Visual Hallucinations with Schizophrenia

Hi Everyone! My name is Stephen. I had visual hallucinations both before and after the onset of my schizophrenia in 2012 (when I was 12 years old). These hallucinations included "watching eyes, " ghosts, and "aliens in the pool." One time, I was even talking to the TV remote control. Hallucinations are a common "positive symptom" of schizophrenia. Many people with schizophrenia experience hallucinations at some point throughout the illness.
Introduction
Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder that affects an estimated 20 million people worldwide. It is characterized by a range of symptoms, which can be broadly divided into positive, negative, and cognitive categories. One of the most intriguing and widely recognized "positive symptoms" is visual hallucinations.
Understanding Schizophrenia and Visual Hallucinations
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that affects a person's ability to think, feel, and behave clearly. The exact cause of schizophrenia is still unknown, but research suggests a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurochemical factors contribute to its development. Visual hallucinations are a common symptom in approximately 30% of individuals with schizophrenia.
The Visual Hallucinations: Watching Eyes, Ghosts, and Aliens
Stephen experienced a variety of visual hallucinations both before and after the onset of schizophrenia. The most vivid hallucinations included watching eyes, ghosts, and aliens in a pool. While these experiences might seem bizarre, they are not uncommon among people with schizophrenia. Research indicates that hallucinations may result from a misinterpretation of sensory input, leading the brain to perceive objects or events that do not exist.
A study by Aleman and Larøi (2008) posits that visual hallucinations in schizophrenia may be linked to a dysfunction in the brain's occipital cortex, which is responsible for processing visual information. This dysfunction can cause the brain to misinterpret visual stimuli, leading to the perception of hallucinations.
Conversing with Inanimate Objects
In addition to visual hallucinations, Stephen reported talking to his TV remote control. While this might seem peculiar, it is not unheard of in schizophrenia. Research suggests that this type of hallucination may be related to a dysfunction in the brain's language processing and speech production areas, such as Broca's and Wernicke's.
A study by Shergill et al. (2000) found that when people with schizophrenia experienced auditory verbal hallucinations, there was increased activity in Broca's area, suggesting that the brain might be generating speech internally, even though the person is not consciously aware of it. This internal speech could then be misattributed to an external source, such as an inanimate object like a TV remote control.
Additionally, researchers have hypothesized that the brain's inability to differentiate between internal thoughts and external stimuli might contribute to the development of visual hallucinations. This could be due to alterations in the balance of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and glutamate, that regulate perception and cognition.
Role of Stress and Trauma
Stress and traumatic experiences have also been linked to the onset and exacerbation of visual hallucinations in schizophrenia. Research has indicated that individuals who have experienced trauma or significant stressors may be more susceptible to developing hallucinations as a maladaptive coping mechanism. The brain's stress response system, which involves the release of stress hormones like cortisol, may alter neural circuits and increase vulnerability to hallucinatory experiences.
Coping Strategies and Treatment
Managing hallucinations and other symptoms of schizophrenia can be challenging, but several treatment options are available. The primary mode of treatment is antipsychotic medications, which can help regulate brain chemistry and reduce the severity of hallucinations. In addition, psychosocial interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help individuals develop coping strategies and address the underlying thought patterns that contribute to hallucinations.
Conclusion
Visual hallucinations, such as watching eyes, ghosts, and aliens, and conversing with inanimate objects, are common "positive symptoms" experienced by people with schizophrenia. However, visual hallucinations in schizophrenia can be a distressing and challenging aspect of the disorder. By understanding the potential causes and mechanisms underlying these experiences, researchers can continue to develop more effective treatments and interventions for individuals living with schizophrenia. It is crucial to seek help if you or someone you know is experiencing hallucinations or other symptoms of schizophrenia. With proper treatment and support, many people with schizophrenia can manage their symptoms and lead fulfilling lives.
#schizophrenia #depression #mentalhealth #anxiety

[@cherylmiller2272]

Thank you Steven, for sharing your story. I have an adult son who has schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. We're struggling to get him on clozapine...he's afraid of it. We've been struggling for 13 years. I'm so glad you have your parents around you. That's awesome! Keep your channel going. You will help a lot of people.

[@SurvivingSchizophrenia]

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!

