Veo u oigo cosas que no existen.

Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there can make it difficult to tell what’s real and what isn’t. For example, maybe you see a shadowy figure out of the corner of your eye, or an animal or insect, but when you blink, it disappears. Or maybe you think you hear knocking sounds or whispers when no one is around you.

Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there are called visual or auditory hallucinations. Hallucinations are more common than we think, but they can also be a sign of a mental health condition. [1][2] If you’re seeing things that aren’t there, it’s important to ask yourself a few questions to find out if something more serious is going on.

¿Esto pasa seguido?

Take a moment to think about how often this happens. When did the hallucinations start, and how were you feeling when they did? Were you under stress, tratar el trauma, o using alcohol or substances? Were you getting good, regular sleep? All of these things can affect your mental health and make hallucinations worse.

Try to think specifically about when the hallucinations began. The list below provides a guide for exploring common hallucinations and hallucinations that could be early signs of psicosis.

Here are some questions to ask yourself.

Is this sleep-related?

Seeing or hearing things when you are just falling asleep or waking up is common. Up to 70% of people will experience hallucinations related to waking up/ falling asleep at least once in their lifetime. [3][4] Having out-of-body experiences or this limbo consciousness around sleep time is called hypnagogia. [3]

People who aren’t sleeping regularly can also experience hallucinations. Our brains need sleep to function properly, and if you have gone days without a good night’s sleep, then your brain may be feeling off. Many people start to experience more severe hallucinations by day 3 or 4 of little to no sleep. If you start to hear or see things during the day when you are awake and even when you’ve slept well enough, these experiences could be signs of brain changes.

Am I under a lot of stress and pressure?

Many people find that during times of high stress in their lives, they may start seeing or hearing things that aren’t there.[1][5] Or if they already had hallucinations, they become worse or more frequent. Stressful situations often involve big changes in life. For example, going through a divorce, changing schools, or experiencing violence at home, at school, or in the community.

If you experience hallucinations related to stress, these can be understandable reactions to traumatic situations, and they can be early signs of either psicosis o trastorno por estrés postraumático.

Am I getting over a physical illness?

Sometimes people who have high fevers due to the flu, colds, or other illnesses experience hallucinations. [1]. This is normal, and the hallucinations usually go away when the illness does.

Does this only happen when I am using drugs or alcohol?

Think about whether you only see or hear things that aren’t there when you are using, or if this also happens when you are sober as well.

Substance use has been known to cause hallucinations. [1] For example, long-term and high-dose use of marijuana is associated with a higher risk of psychosis, especially if you have psychosis in your family history. Marijuana can also increase the chances you’ll experience paranoia. For those who are at risk of psychosis illnesses, using marijuana can trigger the onset of psychosis even when you stop using. The risk of triggering psychosis related illnesses is also high for all hallucinogenic drugs that include: psilocybin/mushrooms, LSD, PCP, ketamine, and peyote. [6]

Have I started a new medication lately?

Hallucinations can be a side effect of some medications, including beta-blockers, antibiotics, and mental health medications [1][7]. If your hallucinations started after trying a new medication, it’s best to talk to your doctor to figure out what’s going on.

Generally, if your experiences can be explained by major life changes, this is a good place to start. Try making some changes to see whether the hallucinations improve. But if you start experiencing hallucinations often and at times when you can’t explain them, it could be a sign that something more serious is happening.

Does it bother me?

The things you see and hear can be bothersome if your experiences feel scary, out of control, or hard to explain. Like your brain is playing tricks on you in ways that don’t make sense. If you find that the hallucinations interfere with your life and affect your thoughts, feelings, and actions, that could mean that something serious might be occurring.

Is it affecting my thoughts?

Hallucinations can affect your thoughts. For example, seeing things that aren’t there can make you question reality and your understanding of what’s real. Also, if the voices you hear are louder than your own, they may interrupt your own thoughts and make it hard to think clearly or focus. And you may feel like you are not in control of your own mind. If this sounds like what you are going through, know that there are ways to cope and manage.

Is it affecting my feelings?

Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there can bring about big feelings and emotions. The things that you see may be scary, like shadows following you or bugs crawling on you. Or the voices that you hear may be saying things that make you feel angry, sad, or confused. Dealing with these experiences can make you feel paranoid, distrustful, intense anger, deep sadness, or isolation. These are difficult emotions to carry on your own. Know that you are not alone, and you can find support with these feelings.

Is it affecting my actions?

Hallucinations can also affect your actions or how you show up for yourself and others.

Here are some things to consider when thinking about whether what you see and hear affects your actions and behaviors.

• Am I acting differently or not like myself because of the hallucinations?
• Am I finding it difficult to take care of myself as I normally would?
• Is it hard for me to stay focused or organized when it comes to school or work?
• Do I feel disconnected from or isolated from friends and loved ones because of what I’m going through?

Answering yes to any of the questions means that the things that you see and hear may be affecting how you act in everyday life. Usually, when something impacts your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, it could be a sign of a mental health condition.

Am I sure no one else sees or hears it?

It can help to know if others see and hear what you do. If you feel safe and comfortable doing so, asking friends or loved ones to confirm or deny what’s happening can help you better understand your experiences.

If you are seeing or hearing things you aren’t sure are real, you can try asking others about their experiences. For example, you may ask, Do you also hear someone talking? Or, do you hear that music, too? Or you might ask, “Do you see that person over there? Usually, the response will be a quick yes or no, and you don’t have to explain any further if you don’t want to.

Asking about others’ experiences can offer perspectives on what to do next. Additionally, finding out that something you see or hear isn’t grounded in reality can be disorienting. Having the support and validation of your loved ones can help you through it.

Am I experiencing anything else that’s weird or hard to explain?

Many people who are experiencing early psychosis say things like, I feel like my brain is broken. If you are experiencing other things that seem weird or hard to explain along with hallucinations, then this may be a sign of early psychosis.

Besides seeing or hearing things that aren’t there, here are some common things that people in early psychosis experience:

• Paranoia o miedos extraños que no desaparecen.
• Dificultad para concentrarse y recordar cosas.
• Cambios en el sueño, incluida la inversión: dormir durante el día y permanecer despierto por la noche.
• Suddenly having a decreased or increased sense of smell
• Becoming very sensitive to light, sound, or touch
• Descuidar la higiene personal.
• Comportamientos extraños o que no parecen propios de ti.“
• Discurso o escritura sin sentido o extraña.

If this list sounds like what you are going through, then taking a psychosis test can help you understand and validate your experiences. It can also help you figure out your next steps.

Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there could be a sign of a mental health condition or a common experience [2][3]. Taking the time to read this article and reflect on your experiences is an important first step to understanding what’s going on. And now you can take more steps to feel better and get support if you need it!

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