Struggling w/Auditory Hallucinations
I originally posted in welcome and intros but maybe here is more appropriate... Hi there, I am new to this site and figured I would start here. I am a 36 yr old female who has always struggled with Depression, and Anxiety, as far back into childhood as I can remember along with ADHD, Insomnia and PTSD. I “fell” into a great depression back in 2015 with the help of some life circumstances. (I’m talking not showering, leaving the house, forgetting how to brush my hair depression all while being the sole caregiver for my grandmother (my best friend) who was being taken over from dementia). That state lasted until about 2020 when I lost my grandmother and then had to move into an apartment living by myself without a partner or roommate for the first time. About 7 months after moving (mid 2021) I had a “nervous breakdown” with psychosis symptoms. I hospitalized myself and the Dr.’s basically told me that due to so many life events my PTSD had a part in this and my brain could not process the trauma anymore so it was making up stories hence the psychosis. My psychosis symptoms where completely Auditory Hallucinations, and Paranoia. I have made a tremendous turnaround since then however I am most definitely still recovering. I still have “echoes” and straight up voices in my head and some days are louder than others. My anxiety has completely taken over EVERYTHING that I do from taking out my trash, to getting the mail, etc. I only experience the Auditory Hallucinations when I am home in my apartment (I have since my breakdown moved to a different apartment closer to family and away from that whole situation; I thought my neighbors where video tapping me through the walls, hacked my computer etc. so I’m just in better new space started fresh), they typically start if it’s too quiet, usually around the evening, if I hear a noise from another apartment that’s a big trigger…. I guess I feel alone in this. I don’t have any social interaction. I am out of work and on disability, but I am planning on starting floral design school in the fall. I just feel like I’m the only one that suffers from this and it’s quite isolating. Is there anyone else out there that deals with Auditory Hallucinations and has any “tips” or recommendations for those very noisy and sometimes scary moments or to be honest just pain in the ass times when your head won't shut the fuck up!?!
I try to listen to music to keep my mind occupied. Lack of sleep brings on paranoia way more for me. So happy you are starting school in the fall. Very sorry for your loss. Stay safe.
@independentPear9341 Thanks for the post. And yes I noticed for myself too the lack of sleep with paranoia. I am working really hard right now to get on a good sleep schedule due to my insomnia and I'm hoping it will have an impact. And yes I am very excited about school and then getting back into the workforce... exciting and scary all at once, but the good kind of scary!
It’s sucks to go through these symptoms. I remember it was like a battle between paranoia and logic. Try really hard to focus on logic and reality. This helped me but at the moment I am planning on seeing a doctor about medication as I’m afraid things might get worse.