[@fuccyahhat1229]

Cheryl, I hope things are going getter for your son ❤️

[@theremnant7497]

I'm also schizoaffective bipolar type and I'm also afraid of medication for it. I hope your family is no longer struggling with this. Its hard sometimes

[@Mousymusic]

I wonder how schizophrenia is originated, I’m pretty sure that this is a reason why ghosts and horror genre exist today. Or maybe you guys can tap into a different dimension or something similar. It’s pretty shocking and interesting. Hope you’re doing great now!

[@user-sy3nd8yz9j]

The talking to inanimate objects thing, I've found that during the times I did that it was because I was lonely and sometimes depressed. I've also always been a heavy fantisizer and have noticed recently that some of my delusional thinking also overlaps with some of my fantasy thinking. As far as paranormal type stuff, I've dealt with that too. Some of it still happens to me at times. I can't always talk about it because of how bad it has been for me in the past but, haunting type stuff and spiritual attacks. It can still happen to me at times but, mostly when I'm scared or about to loose my temper is when it starts or if I'm holding a grudge toward someone.

[@SurvivingSchizophrenia]

Thank you for sharing

[@charlottesmith6434]

Oh my… the more I watch your videos, the more I am relating. I use to see eyes outside my window at night when I was probably around 4 for many years, I use to see neon green spots on the floor that flashed like lights and I still see “ghosts” to this day. Not long ago I thought I saw something in my peripheral vision and turned to see an old man with a hat on, mouth agape for literally a split second, like the blink of an eye and he was gone. I’m also experiencing paranoia at the moment thinking my ex boyfriend is in my loft. And OMG talking to the remote! I use to do this as a kid as well, some inanimate objects if I bumped into I would apologise to and would genuinely feel bad for. Hoped some things had a good day. Are these the sorts of things you’d experience as well? I’ve never considered schizophrenia before, I thought probably ADHD but I stumbled across your channel today and I’m amazed at the similarities. Best wishes, Stephen ♥️

[@SarahSkinnyJeans]

Schizophrenia is more than we are able to articulate. Anxiety can manifest similarly. Schizophrenic symptoms are this and much more. You don't understand. Sorry

[@sharonmchari269]

Thanks Stephen for your kindness in helping others to increase their compassionate understanding of those suffering with mental disabilities.

[@marinaisbetter]

Thank you for sharing your experiences! As someone who has undiagnosed and unexplained hallucinations, even though I know that being diagnosed with schizophrenia obviously isn’t the best thing in the world, I’m kind of glad that I don’t feel so alone anymore. Again, thanks for sharing your story!

[@SurvivingSchizophrenia]

Thank you very much for sharing. Have a happy and healthy rest of your day.

[@rayshasaur]

Thank you for sharing your story! I was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 25 but can clearly remember hallucinations as young as 6 years old. I'm glad that you shared this, because it helps me feel like I'm not alone in my experience.

[@chaneykane3828]

Me too! My earliest I remember was seeing only the back end of a black cat when I was 5

[@robbarbour3173]

I have schizophrenia and high functioning autism. Sometimes, when I look in the mirror, I sometimes get the impression that I look like my friend. I guess that's how I know that I may have hallucinations. It happens when I miss my friend or something like that. Yup, it's sad. Thanks for sharing your story with us.

[@Omegan369]

When you think of your friend you activate the part of your brain's memory that recognizes how your friend looks. When you look in the mirror, you activate the cells that recognize your own face. When you do both at the same time, you are activating both and so you can get them mixed up and see a bit of your friend in yourself. I had a similar experience the other day, with a friend talking to her daughter. It was like the older her arguing with the younger version of her and my brain was struggling as they look alike but different as the daughter is only 12, but almost as tall as her mom now. I told her mom it was like looking at her arguing with herself thru a a mirror frame that reflected a younger version of herself back.

[@robbarbour3173]

@@Omegan369 understandable. Thanks for sharing.

