How common are audio halucinations? for Questionland Seattle

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How common are audio halucinations?

Got a family member who is diagnoised schizophrenic, but refuses to accept it nor stay on her medication. She's run away (driven, moved) to a college town three times now, and has come to the attention of the police, officials, medical community, etc.

Now getting emails from her talking about "pirate radio transmitter" in her car's dashboard producing racket for 15 minutes, despite being parked between two brick buildings, braced against a metal pole, with radio off and engine ignition turned off. How do I interpret this? Car trouble? Squealing fan belt? Audio halcination?

She refuses to stay on "resperdol" as it makes her shake. What can we do?

O my captain asked in Mental Health/Addiction 4 months ago | Report

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Kristin Bell

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Auditory hallucinations can be common in schizophrenia. She is probably experiencing them.

It took me about 12 years to get straightened out enough to take my meds, and quite frankly, I am lucky I survived all the shit I did to make it to that point. Schizophrenia is particularly dangerous, because people are mostly out of their minds during the psychotic episodes.

I kind of doubt that she will be able to accept her mental illness and realize that she has it until she is stabilized on medications. The only thing that worked for me was getting the injection form of antipsychotic medication, because I couldn't NOT take it. Once I was on the injection of Haldol I improved quite quickly.

There are a lot of different depot (injection) forms of many antipsychotics. If risperdal makes her shake, then she should try something else. There are options out there. I'm a big believer in the injection form, because they are easy to take and they last like 3-4 weeks...enough time to take a lot of the crazy away.

I still have to take other meds to deal with all the other crap and to function like a semi-normal human, but the injection, for me, was really like the first brick in the wall to come down.

Kristin Bell answered in Mental Health/Addiction 3 months ago | Report

3 comments by MyrnaMinkoff, Kristin Bell, and HealOnCapHill…

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Totally off topic, but Kristen, your new profile pic is really lovely and beautiful!

MyrnaMinkoff commented 3 months ago | Report

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ahhh, thanks!!! :)

Kristin Bell commented 3 months ago | Report

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I agree, its really hard to get through to acceptance of the medical definition for a lot of people I work with. It takes a lot of life experience and luck before folks end up accepting help too. I am fascinated that in some cultures people with psychosis are considered great candidates for healers. Any chance you can affirm that she is experiencing hallucinations but also help her find a sense of purpose in what is happening? I also agree that many people have to try a few meds before they find what helps them. Similar to therapy, once you find a good one, you've got to give it a while to help.

HealOnCapHill commented 3 months ago | Report

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Russ Campbell, NWEBS

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Be there to be supportive and try to help her pick up the pieces of her fractured life when she is more stable and has appropriate medical intervention.

If you can somehow direct or request involuntary hospitalization to address her situation and get her back on course, do so. Read here on the resources available in King County, Washington. There will be similar services available in whatever county or state you live in or where she may reside. Of course, if she received treatment closer to your home you would be better able to monitor and possibly help her when she is more stable.

You are worried and seeking answers - getting professional help for her is imperative, as is you getting the relief from the wear and tear of the stress of concern - before you burn out. You'll need that energy later when she is on the road to managing her illness effectively.

Russ Campbell, NWEBS answered in Mental Health/Addiction 4 months ago | Report

1 comment by Kristin Bell…