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Table of Contents

Types

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

Coping

Hallucinations can occur in people with psychiatric conditions, like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, but they can also happen as a side effect of certain medications or illnesses like epilepsy. While some hallucinations can be pleasant, others can be described as frightening, alarming, or disruptive.

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Hallucinations

Types of Hallucination

Hallucinations can happen through any of the five senses, though the most common type of hallucination affects your hearing:

Hallucinations can sometimes be confused with illusions, which are defined as misinterpretations or distortions of a real stimulus. For example, seeing a dog in the room where there is not one would be a hallucination. Mistaking a person for a dog would be considered an illusion.

Hallucination Symptoms and Examples

There are many symptoms that can happen with hallucination, and they depend on the type of hallucination you’re experiencing. For example, you may notice:

It’s also possible to experience hallucinations as you’re trying to fall asleep, known ashypnagogichallucinations. This form of hallucination affects up to 30% of the general population.

How long hallucinations last depends largely on the cause and the individual experiencing them. Generally, they last anywhere between a few minutes and several hours.

Hallucinations are typically thought of as being linked to psychiatric (or mental) conditions, but there are actually a range of causes for hallucinations that can be grouped into three main categories of psychiatric, medical, and substance use-related causes.

Psychiatric

Mental conditions are among the most common cause of hallucinations. These can includeschizophrenia,bipolar disorder,major depressive disorder, anddementia. Researchers estimate that 60% to 80% of people with schizophrenia experience auditory hallucinations.

Medical

Medical conditions can cause hallucinations, including:

Hallucinationscan happen under the influence of alcohol and drugs, especially substances like cocaine, LSD, and PCP. They may also occur during withdrawal from alcohol and certain other drugs.

But in addition to drugs of abuse, certain medications taken for physical and mental health conditions can also cause hallucinations.

For example, medications for Parkinson’s disease, depression, psychosis, and epilepsy may sometimes trigger hallucination symptoms.

Other Causes

Extreme physical or mental stress and grief can trigger hallucinations.As some experts point out, hallucinations involving a loved one who’s passed away can be a part of the grieving process, though sometimes symptoms of grief overlap can overlap with depression.

Note that hallucinations can sometimes be a precursor to hearing loss. Speak with your healthcare provider if you begin to experience any related symptoms.

Hallucinations can be disturbing and bothersome, so it’s important to get a diagnosis from your healthcare provider to nail down the cause of your hallucinations. Your healthcare provider or other healthcare professional will want to discuss your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle habits as they relate to hallucination before naming a diagnosis.

They’ll look to rule out medical conditions like seizures, migraines, and sleep disorders. This healthcare provider’s visit will likely include a physical exam and potentially diagnostic tests such as:

Research shows that hallucinations are underreported, which could hinder the necessary treatment and diagnosis of underlying conditions.

What Is the Difference Between Hallucinations, Paranoia, and Delusions?

The type of treatment recommended for hallucinations will depend on the kind of hallucination you’re experiencing, the underlying cause, and your overall health.

In general, it’s likely that your healthcare provider will recommend a multidisciplinary approach, meaning that your treatment plan may include a combination of medication, therapy, and self-help, or other means of support.

Medication

Therapy

Certain types of psychotherapy—sometimes referred to as “talk therapy”—can be helpful for patients experiencing hallucinations, where a trained psychotherapist uses a range of techniques and strategies to help you navigate the condition.

Techniques may focus on engaging curiosity around the details of the symptoms and normalizing the experience.

Self-Help

In addition to leaning on trusted friends and family members to support you during hallucination episodes, there are some recommended self-help strategies that could help, especially with auditory hallucinations:

It’s also possible that your healthcare provider will suggest lifestyle or behavioral modifications, such as getting more sleep or drinking less alcohol to improve your hallucinations.

Living and coping with hallucinations will require an effort on your part, and it may also involve some assistance from your inner circle. The people you surround yourself with should be cautious of dismissing your concerns about hallucinations and instead provide a supportive, validating presence.

Remember that an environment that’s too loud or chaotic can play a role in worsening hallucinations. Make sure your surroundings induce calm so as not to increase the likelihood of a hallucination.

You may also find that maintaining a day-to-day schedule can help you feel grounded and secure in a reliable routine. If your healthcare provider recommends keeping a record of when and where your hallucinations occur, this may also help provide a sense of order to your hallucination experiences.

If you or a loved one is experiencing a health emergency, seek medical attention immediately. For more mental health support and resources, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 or via theirwebsite.

Summary

Hallucinations, such as hearing voices, seeing unreal objects, or feeling sensations like crawling bugs, can stem from psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia, medical issues such as migraines or seizures, substance use, or withdrawal.

