Shut up! I yelled to the relentless whir in my head that was so loud I couldn't concentrate on anything but its annoying drone. When I hear that buzz I know it is a sign that my Lithium levels are too high. I hear everything from the rumble of the refrigerator as it cycles on to the roar of the heat or air-conditioning circulating the air through the vents to the electricity pulsing within the wires that dangle above from pole to pole. I think that if I tried hard enough I could hear the bugs breathing. Just recently I heard a bird squawking in my ear ? but I don?t speak bird so I never did figure out what it wanted. I hear the phone ringing even when it is within an arm?s reach and obviously not ringing. I can hear my dog barking from another room when he is at the end of the bed. With all this noise going on, is it any wonder I can't think straight?
These sounds, as bothersome as they are, do not come close to what many people with true psychosis endure at the peak of an auditory hallucination. Some hear full on screaming while others are trapped straining to decipher the constant whispers that barrage their mind. The rest hear some variation in between the two extremes. The most tormented hear voices commanding them to hurt themselves or even others in the most despicable of ways. Sometimes the inexorable voices succeed in overcoming the inflicted person's will and they finally succumb to the wicked suggestions in their head. This type of commotion can also lead to grandiose thoughts and complete loss of touch with reality.
Where do these acoustic disturbances originate and can they be controlled? The answers are - I don't know and I don't know. Research has provided me with theories but no concrete conclusions. Even the professionals disagree on the origin and causes for psychosis so don't expect me to provide any new insight. I will, however, try to share what I have learned in the simplest terms possible.
First off, we all hear voices in our heads. Each person h! as a dia logue of self-talk that is fairly constant during waking hours. Little things like ?Did I come on to strong in that meeting? or ?I?m a kind and loving person.? This banter goes on all the time; some think it?s even where our dreams come from. It certainly is how our self-esteem is kept in check. It?s also how our depressed self drags us down further into the pit and how our manic side elevates us into the stars.
SOME POSSIBLE CAUSES
Auditory hallucinations can be caused by many types of medicines, especially if found in toxic levels. Some examples of these medicines are: Lithium & some other psychotropic medications, tricyclic antidepressants, sleeping medicines, antihistamines and even some toxic plants. Reports of these types are found throughout the world.
Another large problem that contributes to auditory disturbances is illegal drugs such as, cocaine, amphetamines, cannabis, inhalants, sedatives, hallucinogens (obviously), hypnotics, etc. Even alcohol can entice hallucinations.
Besides medicines and drugs, some researchers believe the problem lies with abnormalities in the temporal lobe. Studies also suggest that fathers between the ages of 45 ? 49 have children who are twice as likely to develop schizophrenia (where auditory hallucinations show the highest percentages) as fathers under 25 years of age. There is headway being made in gene research, specifically on chromosome 22 and in studies of a retrovirus found in the cerebrospinal fluid of schizophrenia sufferers. Other general neurological disorders such as epilepsy, endocrine conditions such as hyper- or hypothyroidism or even autoimmune disorders can cause auditory hallucinations.
On top of all of this, some believe that short-term psychosis can be caused by purely social factors in a person who has never endured hallucinations before. Traumatic events like the death of a loved one, post-traumatic stress disorder and surviving a natural disaster are just a few examples.
SOME POSSIBLE TREATMENTS
The first line of treatment is almost always medication. Neuroleptic medications continue to be the first line of treatment. Haldol, Thorazine, Resperdal, Seroquel, Zyprexa, etc. are used to combat auditory hallucinations. Unfortunately somewhere between 25-50% of those being treated still suffer from persistent symptoms. Also, these medications have a multitude of side effects that cause people to shy away from taking them on a continual basis.
Along with medication there is a growing following for the use of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to aid someone who is psychotic. Studies are being conducted to determine if the benefits out weigh the possible damaging effects to the patient. Many questions remain unanswered; should you use therapy as an intervention, as treatment when symptoms are in remission or during the acute psychotic phase, should CBT be used only for only medical resistant symptoms or as a tool for general problem solving and coping skills?
As we move into the future, it is bound to provide more answers than we currently have. History proves that over and over. All we can anticipation is more effective medicines with fewer side effects, better therapy and a more conclusive isolation of the chromosomes involved and solutions based upon that research. In essence all we have is hope ? so hang on to it!
Terry J. Coyier is a 37-year-old college student studying for an Associates of Applied Sciences degree. She is also a freelance writer who writes about bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses. Terry was diagnosed with bipolar ten years ago. She lives with her son in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. Terry is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers and her personal portfolio can be viewed at http://terryjroo.writing.com
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