voices in my head

I'm not an expert, but... (don't those words look worrying?!)

It sounds like a variation of synesthesia, where people smell sounds or hear colours etc. The brain is confused about its perceptions, the variation here is that this is the perception of internal thought.

I take it you are basically well? And while you are well and have good intuition (most people do), this is not causing too much distress by the sound of it (even typing this I realise it's impossible not to slip into this mode).

As long as you try to keep yourself well, and this isn't causing you distress, then I don't see the problem.

We all have a degree of synesthesia, and we all have an interenal dialogue, don't we? It is your brain constructing these words, of course. We can believe what we like about their origins, I don't agree with your pastor if taken literally, but if he's trying to say that's just part of the wonder of nature, then I kind of do. I more agree with the psychologist on this occasion, the fact that the voice is right much of the time just means that like most people you are able to weigh up the world around you and make reasonable decisions.

If it is getting worse, then perhaps you should discuss this with your GP to check for specific problems, eg strokes, tumours, deficiencies and so on.

Otherwise, brain and mind problems can be multifactorial in origin. The physiology and all the influences are hard to sum up, and to be fair, how many of us really understand all aspects (none of us, of course).

The part easist to influence at home is nutrition, and start there. My intuition says B vitamins, but there are many of these, and omega 3. They are only a part of supplementation, which should include a source of D (eg sunbathing), plus C, minerals, just for starters.

That's truly fascinating. I have a few questions I'd like to ask:

Do you perceive it as a thought or as a real voice - so, does your ear actually hear it?

Are you always clear that this voice does not belong to shared reality?

Is the advice always benign and in keeping with your own moral code?

Is it intrusive? Is it occasional or is the frequency increasing?

Are you worried by it? Do you want it or want to lose it?

There are all kinds of explanations that people may offer. From the external - spirit guides, angels, higher powers, ancestors, beings from Alpha Centauri; to the internal - intuition, clairvoyance or even (at worst) a symptom of schizophrenia.

There's probably no way of knowing what it is. You need to come up with your own meaning that you are happy with, whether an explanation or an acceptance of the mystery. Also, simply keep an eye open on your perception of reality; when dealing with altered states and psychic phenomena it's always important that we know what belongs to shared reality (the reality we all perceive and agree on) and what doesn't - blurring the edges or crossover is not good for our mental health.

My dear JC1223,

I am sure that you are well. You are probably better than many people. Please let me explain why I am saying that. I frequently deal with people who hear and see things and in many cases I am jealous. Perhaps I should explain that also.

Looking at it logically, there is only one voice, and it is always on your right. You don't say whether it is male or female, or whether it is young or old. Perhaps you will tell us. Next, the voice says things which have helped you, or would have helped you if you had taken the advice. You don't mention any instances where the voice disturbed you, or told you to do something which would be harmful to you or to others.

Now, let me explain my jealousy. As a Spiritual Healer, I am in contact with many people who have psychic and mediumistic skills. I have seen more consoling comfort given to the bereaved by mediums than I am capable of doing, and I have studied the subject deeply. Some of those who have this gift hear voices, others see images and some get thoughts as if they were their own. My paltry attempts have been very limited.

Your pastor is close to the truth when he talks of the holy spirit. However, there is little training within mainstream churches to help people like yourself, in spite of St. Paul's wonderful treatise on the gifts of the spirit (Corinthians chapter 13, I think).

Before you consider visiting a GP, please drop in at your local Spiritualist Church and have a chat with someone there. They do have the training and understanding to help.

I have gone on long enough. As Richard Lawton has just said, it is a fascinating subject. I wish you well.

With love and light,
Sue.

thank you for all your comments and support and not telling me i am crazy. to answere some of your questions, the voice is female. when i hear it it is inside my right ear but from behind me. it is occasional but sometimes intrusive. during the instance witht the, contract i was in the middle of a conversation when the voice began shouting at me, strange because it never shouted before, not to sign the contract. this, it repeated several times. its not a thought but a voice that i hear in my head but not with my ear. that is the only way i can dscribe it. it is always clear and abrupt. i can be in the middle of a thought and the voice will abruptly tell me something. short and abrupt. i am am fortunate enough to say that i am a very healthy woman and my diet consisits of mostly vegetables and fish. i guess i just need to know that i am not an irrational middle aged woman slipping into some sort of dillusional state of mind. maybe i was just hoping that someone could tell me that i was normal and we all have voices in our head. thanks again for your support.
jc

I get that voice in my head sometimes and on occasion have had wispers in my ear...

it has always been for good and it seems to predict future events...

it does not happen very often to me and I haven't a clue what it is

but i'm glad for the help, where ever it comes from...

TBW

Hello JC

Welcome to HP! There are lots of interesting comments here and I would just like to add that I am sure you are very normal! In fact I believe in the distant past we could all have contact with 'the other side' - and children still do - until this facet of our being was 'educated' out of us: "Who are you talking/listening to, don't be silly there's no-one there!" The modern world in very heavily rooted in the physical but in order to survive in ancient times this facility was crucial.

It is relatively unusual to be able to hear a voice/voices these days and I think it would be beneficial for you to discuss your aspect with someone at a Spiritualist church - but choose the right person. This faculty is not limited to nice kind people and there are those who use their knowledge in a controlling manner - so listen to your voice on the choice of adviser.

Do you ever discuss things with the voice - have you asked its name and the like? My curiosity wouldn't stop me!!

Well, most here are leaning straight away towards the 'Mulder' version. I don't knock that, except to say that in my view it's always sensible to consider the 'Scully' first.

