HALLUCINATION
Hallucination is a Latin word that means “to wander mentally”. In layman’s terms,
hallucinations are somethings that a person sees or experiences that is not present
in reality. Hallucinations are defined as the “perception of non-existent object or
event”. Hallucinations can occur in people with psychiatric conditions such as
schizophrenia, a nervous system problem like Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, or
another. However, it is not necessary to have a mental illness to experience
hallucinations. Hallucination involves hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling, or even
having the taste of something which is not there in the reality.
HALLUCINATION
Hallucination is a Latin word that means “to wander mentally”. In layman’s terms, hallucinations are somethings that a person sees or experiences that is not present in reality. Hallucinations are defined as the “perception of non-existent object or event”. Hallucinations can occur in people with psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, a nervous system problem like Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, or another. However, it is not necessary to have a mental illness to experience hallucinations. Hallucination involves hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling, or even having the taste of something which is not there in the reality.
Types of Hallucination
Scientists have identified 5 different kinds of hallucinations that can exist. The following are some of the common types of hallucinations:
Auditory:
This is one of the common types of hallucination where patients may tend to hear voices or sound that no other person hears.
1. Visual
Visual Hallucination is a common type of hallucination in which patients happen to see people, colors, items, shapes that are not real but perceive them to be real.
2. Tactile:
Tactile Hallucination is where a person may feel some sensation in their body. For example, they may feel bugs crawling under their skin or have a sensation of getting touched by someone when in reality they were not.
3. Olfactory:
The word olfactory means “connected with the sense of smell”. Some people hallucinate about smelling something that has no real source. This is a relatively less common type of hallucination as compared to visual and auditory hallucinations.
4. Gustatory:
Gustatory means tasting or having the sense of taste. Gustatory is a rare type of hallucination where a person may experience a taste in their mouth that has no initial source.
Sign And Symptoms Of Dementia
- Loss of memory, always being confused, being judgmental
- Facing a hard time in expressing their feelings and emotions, difficulty in talking and understanding speech, difficulty in reading or writing Roaming here and there and not remembering the place where they live
- Carelessness in handling responsibility, repetitively asking the same question
- Showing impulsive behavior, uninterested in what others feel
- Imbalanced and improper movement of their body Hallucinating, experiencing paranoia, delusions, or paranoia Losing interest in daily activity or any event or happy functions
- Using unfamiliar terms to refer to an object
Common Causes of Hallucination
Hallucinations occur in people having Bipolar I Disorder with mania and depression problems. In the case of Bipolar II, hallucination occurs in the depressive phase. Patients suffering from bipolar disorder may experience hallucinations or delusions and are at the risk of getting diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychotic features.
2. Auditory Nerve Disease
3. Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
4. Epilepsy
5. Glaucoma
6. Hallucinogen Use
7. Metabolic Conditions
8. Migraine
9. Narcolepsy
10. Neurologic Disorders
11. Sleep Issues
12. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
13. Stroke
Depending upon a person’s situation and severity of their disease, the right treatment plan is suggested. Doctors first diagnose the kind and type of hallucination the patient is undergoing. They will also check for the underlying cause, health issues. Accordingly, the doctor will recommend the right treatments that would suit the patient and accordingly, prescribe the right type of medication, psychotherapy, or social support therapy.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy helps patients recover from hallucination symptoms. This type pf therapy allows patients to understand the symptoms, provide psycho-education, and help in exploring the reasons why a person experiences hallucination.
Self-Help
Patients can overcome hallucinations by using some self-help techniques. The following are some of the effective techniques.
2. Humming or Singing Songs several times (like a favourite song or tune)
3. Learn to ignore voices
4. Listening to good music
5. Talking with others 6. Reading (forward and backward)
Antipsychotic medication is highly recommended medication that can treat hallucinations. Antipsychotic medication treats hallucinations by either eliminating the symptoms or eliminating the frequency with which they occur or by giving the patients calming effect that reduces distress.
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive procedure that involves a small magnetic device that is placed on the skull of the patient. It helps in reducing the frequency and severity of auditory hallucinations in some people with schizophrenia.
Some other Practical Solutions
If a patient suffers from hallucinations, they can be helped by using practical solutions. Following are some of the practical ways that can help patients cope with hallucinations.
Stay Calm and Cool
We understand how terrifying and devastating it is to see a person experiencing a hallucination. The best way to respond is by being calm and supportive. Try to comfort the person by reassuring them you are there for them.
Use Some Distraction
One way to help a patient is by supporting them. Whenever you find a person struggling with hallucinations, gently pat them and try to calm them down. Try to be a distraction to their prevailing hallucinations. Other ways of distracting a patient experiencing hallucinations are by engaging them in conversation, music, or taking them to another room/atmosphere.
Give Honest Opinion
When a patient is struggling with hallucinations, they are experiencing something that you might not be feeling or understand. Try to be sympathetic and assure them that you are not dismissive of their concerns. If they ask whether you are experiencing the same hallucination, say that “I know you must have heard or seen something, but I didn’t feel or saw anything.”
CONCLUSION:
Hallucination is one of the common mental illnesses that need special professional attention. Visit Dr. Agahi’s clinic to help understand the severity of hallucinations and get the best treatment tailored for the patient’s situation. Dr. Agahi is a leading psychiatrist with 6+ years of history of treating people with mental illnesses. Help a friend, family, or relative by referring them to Dr. Agahi for highly customized treatment plans.