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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

I'm often in hospital for medical reasons and I'm always so fearful of telling them about my voices for fear of being sent to the mental health unit. In a recent admission I found my "brave" and told the psych registrar who immediately told me I must be schizophrenic or psychotic. I tried explaining my voices to them but it fell on deaf ears - from that point on any voice related distress I felt, I was told that it wasn't real and to take a few deep breaths or one nurse told me that I was being silly and I needed to just calm down..

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

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

i think one of my worst experiences of stigma came from the mother of someone my 8yo son used to play with at school. After she found out i hear voices she wouldn't let our kids play together anymore.

I think one of the most annoying preconceptions when i reveal i hear voices is the response "so you're schizophrenic?" and I have to explain that actually I am not.

I also dislike in mainstream media how people with schizophrenia are often shown as violent & aggressive (ie the movie "The Voices" with Ryan Reynolds 2014), I think it is time for mental illness to be portrayed more appropriately in movies.

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

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

I'm thinking perhaps stigma was a big topic to leave so late in the night! It's only 6:40pm in Perth, but late enough. I'm well impressed people over east have stuck it out till almost 9! Well done guys

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

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

Thats really hard @Leapy. I'm sorry to hear you lost friends. Have you met people along the way on your recovery journey? These can often be the best friends to confide in as they can understand what your experiences are more. Sadly, its quite human to fear what we dont know or understand. That's why education to normalise voices is so key

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

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

Ok guys, phone is dying but thanks for having me and a MASSIVE thankyou Georgie! I wish everyone here the best and remember that even when stuff is at it's worst, you're never alone xx

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

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

wow @Smashpea, and from mental health professionals. This is so shameful on their behalf. Man, if feel a surge of educational sessions at inpatient units coming on in WA! Watch out! Having said this, I dont want to also bad mouth all clinicians. I have heard so many recovery stories that include a single person (or many) who made the world of difference

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

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

I have met some people along the way who have been great supporters of me but I have many people in my life who don't know I have a mental illness

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

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

@Smashpeait is infuriating when you get told "just calm down" or one of my (non)favourites is "when you understand the voices are not real they will go away" one of my last admissions I explained to the psych liaison that my voices were a complex psychological construct which appear to be related to previous and current life stresses and trauma. He looked like i'd smacked him in the face! - but at least he didn't tell me they weren't real.

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

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

@lanae976, that is really upsetting to hear, and I bet even more upsetting for you to have gone through. You are coragous for having told people. Im so sorry to hear they were far less so.

And yes, those portrayals in the media are terribly disturbing and the reason why that mother reacted the way she did. How do you feel about the new common portrayal where people with psychosis (or related experiences) are shown as alsmot magical? I think it also spreads misunderstanding but i guess at least less negative.

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

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

Yeah Georgie, it definitely wasn't helpful. Mind you it was on a medical ward, not an excuse though. I felt very disregarded, unheard and labelled - needless to say, my voices had a field day!
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