Voices (Hearing Voices)

1) What it is

Hearing voices means perceiving sounds or speech others cannot hear. This can occur with psychosis, trauma, grief, severe stress, sleep deprivation, substance use, or medical conditions.

2) What it feels like

• “Someone is talking to me.”
• “The voices comment or criticise.”
• “I feel scared or controlled.”

3) Common signs & symptoms

• hearing voices others can’t hear
• voices commenting or warning
• fear, confusion, isolation
• sleep and concentration problems

4) Why it happens

• psychosis conditions
• trauma and dissociation
• extreme stress or sleep loss
• substance misuse
• medical causes

5) Triggers

• stress
• lack of sleep
• isolation

6) What helps now

• grounding techniques
• reduce stimulation
• reality anchors (contact safe people)
• track patterns

7) Daily self-help support

• routine and rest
• stress reduction

8) Professional treatment options

• GP referral to mental health services
• assessment by crisis or community teams
• therapy for trauma
• medication when appropriate

9) Medication

Often helpful for psychosis-related voices, specialist-led.

10) Practical tips

• early support improves outcomes

11) When to seek urgent help

Urgent help if voices are distressing, threatening, or give harmful commands.

12) Where to get help (UK)

• NHS 111 urgent mental health support
• Call 999 if immediate danger
• Samaritans 116 123
• local NHS Crisis Team

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