Treatment often combines medication, therapy, and self-help strategies, focusing on addressing the underlying cause and improving quality of life. If you’reexperiencing hallucinations, it’s important to bring up the issue with your healthcare provider.

20 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.John Hopkins Medicine.Hallucinations.MedlinePlus.Hallucinations.Stern JM.Focal seizures with gustatory hallucinations. In: Panayiotopoulos C.P. (eds) Atlas of Epilepsies. Springer, London. 2010. doi:10.1007/978-1-84882-128-6_65Liu GT, Volpe NJ, Galletta SL.Visual hallucinations and illusions.Neuro-opthalmology. 2019;12:395-413. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-34044-1.00012-2Badcock JC, Dehon H, Larøi F.Hallucinations in healthy older adults: An overview of the literature and perspectives for future research.Front Psychol. 2017;8:1134. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01134Waters F, Blom JD, Dang-vu TT, et al.What Is the link between hallucinations, dreams, and hypnagogic-hypnopompic experiences?.Schizophr Bull. 2016;42(5):1098-109. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbw076Waters F, Fernyhough C.Hallucinations: A Systematic Review of Points of Similarity and Difference Across Diagnostic Classes. Schizophr Bull. 2017 Jan;43(1):32-43. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbw132. Epub 2016 Nov 21. PMID: 27872259; PMCID: PMC5216859.Lim A, Hoek HW, Deen ML, Blom JD.Prevalence and classification of hallucinations in multiple sensory modalities in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.Schizophren Res.2016; 176(2-3):493-499. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2016.06.010Chaudhury S.Hallucinations: Clinical aspects and management.Ind Psychiatry J. 2010 Jan;19(1):5-12. doi:10.4103/0972-6748.77625Santos RM, Sanchez TG, Bento RF, Lucia MC.Auditory hallucinations in tinnitus patients: Emotional relationships and depression.Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2012 Jul;16(3):322-7. doi:10.7162/S1809-97772012000300004Al-Dury, S., Molinaro, A., & Hedenström, P. (2021).Propranolol-induced hallucinations mimicking encephalopathy in a patient with liver cirrhosis.Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology,56(7), 829–831. https://doi.org/10.1080/00365521.2021.1919198Division of Sleep, Harvard Medical School.Symptoms of Narcolepsy.Waters F, Chiu V, Atkinson A, Blom JD.Severe sleep deprivation causes hallucinations and a gradual progression toward psychosis with increasing time awake.Front Psychiatry.2018;9:303. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00303Francis LE, Kypriotakis G, O’Toole EE, Bowman KF, Rose JH.Grief and risk of depression in context: the emotional outcomes of bereaved cancer caregivers.Omega (Westport). 2015;70(4):351-379. doi:10.1177/0030222815573720Zisook S, Corruble E, Duan N, et al.The bereavement exclusion and DSM-5.Depress Anxiety. 2012;29(5):425-443. doi:10.1002/da.21927Badcock JC, Dehon H, Larøi F.Hallucinations in healthy older adults: An overview of the literature and perspectives for future research.Front Psychol. 2017;8:1134. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01134Nova Scotia Health: Mental Health and Addictions Program.Detachment from reality (delusions, paranoia, or hallucinations).U.S. Food & Drug Administration.FDA approves first drug to treat hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease.van der Gaag M, van Oosterhout B, Daalman K, et al.Initial evaluation of the effects of competitive memory training (COMET) on depression in schizophrenia-spectrum patients with persistent auditory verbal hallucinations: a randomized controlled trial.Br J Clin Psychol. 2012;51:158-171. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8260.2011.02025.xWright JH, Turkington D, Kingdon DG, et al:Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Severe Mental Illness: An Illustrated Guide. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Publishing.