[@John26767]

Thanks Stephen for sharing. 🙂 I think most people have seen things/"hallucinations" at some point in their life. For example many people have seen what they would describe as a ghost. This can be scary for some (especially those in their early developing years), and when things become scary I would imagine for many they can become somewhat fixated. I wouldn't be surprised to say when our fears take hold of us to the point we believe something to be real we can actually manifest somewhat our worse nightmares in our minds to the point we see and hear what we believe to be real. Fear can have this effect, and what do we as people do with fear, we often imagine our worse nightmares in the hope we find ways to manage/beat them, to take away that fear. If that fear is overwhelming and we don't get those thoughts out of our heads and out in the open they can really take us to some dark places. I think this is perhaps basic human nature (although I'm no expert etc). In the case of psychosis from my own personal experience I would say the real damage happens when we invest time and thought into our imaginations/belief sets. As fear takes hold it can take a grip on that imagination and together with paranoia drag us down a hole with a downward direction (if that makes sense). This is why I try and say have presence of mind to notice a decline in mental well-being with a direction of further decline. Noticing that decline can be the difference between taking action, getting those imaginations/beliefs/thoughts etc. out of our heads where they are limited to our self-perceptions and share/talk about them with health professionals where corrective action/early intervention has a early opportunity for setting a direction of early healing etc. It can also be the very difference in preventing people doing really silly things, the unimaginable, or even worse. Then with hallucinations the real damage happens when they have a negative effect on us. If we don't see them as negative, or we are able to just discard/write them off our minds stay free and focussed on the here and now (I think this is what you said in this video). As always thank you for sharing Stephen, you are truly inspirational. 🙂

[@SurvivingSchizophrenia]

Thank you very much! Your comment is extremely profound, insightful, and thoughtful! Thank you for sharing your valuable and helpful thoughts on psychosis. You are adding valuable information to my channel, which I appreciate and thank you for! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!

[@phoenixjones232]

Thank you for sharing your experiences, Stephen. I have family members who live with schizo-spectrum disorder(s). Your insight is helpful and very illuminating. I believe schizophrenia/schizo-spectrum disorders are very much, like most all serious mental illness, a bit like the human condition on fire. That is how I like to think of it at least. I live with generalized anxiety and depression and feel we are all in this together. Thank you again for sharing some of your story; it truly is a gift. You are contributing to our shared recovery as human beings, learning to thrive amidst the reality that is our human biology, intelligence, perception and culture, etc. It is a miracle any one of us is here and even more so that we happen to find ourselves living in this 21st century where we can know what we know and share it with one another in an instant, across the globe. There is so much to be thankful for. Thank you again for your contributions to our collective intelligence and evolving mental health dialogue.

[@matchbox7068]

Thanks for sharing; im currently studying psychology and hope to make impact in the community and this really helped me understand some certain aspects. Have a good day!

[@ER-xl6cs]

I love your honesty! You are brave and wonderful!

[@veronicacunningham3961]

Hello Stephen, Greetings from Ireland. Thank you for sharing your experiences and your journey, it helps to understand the symptoms of this illness. Take care of yourself and I wish you well. Veronica

[@SurvivingSchizophrenia]

Thank you Veronica! I would love to visit Ireland one day! Thanks for watching

[@ramosmceligot6223]

Onward and upward young man. Keep strong keep positive

[@donnavilevile6290]

Thank you so much for sharing. I have an adult son with your condition. Your videos are of great encouragement to me. I am going to have my son watch also. 👍😊

[@edwardmccue5982]

thanks for sharing

[@SurvivingSchizophrenia]

You’re welcome!

[@jessicarael6583]

I really hope you see this. The person in my life that I belive has schizophrenia doesn't think he is ill he thinks he is under spiritual attack. There is no convincing him otherwise. How do you help someone who doesn't want help just wants prayer?

[@SchizophreniaSurvivor]

Hi Jessica. I would seek assistance in how to help this person by contacting a professional organization. In the U.S., there is NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). They have a helpline that anyone can call for assistance. This is from the website: The NAMI HelpLine is a free, nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals and support to people living with a mental health condition, their family members and caregivers, mental health providers and the public. HelpLine staff and volunteers are experienced, well-trained and able to provide guidance. The NAMI HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m., ET.; Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email us at [e-mail]. I hope this helps.

[@theremnant7497]

A person with schizophrenia can be under spiritual attack. I can totally relate to the way your friend thinks and I'm diagnosed schizoaffective. As a schizo person, I can tell you that praying (to the correct God) is definitely a way to help your friend. Not saying that other ways wouldn't help as well , but prayer definitely helps me all the time, especially in psychosis

[@Lono69]

@@theremnant7497 Which one is the correct one?

[@theremnant7497]

@@Lono69 the one who created all the other gods that people worship. Yahweh, the great Elohim, the one who has no beginning and no end, the one who inhabits eternity, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, and the Father of Jesus of Nazareth. He is the correct one. There are many gods. There is only one God Almighty tho.

