Do You Experience Hallucinations That Appear Unrelated To Your Trauma?

[Kathy]

My niece has recently begun experiencing visual and auditory hallucinations which do not appear to be connected to her trauma. She has experienced sights and sounds in the form of flashbacks to her father shooting her, but these recent experiences are dramatically different. For example, she will see strange animals, hear pleasant voices, and so on. Quite unlike the frightening yet familiar experiences she has with a flashback. My husband and I are attempting to sort through it all, and are curious of the experiences of others here. I understand it may be a topic others are loathe to discuss in public, hence this poll. I will beg your pardon if the term "hallucinations" seems slightly offensive, but I am attempting to distinguish between trauma flashbacks and hallucinations which may have other causes. Thank you to all who participate.

[Shinigami_Shimai]

*raises hand slightly* My parents have sent me to many therapists because I tended to see things that were not there... I rarely talk about it anymore because most people look at me funny and I just pretend it is all part some story I'm working on... I used to think that I had one foot in a dream world and learned to not talk about what I saw or they would think I was even more crazy then before. Alot of that slowed down as I got older, but I still remember some of the strangeness from when I was younger and it makes me feel confused and even more insane then before. So I stick with the notion that this is just part of being a writer/artist and try to cope as best that I can and keep things to my stories so I don't ended up locked away for the third time in my life...

The one thing that makes me feel better is the fact that I got my newest psycho doctor to admit that there is no way he can prove that what I'm seeing is not really there. I'm not sure why I consider this a victory, but my doc has taken an extreme interest in my novel about just this subject and it worries me alittle...

jaa ne

Kat

[kers]

I've only had olfactory (smell) hallucinations, but they aren't all trauma-related.

[batgirl]

Well I'm the reason my aunt started this poll but I voted anyhow. I've had hallucinations as part of flashbacks, and as my aunt mentioned, bizarre ones lately. Hearing things mostly, voices and other noises. I also see things, strange people or animals. Or see objects which others see, but with odd colours. Like a bird might look green to me when everyone else says it's yellow. Weird stuff like that. I have strange sensations on my skin sometimes too. Occasionally I feel like someone is grabbing me. I've smelled blood and urine, but that is connected to my trauma.

[becvan]

Yep. I have some strange ones. I get the nightly "bug" ones, where I can feel bugs crawling all over me. I have to get up and check myself and my bed a ton of times before it goes away and I can get to sleep. I have no idea why I get this and it's very irritating! I also get weird burning smells (and no idea where that came from either.) Most of the rest of it is trauma related that I can identify.

fun fun.

bec

Oh, I wanted to add that I have had full-blown ones where I've seen a threatening male in my room, or someone trying to get in my house. Although trauma related, in a way, they are never a specific person. And it's always worse and frequent when under more stress than usual.

[Kathy]

Well I must say I am very grateful for the responses thus far, thank you. It seems there are a few of you with these strange experiences. I feel for you all, however it is encouraging to see Evie is not alone in this.

[Jim]

Find it interesting that several people chose option 2. Certainly not what the wife and myself were were expecting. Thank you for voting.

Jim.

[batgirl]

I think it's interesting that no one has voted for the first option yet! Maybe I'm not as weird as I thought. Here's hoping...

[Shinigami_Shimai]

I think it's interesting that no one has voted for the first option yet! Maybe I'm not as weird as I thought. Here's hoping...

You know I've never considered being weird as a bad thing... then maybe that is me and sometimes I smile and say, "I'm insane" without really caring.

But I know what you mean, seeing that there are a few others out there that see things other then things related to our trauma does make me feel alittle better about myself. I'll still not openly talk about some of those things I see for fear of what people would think, but I know seeing things is just a part of being who I am and I would not change that for anything, maybe lessen a few of the PSTD symtoms but not change anything.

Well, jaa ne

Kat

[batgirl]

Yes in some ways weird is good. Weird is what makes me a good artist. I should embrace the weirdness a bit more I guess. :)

[anthony]

Evie, its simply not how PTSD works, hence why you will see very little of choice one selected. Yes, you have to account for where people lay within their PTSD journey though, ie. got PTSD and got help immediately, so someone may only get trauma related hallucinations, which is generally viewed under flashbacks, and flashbacks "are not" restricted to trauma alone, but can include anything the mind see's fit to strike upon oneself.

