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