HELP!
A few months ago, I started hearing voices in my head before I drift off to sleep. There are two, a man and woman. They don't say anything in particular, mainly either laughing or saying "HEY!" or stuff like that. It only happens to me once a month.
I called my doctor about it yesterday. I've never told anyone because I don't want to be considered "crazy".
I've struggled with depression my whole life, and started having panic attacks about 3 years ago. I'm considered to have dysthemia and panic disorder.
I think I may be bipolar though. My doctor thinks so too, and I have an appt. with him next week.

HELP me!!!! What's going on?? I don't have "manic" episodes, just a lot of fluctuation in my moods. From happy, to sad, to cranky, everyday.

The manic episodes of bipolarity can be associated with auditory hallucinations, i myself 'hear voices'.

I have no specific diagnosis but i started with deep clinical depression that mutated into the addition of extremely high anxiety and panic attacks. Along with that combination came the voices.

Generally, auditory hallucinations are distressing, and are treated with an anti-psychotic medication.

Bipolar disorder is associated with psychotic episodes or tendancies during a period of 'mania'. 'Mania' does not always imply a mood swing but racing thoughts or pictures. It is also common for reported major mood swings in bipolar depression, especially irritability.

I am not overly irritable, but i do have racing thoughts that only anti-psychotics can slow down, and i tell you, it's sweet relief.......

I also hear voices. I have for the last there years. I'm Bipolar, Very High Anxiety,(GAD) I take Depakote, Risperidone Clonazaepam Buspirone I hear only one voice about three time per week on an average. My Pdoc says he thinks it is coming from all the anxiety that I have. I just thought I'd put my two cents worth in and let you know your not alone. There are many out there with the same problem so I here from the pdoc. Hang in there keep the channels open with your Pdoc I'm sure he or she will be able to help you. Good luck and keep us updated.
Jabberjaws

I don't want to rule out that you have bipolar, but have you been taking any sleep medications. There is a class of medications that are hypnotic drugs and can cause all types of hallucinations (auditory or visual) when it kicks in. Drugs like Ambien and Lunesta are among those in this class. If this happens when you're lying in bed at night and doesn't happen regularly, maybe you should ask your doctor about this possibility as well. Good luck.

I used to hear voices every night when I laid to for bed. Night time became the scariest thing in the world for me. I hated my bedroom - day or night. Every horrible thing that had ever happened in my lifetime these voices would tell me about them over and over again. I would yell my name in my head only to have the same voice start in on another nightmare from years ago. I starting sleeping on the couch with the TV on and it helped tremendously. Since then my pdoc has me taking 1mg Xanax and 10mg Ambien before bed. I fall asleep in minutes. I'm not sure if the voices are really gone, or if the medication just drowns them out.

Best Wishes,
Lost

Wembley-no, I don't take any sleeping medications... It seems to happen to me if I'm overly tired, I've noticed...

Lost, I'm so sorry you go through that :( The first time I had a major panic attack was while I was sleeping. I woke up SO SCARED like something evil was coming for me, my heart was pounding, etc. For months, I had to sleep downstairs on the couch with the TV on, too. (Until I finally went to the doctor) I would absolutely DREAD nighttime coming. What a horrible feeling that is, isn't it?

For me I hear the voices almost anytime of the day. Normally not at bed time. At times the voices are very self distructive, and other time all I hear is it calling out my name...It sounds so real that it makes me turn around and look at who is calling out my name....weird. I was very scared at first when it started but now i'm more startled like some tapping you on the shoulder when your back is turned. Anyone else like that?
Jabberjaws

Yes it is!!! The Ambien and Xanax have helped tremendously. I don't have time to hear anything. My husband also bought a dual heating blanket (I'm always cold, he's always hot). I turn it on about 30 min before I go to bed so "cold shock" doesn't wake me up from the sheets. I also have a thunderstorm CD I listen to for the few minutes I am awake.

I was diagnosed with Bipolar II three weeks ago. My therapist told me at the end of my session. I didn't tell my pdoc about it and they really don't communicate. I go back to the therapist Saturday and am going to talk to him further before having to add or change medications.

Do you take a sleep aid? Or are you still having problems sleeping which is making you exhausted during the day? I know the feeling of FINALLY deciding to lay on the couch, turning the TV on, etc. By the time you fall asleep you get three hours sleep before you have to get up and get the kids ready for school and yourself ready for work.

Warmest Wishes,
Lost

No, I don't anymore, but when I first started having the panic attacks, I would take Tylenol PM to at least take the edge off. When I went to the dr he put me on Lexapro. On the Lexapro, I had trouble sleeping...I would lay there for hours, not sure why the heck I didn't take at least a Tylenol PM. lol As soon as I started Paxil, I was able to sleep better. But it's making me tired even during the day and it's not helping me with my anxiety. :( I am sooo afraid of having something that is treatment resistant. (Another example of my GAD issues...I worry about everything. Ha!) The Xanax helps me, if I take it every 4-6 hours. Then I can feel somewhat normal, but it makes me drowsy. Oh, one thing I've noticed, when I take the Xanax and drink coffee, it makes me ever more anxious! Darn. I looove my coffee.