The longer a person has had PTSD untreated, the chances are quite high they would have endured hallucinations of various kinds, though simply do not admit too it suspecting they could be locked up and the key thrown away. People still just don't get how much stress plays upon our mind...

For those that forgot where it is, must read http://www.ptsdforum.org/thread253.html which I now made sticky in the PTSD news forum for ease of finding as its a popular thread. PTSD is extreme stress, and when you read, learn and understand that thread, you will understand the issues and dysfunctions associated to ourselves that stress is the major attributable factor. It lowers our immune system, it shuts us down, it burns us out, it makes us see things that don't actually exist, it gives heart attacks, liver and kidney failure, and the list goes on and on. PTSD is the extreme end of any stress related action basically speaking. Your mind and body is under extreme stress when uncontrolled, high stress when your moderating your life, and a little above what would be classed as normal stress when managed.

[veiled]

I have gotten some off the wall shit that I chalked up to lack of sleep aside from "flash backs". You would be amazed what you can see, feel, and hear when worn out. Once I saw a huge Oak tree spring up in the middle of the hi-way, I pulled over to nap. That was when I was driving from Houston to Minnesota. I was told this won't end (something like that) when in total anguish of PTSD. I was losing sleep. Feel people touch you... Luckily it is rare for me now. My body says to hell with it and passes out where ever and when I have attacks if it is cold enough temperatures.

[batgirl]

Oh thanks veiled I never even thought of lack of sleep as a cause! That's a good point to consider as well. I still can't believe how many people here have this... but it's a relief for me. I know there's been the odd thread on it but I guess people are afraid to say anything.

Thanks Anthony, I don't think I've ever read the "Stress On Your Body" thread, I'm not sure I knew it existed. Thanks for making it a sticky, I found it printed out on paper at my place at the breakfast table this morning lol. I guess someone thought I should read it. Anyways it's very good. We have several books about PTSD here at the house but none of them talk much about this sort of thing. Actually many things seem to be lacking from the books, even the really good ones. I'm really grateful this forum exists!

[anthony]

I found it printed out on paper at my place at the breakfast table this morning lol. I guess someone thought I should read it.
Thats pretty funny really.... subtle? Not!

[becvan]

OMG, I just caught on! :rofl: That is priceless!

bec

(thank the printer person for a great chuckle for me!)

[batgirl]

Oh haha you guys thought that was funny? I never thought about it... stuff like that happens around here all the time to be honest. Subtle and not so subtle hints lol... kind of used to it now.

[Marlene]

Let's see:

Smells that no one else can smell. I hate it when it's that stale, musty smell.
Bugs...seeing them and feeling them crawl on me (especially when I'm really, really tired).
Seeing 'things' move out of the corner of my eye.I used to get really freaked out by these. Now I use them to judge my levels of stress and anxiety.

Judas priest it's amazing what you can get used to!!

Lisa

[hodge]

Well, I have experienced both, actually. Most I think are related to my experiences, but a few lately don't seem to be. Most of these recent ones are just auditory...hearing a man saying, hello or hi in our house. My husband's heard it, too, so maybe it doesn't count, because he doesn't have any mental illness. The source of that may be the previous owner of our house who died here. Isshy.

However, I've also had visual hallucinations in the past, before being with my husband. I would see partners' faces morph into either the faces of past abusers or just general monsters.

As a small child, I also had "visions" of really weird things in the dark while trying to go to sleep. I don't know if that means anything, but just thought I'd mention it.

[batgirl]

Wow thanks everyone for sharing. I'm really happy other people have this. Hodge, I'm not sure if it means anything either, but I used to see things as a kid too. I remember once seeing a giant ant (the size of a dog) and running to get my mum because I wanted to show it to her, but when we went back to the spot it was gone. I was so convinced I'd seen it that I was watching the television for a couple of days thinking they were going to mention my ant on there. ;)

[Kathy]

I echo my Evie's words. I am incredibly grateful to you all for sharing, it has most decidedly put my husband and I at ease, and Evie too it appears, which is wonderful. I see in spite of all my reading, research and living with a sufferer, I still have much to learn about PTSD.

