Voices - can anyone relate?

Welcome to the forums @Navajo_button ,

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I hear you have overcome a lot to get to where you are now, and it sounds like it's been a battle.

I hear how much the voices are stressful for you and that it is something you don't want to experience any longer.

I'm also looking forward to hearing the community's insights, as I know there is a wealth of lived experience here on the community.

Please take care in the mean time and enjoy some self-care.

I lived with the same for most of my life.

My voices were an internal monologue of my own trauma.

I tried to let you know what meds worked for me but the moderator won't let me post it. closest I can get is slow release "Quiet pine". A chemist or google should be able to work it out.

If it's other peoples voices, (e.g. Schizophrenia based) I'm not sure but you should talk to not only your G.P. but also a Chemist/Pharmacist as they usually know more about the actual mediacations, as well as the conditions they treat. I know how bad it sucks but meds have come a long way.

The problem with internal voices is that they are intrusive, even when you're trying to redirect your focus through activities (or Cognitive Behavioural Therapies).

P.S. Psychiatrists are expensive but if you have a Health Care Card and a referral, out of pocket expenses are accrued under the Safety Net, so after you spend about $550-$600 visits costs are greatly reduced, if not nil.

Hope this information helps. Don't give up trying to find a solution.

Hi @Navajo_button, there are a lot of positive approaches recommended by people with lived experience of hearing voices, and there are a number of organisations built around/by them. They can been seen as a supplement, or for some an alternative, to the medical approach of medicating the voices away.

They suggest that voices can speak in metaphors and are not to be taken literally. They also suggest negotiating a specific time to interact with the voices. e.g. from. 5pm to 6pm.

The strongest movement in Australia is Voices Vic: https://www.unitingvictas.org.au/services/mental-health/hearing-voices-support/

There is also a MFHA support group: https://supportgroup.mhfa.org.au/hearing-voices-support-group

Internationally, there is:

o Intervoice - Hearing Voices Movement (HVM): https://www.intervoiceonline.org/

o Understanding Voices (Durham University U.K.): https://understandingvoices.com

Everyone's lived experience is different and there are varied causes for voices so these approaches may not match your particular condition or life experience, but I find Eleanor Longden's 14 min Ted Talk inspirational and explains some of these concepts (TW): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syjEN3peCJw

Thank you for sharing @Radder and @Flarnflinger . They are such helpful responses. @Navajo_button

Also wondering if Internal Family Systems and parts work might help, or the integration journey of Shadowwork... ala Jungian psychotherapy... just ideas...for long term?

@Navajo_button @Radder @Flarnflinger

Hi @Navajo_button

Hope this link helps ihttps://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/hearing-voices/coping-with-hearing-voices/