Hearing voices is a well-recognised symptom of schizophrenia, dementia or bipolar disorder, but can be unrelated to mental illness.

They may give a running commentary on the person's actions. They may make potentially harmful commands or engage the person in conversation. The voices can be critical, complimentary or neutral. Hearing voices in the mind is the most common type of hallucination in people with mental health conditions such as schizophrenia. These and other rarer causes aren't covered here. Hallucinations can also occur as a result of extreme tiredness or recent bereavement. hallucinations in older people with delirium.hallucinations in children with a fever.The following information explains the typical types of hallucinations, including why they occur and what you can do. Hallucinations can make you feel nervous, paranoid and frightened, so it's important to be with someone you can trust. See your GP straight away if you're experiencing hallucinations and you're worried about them. Read more about the types and causes of hallucinations in sections below. loss of vision caused by a condition such as macular degeneration– this is known as Charles Bonnet syndrome.a progressive neurological condition, such as Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease.a mental illness, such as schizophrenia or dementia.For example, they can occur as a result of: Hallucinations can be frightening, but there's usually an identifiable cause. Hallucinations are common in people with schizophrenia, and are usually experienced as hearing voices. The effects of mixing drugs can be unpredictable and people are more at risk of overdose, including death.Hallucinations are where someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside their mind. Combining drugs also known as ‘poly drug use’ increases the risk and can be extremely dangerous. There is no safe level of alcohol or drug use and the use of any drug always carries some risk. Long-term use of hallucinogens can also lead to a range of physical and mental health conditions and for more information about hallucinogens refer to the fact sheets on drugs. Other short-term effects include nausea, increased heart rate, dizziness, confusion, clumsiness, and emotional swings. The effects of hallucinogens vary, although often they produce feelings of relaxation. The effects of hallucinogens are difficult to predict, and are greatly affected by the mood of the person and the context of use. For example, a person may see things that do not actually exist, or a normal sensory experience may be exaggerated (such as seeing colours more vividly). they change the way a person sees, hears and feels about a situation. Hallucinogenic drugs distort perceptions of reality, i.e. LSD and ketamine are chemical-based hallucinogens magic mushrooms (psilocybin) and peyote cactus are plant-based hallucinogens.Ĭannabis and ecstasy can also have hallucinogenic properties. For more information about the effects of each drug refer to the fact sheets on depressant drugs. Long-term use of depressants can also lead to a range of physical and mental health conditions. In large doses, depressants may cause drowsiness, nausea, and loss of consciousness. Other short-term effects may include dizziness, poor balance and co-ordination, and slower reflexes. They don’t necessarily make a person feel depressed, but rather reduce co-ordination and impair concentration and judgement.ĭepressants often produce feelings of being relaxed, calm, or to help with sleep. DepressantsĪlcohol, cannabis, benzodiazepines, heroin and other opioids.ĭepressant drugs slow down the functioning of the brain. Long-term use of stimulants can also lead to a range of physical and mental health conditions and for more information about the effects of each drug refer to the fact sheets on drugs. With prolonged use or if taken in large doses the effects may include anxiety, panic, seizures, headaches, stomach cramps, aggression and paranoia. Stimulants often produce a euphoric effect, with some people feeling more alert, energetic and confident.Ī person using stimulants may be talkative, agitated and experience insomnia. And so, they typically increase the pulse and breathing rate, elevate blood pressure, suppress the appetite and dilate the pupils. Stimulant drugs speed up the messages travelling between the brain and the body. Cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, khat, nicotine and prescription stimulants.

Hallucination drugs