[becvan]

*grins* as a sufferer I still have much to learn Kathy! I learn more everyday on here!

bec

[Shinigami_Shimai]

I must also add in my thanks for if it wasn't for this thread I might have not written some of the thinks I just did in my diary. I'm always worried about what people will think if they knew about some of the things I see. Makes it alittle easier to talk about when you are not alone.

jaa ne

Kat

[hodge]

Hodge, I'm not sure if it means anything either, but I used to see things as a kid too. I remember once seeing a giant ant (the size of a dog) and running to get my mum because I wanted to show it to her, but when we went back to the spot it was gone. I was so convinced I'd seen it that I was watching the television for a couple of days thinking they were going to mention my ant on there. ;)

I saw lots of things, especially in the half-light and in the dark. I'd look up at the ceiling and see bugs and snakes and various unidentifiable creatures floating down toward me. I'd see all kinds of things out of objects in the room. Maybe it was just imagination? I don't know. All I know is that I spent most nights in my childhood under the covers as much as possible. It was pretty scary for me. I always wanted lights on, or at least a nightlight, but never go to do that till I had my own house. It's only in the last few years that I can get to sleep without lights on.

[hodge]

I echo my Evie's words. I am incredibly grateful to you all for sharing, it has most decidedly put my husband and I at ease, and Evie too it appears, which is wonderful. I see in spite of all my reading, research and living with a sufferer, I still have much to learn about PTSD.

So glad this reassures you some, Kathy. I'm also glad it was brought up, because I'd either forgotten these things happened or, for some reason, never realized they were hallucinations.

[mightsurvive]

Hi
Not sure how to answer that question yet so i havent. I dont know if what i am experiencing are hallucinations or not but im certainly not offended by that word because they are not what a non-ptsd person would be experiencing. They are not DIRECTLY linked to my trauma in that they are not related to what happened. they are definitely related to sleep deprivation and possibly lack of food? Heres an example of what i have seen.

Once i looked at the tv and there was wite text on the bottom of the screen on a red back ground. then the screen changed and there was a man reading the news in a grey jacket. The "halucination" was that i saw the writing that had previously been on the bottom of the screen printed all over his jacket.

Another example: If i look at something like say a poster (especislly if it is in a contrasting colour to the wall) on a white wasll and then i move my eyes to another part of white wall i can still see the poster but without any detail on it.

I think that is quite normal if you llok at a light and then move your eyes away but i have never had it like this before.

[lrs]

Oh, yeah, there were plenty.

[morgan]

I've had the bugs crawling on my skin type of hallucinations really bad! They were in my hair and everything. It was awful!

[chrissym]

I started having flashbacks that made no sense to me but after alittle while in councelling I realized that they were not unreal, I had just forgotten being gang raped...it was more like I was watching it happen to someone else. Through therapy I have dealt with it and at least now I know what it's from. although when my PTSD got very severe and i had be be admitted into the hospital I was having auditory hallucinations. I kept hearing my name being called. Thank God that stopped at least for now. Good luck to you and your niece/Chrissym

[nightowl52]

Some sounds can make me irritable, some smells also bother me, paper towels on my skin bug me, wooden sticks from ice cream bar on my tounge almost make me throw up. But to see colors, hear voices, no.

[CaliSparrow]

Hello All,

Kat you are too funny. You spurred on a realization about my mother. Whenever I have a "memory" that she thinks is coming out of left field, she sarcastically says, "maybe it's a dream ". Apparently my mother put my visions in the "dream" category for denial's sake.

I dissociated quite a bit when I was younger. Then about one month ago, suffered a trauma at the hand of a therapist and MOST DEFINITELY had auditory and visual hallucinations that related to when I was traumatized as a child and had me re-experience the past trauma in the present tense without the defense mechanisms of a child and with all the clarity of being an adult. So yes. I do believe mine were hallucinations.

CS