20 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.John Hopkins Medicine.Hallucinations.MedlinePlus.Hallucinations.Stern JM.Focal seizures with gustatory hallucinations. In: Panayiotopoulos C.P. (eds) Atlas of Epilepsies. Springer, London. 2010. doi:10.1007/978-1-84882-128-6_65Liu GT, Volpe NJ, Galletta SL.Visual hallucinations and illusions.Neuro-opthalmology. 2019;12:395-413. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-34044-1.00012-2Badcock JC, Dehon H, Larøi F.Hallucinations in healthy older adults: An overview of the literature and perspectives for future research.Front Psychol. 2017;8:1134. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01134Waters F, Blom JD, Dang-vu TT, et al.What Is the link between hallucinations, dreams, and hypnagogic-hypnopompic experiences?.Schizophr Bull. 2016;42(5):1098-109. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbw076Waters F, Fernyhough C.Hallucinations: A Systematic Review of Points of Similarity and Difference Across Diagnostic Classes. Schizophr Bull. 2017 Jan;43(1):32-43. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbw132. Epub 2016 Nov 21. PMID: 27872259; PMCID: PMC5216859.Lim A, Hoek HW, Deen ML, Blom JD.Prevalence and classification of hallucinations in multiple sensory modalities in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.Schizophren Res.2016; 176(2-3):493-499. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2016.06.010Chaudhury S.Hallucinations: Clinical aspects and management.Ind Psychiatry J. 2010 Jan;19(1):5-12. doi:10.4103/0972-6748.77625Santos RM, Sanchez TG, Bento RF, Lucia MC.Auditory hallucinations in tinnitus patients: Emotional relationships and depression.Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2012 Jul;16(3):322-7. doi:10.7162/S1809-97772012000300004Al-Dury, S., Molinaro, A., & Hedenström, P. (2021).Propranolol-induced hallucinations mimicking encephalopathy in a patient with liver cirrhosis.Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology,56(7), 829–831. https://doi.org/10.1080/00365521.2021.1919198Division of Sleep, Harvard Medical School.Symptoms of Narcolepsy.Waters F, Chiu V, Atkinson A, Blom JD.Severe sleep deprivation causes hallucinations and a gradual progression toward psychosis with increasing time awake.Front Psychiatry.2018;9:303. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00303Francis LE, Kypriotakis G, O’Toole EE, Bowman KF, Rose JH.Grief and risk of depression in context: the emotional outcomes of bereaved cancer caregivers.Omega (Westport). 2015;70(4):351-379. doi:10.1177/0030222815573720Zisook S, Corruble E, Duan N, et al.The bereavement exclusion and DSM-5.Depress Anxiety. 2012;29(5):425-443. doi:10.1002/da.21927Badcock JC, Dehon H, Larøi F.Hallucinations in healthy older adults: An overview of the literature and perspectives for future research.Front Psychol. 2017;8:1134. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01134Nova Scotia Health: Mental Health and Addictions Program.Detachment from reality (delusions, paranoia, or hallucinations).U.S. Food & Drug Administration.FDA approves first drug to treat hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease.van der Gaag M, van Oosterhout B, Daalman K, et al.Initial evaluation of the effects of competitive memory training (COMET) on depression in schizophrenia-spectrum patients with persistent auditory verbal hallucinations: a randomized controlled trial.Br J Clin Psychol. 2012;51:158-171. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8260.2011.02025.xWright JH, Turkington D, Kingdon DG, et al:Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Severe Mental Illness: An Illustrated Guide. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Publishing.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

John Hopkins Medicine.Hallucinations.MedlinePlus.Hallucinations.Stern JM.Focal seizures with gustatory hallucinations. In: Panayiotopoulos C.P. (eds) Atlas of Epilepsies. Springer, London. 2010. doi:10.1007/978-1-84882-128-6_65Liu GT, Volpe NJ, Galletta SL.Visual hallucinations and illusions.Neuro-opthalmology. 2019;12:395-413. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-34044-1.00012-2Badcock JC, Dehon H, Larøi F.Hallucinations in healthy older adults: An overview of the literature and perspectives for future research.Front Psychol. 2017;8:1134. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01134Waters F, Blom JD, Dang-vu TT, et al.What Is the link between hallucinations, dreams, and hypnagogic-hypnopompic experiences?.Schizophr Bull. 2016;42(5):1098-109. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbw076Waters F, Fernyhough C.Hallucinations: A Systematic Review of Points of Similarity and Difference Across Diagnostic Classes. Schizophr Bull. 2017 Jan;43(1):32-43. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbw132. Epub 2016 Nov 21. PMID: 27872259; PMCID: PMC5216859.Lim A, Hoek HW, Deen ML, Blom JD.Prevalence and classification of hallucinations in multiple sensory modalities in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.Schizophren Res.2016; 176(2-3):493-499. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2016.06.010Chaudhury S.Hallucinations: Clinical aspects and management.Ind Psychiatry J. 2010 Jan;19(1):5-12. doi:10.4103/0972-6748.77625Santos RM, Sanchez TG, Bento RF, Lucia MC.Auditory hallucinations in tinnitus patients: Emotional relationships and depression.Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2012 Jul;16(3):322-7. doi:10.7162/S1809-97772012000300004Al-Dury, S., Molinaro, A., & Hedenström, P. (2021).Propranolol-induced hallucinations mimicking encephalopathy in a patient with liver cirrhosis.Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology,56(7), 829–831. https://doi.org/10.1080/00365521.2021.1919198Division of Sleep, Harvard Medical School.Symptoms of Narcolepsy.Waters F, Chiu V, Atkinson A, Blom JD.Severe sleep deprivation causes hallucinations and a gradual progression toward psychosis with increasing time awake.Front Psychiatry.2018;9:303. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00303Francis LE, Kypriotakis G, O’Toole EE, Bowman KF, Rose JH.Grief and risk of depression in context: the emotional outcomes of bereaved cancer caregivers.Omega (Westport). 2015;70(4):351-379. doi:10.1177/0030222815573720Zisook S, Corruble E, Duan N, et al.The bereavement exclusion and DSM-5.Depress Anxiety. 2012;29(5):425-443. doi:10.1002/da.21927Badcock JC, Dehon H, Larøi F.Hallucinations in healthy older adults: An overview of the literature and perspectives for future research.Front Psychol. 2017;8:1134. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01134Nova Scotia Health: Mental Health and Addictions Program.Detachment from reality (delusions, paranoia, or hallucinations).U.S. Food & Drug Administration.FDA approves first drug to treat hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease.van der Gaag M, van Oosterhout B, Daalman K, et al.Initial evaluation of the effects of competitive memory training (COMET) on depression in schizophrenia-spectrum patients with persistent auditory verbal hallucinations: a randomized controlled trial.Br J Clin Psychol. 2012;51:158-171. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8260.2011.02025.xWright JH, Turkington D, Kingdon DG, et al:Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Severe Mental Illness: An Illustrated Guide. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Publishing.

