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Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

For this Topic Tuesday we will have Special Guest @Georgie_Paulik from our partner organisation Perth Voices Clinic joining the discussion around your experiences of hearing voices, the impact this has and management tips.

@Georgie_Paulik is a clinical Psychologist and is the Clinical Director and Founder of Perth Voices Clinic. A bit more about her career:

  • Georgie completed her PhD in 2007 from the University of WA and her thesis investigated the role of anxiety in the hearing voices experience.
  • She has undertaken research into voice hearing so that we can understand the experience better – why it happens, when it is most likely to happen, and most importantly, what can we do to reduce distress around it.
  • She helped develop a novel intervention for voice hearers, called Relating Therapy, which helps people to change the relationship they have with their voice (which unfortunately can often be a very negative and bullying relationship) a bit more about that here
  • She has a keen interest in the role of trauma and voices – how trauma can cause voices (for some people) and how to best address underlying trauma.

With Georgie’s wealth of experience, this will be a very interesting and insightful night! We are really looking forward to having everyone involved!

Want to receive an email reminder on the night? Hit the 'Like' button below.

I'm new here - what is Topic Tuesday?

Topic Tuesday runs from 7pm - 9pm AEST monthly. Each month we focus on a different topic, with the session facilitated by a Community Manager or Moderator. Sometimes Topic Tuesday will feature a special guest, who is an expert in the topic.

The first post of the thread (this one) will give you an idea of what the topic is and what will be covered.

How do I get involved?

Topic Tuesday takes place right here! It's text based, so no software is needed. During the session, to keep up with the latest posts hit the 'refresh' button on your browser for the latest posts (it doesn't automatically update). Keep an eye for page numbers at the top & bottom of the page, and jump to the highest page number for the most recent post.

Throughout the session, the facilitator will put questions out for you to answer, usually asking for your own experience on the topic. To contribute to the session, just hit the 'reply' button and share your thoughts. No answers are right or wrong and everyone is welcome to get involved.

If you have any questions about how to use the Forums, check out our Guides.

134 replies

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In response to: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

Thanks for your encouragement Georgie.. I thought that I had dealt with a lot of my "stuff" but maybe it's time to re-engage with someone and dig a little deeper?

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

@jbell I'm sorry to hear you have bee through so much. It definitely sounds like peer support would be great for you right now (are you going to Hearing Voices Network groups - there are networks in most states). even reading about people's experiences can be helpful (lots of links on our webside under Resources or on the Intervoice website). You are certianly not alone.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

Maybe @Smashpea. And I hope I didn't cause offense at my suggestion. Just that - a suggestion. We all have stuff sadly. Sometimes the stuff goes away all on its own, but often it takes blood sweat and tear (hopefully not literally all 3!).

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

@Leapy, it sounds like you are doing some really great things. Thank you for sharing with others what you have found helpful. Compassion is a hard but worthy undertaking! Well done you. I can only imagine how hard that must be though when you hear a voice telling you to hurt yourself. I take my hat off to your strength.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

Unfortunately stigma (or negative attitudes and assumptions) towards hearing voices and psychosis exists. Even mental health workers can be influenced by such stigma (though certainly not all!), as can the people who have these experiences themselves (referred to as self stigma). The experience of stigma (either self stigma or the stigma held by others) associated with psychotic disorders has been demonstrated to increase levels of emotional distress, inhibit recovery, increase experiences such as voices, and to be associated with lower quality of life. I believe however that attitudes are changing in a positive way, thanks to the great work of organisations such as the Hearing Voices Network (and hopefully Perth and Melbourne’s voices clinics!) to educate the general public, mental health workers, carers and people with lived-experience.

Have you been aware of stigma towards your experiences – either by others or by yourself?

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

OK thanks everyone, good night

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

No, I'm FAR from offended! It's something I've been thinking about doing for a while now (for voices and some other stuff) but need to work out the logistics.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

sorry for not being around tonight @Georgie_Paulik, @Former-Member

finding it very interesting

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

Thats okay @Shaz51 - glad you are following along! @jbell thanks for sharing with us tonight!

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

Re: Topic Tuesday // Hearing Voices // Tues 15 May, 7pm AEST

I find I'm scared to tell people I have a mental illness because of the stigma I lost alot of friends when I became unwell and am scared people will judge me if I tell them
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