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Does mental illness cause hallucinations?
I'm 32 years old and I hear music even when there is none playing. It really scares me. Does this mean that I have a mental illness? Should I see a doctor?
4 Answers
Mental illness do cause hallucinations sometimes. Don't get scared. Do see psychiatrist for evaluation and get medications if needed. The sooner the better for better outcome.
Does mental illness cause a person to have "music hallucinations?" That is a great question, one that I've never heard. A conventional psychiatrist is going to diagnose you with a psychotic disorder and treat you with antipsychotic medication. I would need to know more. We're in the gray zone between mental illness and a spiritual/metaphysical experience. Is the
music beautiful or frightening? If it's music you like, my guess is that you're having a paranormal experience. I'd want to ask a lot of questions to determine if you have a variety of symptoms or psychosis...or if this is the only unusual thing you experience. I wrote "Are You Getting Enlightened Or Losing Your Mind? - A Psychiatrist's Guide for Mastering Spiritual and
Paranormal Experience" to help people sort out what is "craziness" and what is spiritual or metaphysical.
Indeed! But, more importantly than a “mental illness”; a tumor or other abnormality in the nervous system needs to be ruled out!
Hello,
Hallucinations alone are not an indication of mental illness. Sometimes when a person is tired and dozes off in bed or in a chair, a common situation may occur. They are called hypnagogic or hypnapompic phenomena. If there are other symptoms associated with the hallucinations, do consult a psychiatrist.
Victor M. Santiago-Noa, MD