What makes people hallucinate

This type of hallucination can also include scents you find enjoyable, like the smell of flowers. Gustatory hallucinations are similar to olfactory hallucinations, but they involve your sense of taste instead of smell. These tastes are often strange or unpleasant. Gustatory hallucinations often with a metallic taste are a relatively common symptom for people with epilepsy.

Auditory hallucinations are among the most common type of hallucination. You might hear someone speaking to you or telling you to do certain things.

The voice may be angry, neutral, or warm. Other examples of this type of hallucination include hearing sounds, like someone walking in the attic or repeated clicking or tapping noises. Tactile hallucinations involve the feeling of touch or movement in your body.

For example, you might feel that bugs are crawling on your skin or that your internal organs are moving around. Mental illnesses are among the most common causes of hallucinations.

Schizophrenia , dementia , and delirium are a few examples. Substance use is another fairly common cause of hallucinations. Not getting enough sleep can also lead to hallucinations.

Certain medications taken for mental and physical health conditions can also cause hallucinations. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and perform a physical exam. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Top of the page. Topic Overview A hallucination is a perception of something that is not really there.

Remain calm, and try to help the person: Approach the person quietly while calling his or her name. Ask the person to tell you what is happening. Ask whether he or she is afraid or confused. Tell the person that he or she is having a hallucination and that you do not see or hear what he or she does. Updated by: Fred K. Editorial team. Common hallucinations can include: Feeling sensations in the body, such as a crawling feeling on the skin or the movement of internal organs. Hearing sounds, such as music, footsteps, windows or doors banging.

Hearing voices when no one has spoken the most common type of hallucination. These voices may be positive, negative, or neutral. They may command someone to do something that may cause harm to themselves or others. Seeing patterns, lights, beings, or objects that are not there. Smelling an odor.

It is believed that the mental processes which operate during hallucinations include memories and images which the brain has difficulty controlling.

The way that individuals react to their hallucinations also impacts on how they feel about them. Auditory hallucinations are typically more common in psychiatric disease, and visual hallucinations in disorders of old age,. People who experience hallucinations do not necessarily suffer from a mental illness. It is quite common for people in the general population to experience passing and infrequent episodes of hallucination, and many people recover completely.

People who have ongoing experiences which are distressing should seek professional advice. It is possible to lead a productive and meaningful life with hallucinations. For many, however, hallucinated voices or visions can be distressing and worrying. If you are troubled by hallucinations, it is best to seek help from your GP or mental health services, as they will help to work out what is causing the problem. There are different treatment options depending on the cause of hallucinations.

Forms of help include psychological therapies and medications. A well-organised system of help from friends, family and professionals provides the most effective treatment option. This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional.