How to Know If You Are Hearing Voices

Hearing someone calling your name only to turn around and find no one there can be frightening for anyone. Hearing voices, also known as auditory hallucinations, can be very difficult, as they often sound a lot like the voices we hear in our everyday life. It can be so difficult, in fact, that many people find it hard to distinguish the difference from reality and fantasy. This can often lead to a feeling of helplessness and madness.

Instructions

• 1

  Consider your surroundings. This is often the easiest way to tell if you're hearing voices. If you're walking down the street and you hear someone call your name, only to turn around and see no one there, this can be a sign of an auditory hallucinations. If this happens often when you're alone, you may be hearing fake voices.

• 2

  Consider how you're feeling after you hear the voice. Many people who suffer from auditory hallucinations report that the voice they hear often scares them and makes them feel like they're not safe. It's not that the tone of voice is frightening, or even that the voice says anything threatening. Just the fact that you're hearing a voice is what makes the hallucination so scary.

• 3

  Consider how stressed or anxious you're feeling. When on the verge of an anxiety breakdown it's not uncommon to hear fake sounds. These sounds can be anything from music or beeping to more detailed noises, such as voices talking to you when no one is around. If you experience these voices only when stressed, it may be a sign that they're fake.

• 4

  Consider the tone of voice you're hearing. Often when hearing a fake voice it will have a distinct and recognizable feature, such as being deep or growling. It may even take on the sound of other objects, such as a fans whirling blades or a waves crashing sound. If the voice sounds like something inhuman, it's likely that you're hearing things.