[@Lono69]

@@theremnant7497 The God of Isreal? seems unlikely. All powerful yet lacks the power to deceive, but created deception?

[@bass3966]

Thanks Steven

[@mendokusai5823]

Hiiii… idk what is it exactly . It started last month while giving my finals . Im seeing this dark figure with horns and eyes white and sparkly , he’s sitting in a frog position on the floor and his neck tilt to the left trying to look down from the main gate of my hostel to see me. I see him on the gate but never really crossing it. Then it disappeared for a week. The new week I saw him passed through the gate and knocking on my hostel room and also getting inside my room just behind me when im sitting in my study table. Then I had my bf put me to sleep on phone so I was feeling safe and completely forgot. And I saw the figure again in the rent I shifted . I see him peeking through the wall behind me. And I see him standing outside my window , especially the glowing eyes of his. I can feel him standing right next to me while I’m typing this, oh god my heart is racing, it’s scary and I’m alone. And the figure I see is not exactly clear but I know his presence in my room. I see him moving his neck too. Please tell me what is this? I’m so confused. I don’t know if I can share this to my parents too. The friends I told they said don’t take too much stress, they say it’s the stress. And my father’s sister hears voice and she’s on medication ever since she was diagnosed in her 30s, she’s 60+ now. Please help me understand what is going on with me. I know for a fact it’s all in my head but the chills I get is so strong, the feelings you get when you’re looking down from a tall building.

[@user-mm6yi2fr6l]

Thanks!

[@SurvivingSchizophrenia]

Thank you so very much! I really appreciate your support!

[@kimberlyfreeman6298]

Thankyou❤

[@PaulFlint-po9jl]

Hi Steven went through 3 months of being sectioned last month. I briefly went into an experience and wanted to share it here. I literally became the devil and talked to the whole world, i could hear this cheering as if people had awoken to me being the real God. This happened in a seclusion rooom, i remember hearing my mum and looking out the window and could hear her calling me and saying why cant i see her, then she said my face looked hollow. Also i had this ability to talk through minds and believed i was in the year 2050. Another thing that happened is i was strapped to a stretcher with electrodes attached to my head and they fried my brain, they were trying to kill me and realised i was immortal. At other times i was being tested on and the scientists said they had permission as the government had run out of money so we were been used as lab rats. Scary shit

[@PaulFlint-po9jl]

It was the worst experience of my life. I have Schizoaffective disorder

[@lindawilson795]

Happy you are doing well now .❤

[@Thomas-cc9yv]

I saw a 50 foot anubus in an apocalyptic scene and it was stomping and smashing people in to the ground. I thought my heart was going to explode.

[@Thorbrine]

I find it funny that there are commenters doubting he’s schizo when he sounds like he’s being held at gun point 24/7 in every video

[@Nancy-ow9wy]

😂😮

[@victor9501]

I think seeing ghosts isn't that unusual. My mother saw one, or at least had a supernatural experience when she was younger.

[@barneyronnie]

Once, I saw the grim reaper😮

[@SurvivingSchizophrenia]

Thank you for sharing. That sounds scary

[@susansparanormalpennsylvan81]

most people see things at least once or twice in there life, when i am really tired driving late at night i have hallucinated dogs, cats, bunny rabbits running across the road and i have slammed on my car brakes and nothing is there. So i know how you feel.

[@theremnant7497]

Seeing the eye tricks when you drive late when you're tired under headlights is not the same or if I can describe how if it could be close to the same, I'd say imagine seeing those things, so real enough to react when it's not late, you're not tired, you may have rested well or not, or may be driving or not and it happens anyways, often enough to not be considered unusual and infact, in the sunlight in the middle of the day it's worse and then add those visuals to delusions that may or may not seem connected to the visuals as well, and it's not at least once or twice before , it could be at least twice per day even and that's more like understanding how it feels. What you described is not the same thing

[@nithinambalatharanithinamb9735]

Hey mad man💥💥💥💥

[@SurvivingSchizophrenia]

Thank you

[@barneyronnie]

That's inconsiderate and downright rude!

[@darvon906]

The commenter also suffers schizophrenia according to his profile, so I don't think there is any nastiness behind the comment

[@nikicarrie4071]

Hi 👋🏽 ❤

[@SurvivingSchizophrenia]

Hello! Thank you for joining my journey!

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