It's a strange-seeming symptom, but that doesn't mean it lacks a real-world cause in the workings of the body and brain. Wouldn't you say that was likely? Auditory hallucination is pretty common, I think most of us have the occasional 'did I hear something', and usually the cause is physiological.

I have a foot in both the Scully and Mulder camps, kvdp!

Yes it is possible to induce auditory and visual halucinations with various imbalances and chemicals, but in this case the person eats well, is otherwise well, and I think JC's experience is to do with communication.

I wouldn't have thought this in the past but since I have (and am) experiencing this then that is why I have said what I did in post no 7.

I have always queried things - and as a child I drove my mother mad with my questions! I came across a wonderful ditty a few years ago that I can truly relate to:

"I have six working friends, they taught me all I knew
Their names are What? and Why? and When?, and How? and Where? and Who?"

no, ive never had a conversation with it or asked it its name. it just says what it has to say and nothing more.

maybe i was just hoping that someone could tell me that i was normal and we all have voices in our head. thanks again for your support.
jc

Maybe not all, but many people do have voices inside their heads, thoughts that seem to come from elsewhere, and so on.

When I first started experiencing things, I thought I was going mad, indeed I was on the verge of going to the doctor about these experiences. I was lucky; at the time I was surrounded by people who could support me through it, help me to make sense of what was going on, and to show me that I was not going mad.

I now have what you might call a mind-body-spirit gift shop, so as you might expect we attract a lot of people who are on their own spiritual and/or psychic journey. However a reasonable proportion of our customers have never discussed such things with anyone else and would not consider themselves psychic, mediumistic or spiritual in any way. You would be amazed how many of these people, on overhearing my conversations with other customers, will wait until the shop is quiet then say "you know, I've never told anyone this in case they thought I was mad...." then gone on to tell me the most wonderful experiences. I am truly honoured that they share these stories with me, and to be able to reassure them that they are not mad at all, and that actually more people have these experiences than they would think.

I agree with CarolineN that you might benefit from a visit to a Spiritualist Church. If you're not comfortable with that, then why not ask the source of the voice to help you find the right advisor for you? From what you say, it hasn't let you down to date, but don't be surprised if that advisor comes from where you might least expect it!

Hope that helps.
With love,
Amber

thank so much for all of your input and opinions. i have read them all and, to some degree, agree with them all. i do not truly believe that my mind is slipping but i am also struggling with acceptance of the other possabilities. as i stated before, i have been seeing a psychologist, and pastor, and both have given me great advice. unfortunately, their opinions still leave me questioning and doubtful. i guess, for now, as there as been no harm done, other than to my psyche, i will just continue to listen to the warnings as they come and try to stop questioning the source. thanks again for the input and for not telling me im crazy.
jc

Dear JC1223,

I am glad that chatting here seems to have assured you that you are not crazy. I feel that it would help to reinforce that if you were to go to places where others have the same experience. Amber Lady's shop sounds interesting. I am sure that she would tell you where it is if you ask her. On the other hand, there are two main groups of what I would call recognised and trustworthy Spiritualist Churches in the UK. Here are links which will let you find your local one(s).

[DLMURL] http://www.unitedspiritualists.org.uk/Churches/churches.html [/DLMURL]
[DLMURL] http://www.snu.org.uk/churches/search.htm [/DLMURL]

If I were in your position, I would be wanting to know why the voice is there, and who she is. If you think of her voice as giving guidance, rather than warnings, she appears to be caring for you. Personally, I would be moved by that thought. If you take that approach, and treat her as you would an unknown female who rings you up on the telephone to advise, what would you do, especially if the advice has been useful? Again personally, I would simply ask her who she is, and why she is talking to you.

With love and light,
Sue.

thank so much for all of your input and opinions. i have read them all and, to some degree, agree with them all. i do not truly believe that my mind is slipping but i am also struggling with acceptance of the other possabilities. as i stated before, i have been seeing a psychologist, and pastor, and both have given me great advice. unfortunately, their opinions still leave me questioning and doubtful. i guess, for now, as there as been no harm done, other than to my psyche, i will just continue to listen to the warnings as they come and try to stop questioning the source. thanks again for the input and for not telling me im crazy.
jc

Your mind is not slipping.
You are hearing spirit.
I too,hear voices,in my left ear and i can assure you I am not mad.
This is what is called ' Audient ' hearing and it happens to a great number of people who have this gift.
You are hearing either spirit talking to you or sometimes it can be spirit having a conversation which you are over hearing.
Silverhoodedowl.

thank so much for all of your input and opinions. i have read them all and, to some degree, agree with them all. i do not truly believe that my mind is slipping but i am also struggling with acceptance of the other possabilities. as i stated before, i have been seeing a psychologist, and pastor, and both have given me great advice. unfortunately, their opinions still leave me questioning and doubtful. i guess, for now, as there as been no harm done, other than to my psyche, i will just continue to listen to the warnings as they come and try to stop questioning the source. thanks again for the input and for not telling me im crazy.
jc

Why are you still seeing a pstor and a shrink?? You are well tuned in just embrace what is flowing so freely, accept and honour it. It is all a gift. {Perhaps your shrink and pastor need to come to see you!} Its your inner guidance opened up, You hear it some 'see' it some just Know it, others just feel it. There are as many ways as are people on Earth.

It is such a common curse that we can trust any Tom, **** and Hary but rarely ourselves...Why try to understand it, label it and put it in a box. It is what it is. Most beautiful things are just that - beyond the grasp of our understanding.
Revel in it! You are lucky indeed