John Hopkins Medicine.Hallucinations.

MedlinePlus.Hallucinations.

Stern JM.Focal seizures with gustatory hallucinations. In: Panayiotopoulos C.P. (eds) Atlas of Epilepsies. Springer, London. 2010. doi:10.1007/978-1-84882-128-6_65

Liu GT, Volpe NJ, Galletta SL.Visual hallucinations and illusions.Neuro-opthalmology. 2019;12:395-413. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-34044-1.00012-2

Badcock JC, Dehon H, Larøi F.Hallucinations in healthy older adults: An overview of the literature and perspectives for future research.Front Psychol. 2017;8:1134. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01134

Waters F, Blom JD, Dang-vu TT, et al.What Is the link between hallucinations, dreams, and hypnagogic-hypnopompic experiences?.Schizophr Bull. 2016;42(5):1098-109. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbw076

Waters F, Fernyhough C.Hallucinations: A Systematic Review of Points of Similarity and Difference Across Diagnostic Classes. Schizophr Bull. 2017 Jan;43(1):32-43. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbw132. Epub 2016 Nov 21. PMID: 27872259; PMCID: PMC5216859.

Lim A, Hoek HW, Deen ML, Blom JD.Prevalence and classification of hallucinations in multiple sensory modalities in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.Schizophren Res.2016; 176(2-3):493-499. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2016.06.010

Chaudhury S.Hallucinations: Clinical aspects and management.Ind Psychiatry J. 2010 Jan;19(1):5-12. doi:10.4103/0972-6748.77625

Santos RM, Sanchez TG, Bento RF, Lucia MC.Auditory hallucinations in tinnitus patients: Emotional relationships and depression.Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2012 Jul;16(3):322-7. doi:10.7162/S1809-97772012000300004

Al-Dury, S., Molinaro, A., & Hedenström, P. (2021).Propranolol-induced hallucinations mimicking encephalopathy in a patient with liver cirrhosis.Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology,56(7), 829–831. https://doi.org/10.1080/00365521.2021.1919198

Division of Sleep, Harvard Medical School.Symptoms of Narcolepsy.

Waters F, Chiu V, Atkinson A, Blom JD.Severe sleep deprivation causes hallucinations and a gradual progression toward psychosis with increasing time awake.Front Psychiatry.2018;9:303. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00303

Francis LE, Kypriotakis G, O’Toole EE, Bowman KF, Rose JH.Grief and risk of depression in context: the emotional outcomes of bereaved cancer caregivers.Omega (Westport). 2015;70(4):351-379. doi:10.1177/0030222815573720

Zisook S, Corruble E, Duan N, et al.The bereavement exclusion and DSM-5.Depress Anxiety. 2012;29(5):425-443. doi:10.1002/da.21927

Nova Scotia Health: Mental Health and Addictions Program.Detachment from reality (delusions, paranoia, or hallucinations).

U.S. Food & Drug Administration.FDA approves first drug to treat hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease.

van der Gaag M, van Oosterhout B, Daalman K, et al.Initial evaluation of the effects of competitive memory training (COMET) on depression in schizophrenia-spectrum patients with persistent auditory verbal hallucinations: a randomized controlled trial.Br J Clin Psychol. 2012;51:158-171. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8260.2011.02025.x

Wright JH, Turkington D, Kingdon DG, et al:Cognitive-Behavior Therapy for Severe Mental Illness: An Illustrated Guide. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Publishing.

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