I did the same thing!!! I would take 3 or 4 Tylenol PMs a night or a would take Unisom. It all stopped working as my body adusted to it.

I worry about everything too. I think its normal everyday things but I can't handle the stress and start panicking. Then I get angry at myself for not being normal like everyone else and being able to handle the stresses of everyday life. It's like I can feel my self skipping a breath.

How long have you been on the Paxil? Have you considered taking it at night? When is your next appt?

Warmest Wishes,
Lost

D*** that happens to me sometime before sleeping, usually only when I am depressed thou. Mabey due to all the drugs!

I here ya on its hard to talk about it. There is many types of depression. Psychotic, Melancholia, atypical, catatonic, and some cause irritation. There are other things like BPD. There is Bipolar and its varients.

Just be straight with your Dr. Hold nothing back! Right things down you want to talk about.

Hope you get better

This is really strange. I've been hearing these voices for as long as I can remember but thought that it was normal (???). Who knows why. I guess I thought it was kind of like talking to myself in my head... The voices I hear are a bunch of people all saying random strange things. Kind of like walking through a shopping mall or something. Sometimes at night I can also hear birds chirping and screeching-- like I'm in a forest or jungle. Anyway... the reason this topic is so strange to me is because I have major insomnia issues. BUT, about a month ago I realized that if I focus on the voices (still all just random weird stuff) when I go to bed, it actually helps me get to sleep. I think it may be that focusing on them keeps me from thinking about all of the negative, anxiety producing, garbage.

Are these voices you guys are hearing saying bad or freaky stuff? Mine aren't freaky so maybe it's thinking of them in a positive way that makes it different.

I only hear voices at night, and almost every time it is in my room. There was only one time I hallucinated outside of my room. It was when I was driving down the road, I saw a man who definitely did not exist. Anymore though I usually only hear people, not see them. I used to have both though. There has been only one time it was a woman also. I can never understand what they say except when they call out my name occassionally. You are not crazy by any means. You can't help what's going on. I am schizo effective, and maybe you are too. You just don't know til you find out.

Well, I spoke to my doctor, and he said as long as they only happen before I go to bed and they aren't telling me to do anything, it doesn't really concern him. I read somewhere that if you're overly tired, your brain starts kind of "dreaming" before you actually drift off.

I have had these voices since childhood. Mostly in the morning, sometimes they actually wake me up. More frequently when I don't get enough sleep. I used to think everyone got them. (and they do if deprived of sleep for long enough.)

When I was young it was always my father's voice. I would hear him call my name and wake up only to find he had already left for work. Since it couldn't be Dad who was calling me, I just assumed it was God. Could never figure out what he wanted though. Now it's usually my daughter's voice. I think it's whoever I love the most.

I read on another forum about someone who woke to the sounds of applause. Now that sounds like fun.

for more info Google:
"hypnagogic hallucinations"
or
"hypnopompic hallucinations"

A related, but much less fun problem is the "Old Hag Syndrome"
or by it's medical name: "Sleep paralysis"

This post has been edited by KJF: May 1 2008, 07:32 PM

That doesn't surprise, because some people hear voice when they have stress and they don't have any symptoms of mental disorders.

I too hear voices that tell me that everyone is dirty and disgusting. I have been hearing them for years and feel that sometimes everyone thinks I am crazy. The people who think you're crazy aren't worth your time. It's hard living like this and I feel bad that anyone has to go through this. I have extreme panic attacks and anxiety as well and I have a hard time connecting with others. I sometimes feel not human and forget that people feel the same feeling that I do. I don;t know if this was helpful for you but there are other people who hear voices. - M

i too have had panic, and hear voices. Please reply - i'd love to chat to learn more!

Hi and Welcome rightmind

Please feel free to join in the New friends thread or even start your own topic. Great to have you here.

Trace

that sounds a lot like me! like, when i feel tired - they come on.

Hi

I take 20mg of flouroxetine a day and although I dont hear voices I do hear phones ringing! Always happens when there is other back ground noise and never when it is quiet. If I concentrate on the sound I can normally work out that it is not there - never actally answered a non-ringing phone yet!

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

Severe anxiety and depression can also give rise to voices. I hear voices now and again.
But for me it's slightly different as usually it's my split off traumatised self's voice. I know that now.

I had the same problem with hearing the phone ring. It was usually in the morning for some reason. My doctor gave me risperdal and it stopped, but I'm still hearing random noises, but not voices

Those hallucinations are NORMAL! It happens when you´re in sleep paralysis (body falls asleep, mind is still awake). When your mind drifts off into a dream before your body is really asleep you can experience hypnopompic hallucinations (imagery and sounds).

No one who experience this is "crazy". some people feel this every night before falling asleep.