're insane. Just keep anything halcunegenic in check. Make sure you know the difference at all times between reality and hypnosis. because that is boundary and difference between sound thinking and errornous thinking. A fine line really.

Talbots book is good btw, though some of the scientific facts presented in it are somewhat obsolete.

lb

Go see a psychologist. There's nothing shameful about it at ALL, and even healthy people go see them, so it's not like you're admitting that you're insane by going to see one. Whatever you do, you have to tell someone, dispite how insanely hard it probably is (hell, I don't think I could manage to tell something like that to my parents myself!)

Either way, you can't leave this problem alone, you need to get a pro to take a look at you.

I'll go se a shrink if my halllucinations start interfering with my life, as long as I find them interesting I see no reason to go se a psychologist.

I defintely think seeing a doctor or psychologist - someone who can at least tell you what's going on is a good idea. Not only is it a good idea, it could save your life. While it could just be a small thing, you are seeing things. That's not normal behaviour. Something is obviously wrong with you. Although you're not really insane.

That's just what I'd do if I were seeing things. They may be intresting but well, they're not supposed to happen.

Originally posted by Henfe
I'll go se a shrink if my halllucinations start interfering with my life, as long as I find them interesting I see no reason to go se a psychologist.

Because there's no telling if it might get worse. Ignoring the problem (and if you are hallucinating, you DO have a problem) will only get it worse.

Well mental disorders usually manifest at the height of addolecence.... so.... seeing a professional might be a smart option. Just in case...

edit: that ld animation in your sig rocks!

You can't be that lazy. You would rather go insane or die than go to see a doctor?

Sleep you not sleeping person!

Psychologists are good people to see. I am studying to become one now.

I'd see a pshrink and if he tells you it probably won't develop into anything I wouldn't do anything about it, alot of people take hard drugs to get those kind of effects, and you're getting them for free.

There is potential for this to develop into something more serious and so I would definitely see a professional, but if he says all it's going to be is hallucinations occasionally I wouldn't spend a ton of money to get rid of them(if you live in sweden you'll just be spending other people's money). From what you have said it doesn't sound like it was brought on by a mental/emotional event, so it could be a physical one and that could be dangerous, or it could be something completely benign, either way go see what's going on in that head of yours.

Originally posted by Alric
You can't be that lazy. You would rather go insane or die than go to see a doctor?

Die?? I just don't have much confidence in doctors.