Anybody can hear voices, sometimes this is inside your head and sometimes through your ears. They might seem clear or more muffled. Some people who hear voices have a positive experience of the voices they hear and they are helpful in their lives. Other people experience them as unkind, critical and that they negatively impact their life. Sometimes the voices can be heard once and then never again, they may come in particular situations like when we feel more stressed and anxious, and other times they are more persistent and there a lot. Some young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder can struggle with making sense of internal thinking or conversations we may have inside our own heads, these can be interpreted as “voices”.
Hearing voices, or auditory hallucinations, can be a part of a mental health problem, such as Psychosis, which requires a careful assessment by a mental health professional. However, Psychosis is not common in young people and the “voices” are more often related to anxiety, substance misuse, difficult situations or a traumatic event such as a bereavement, family breakdown or experiencing abuse.
It is very important to understand that not everyone hearing voices needs support or help with their mental health and wellbeing; however it may be wise to seek help if the voices become hostile, intimidating, giving instructions and start to have a negative impact on your day to day living.
