Hallucinations and Depression

Hallucinations and depression typically go hand-in-hand. Although everybody goes through the lights and darks of life and it is normal to feel sadness; some individuals see the condition as if like one is being sucked in darkness or having a feeling of continues uncertainty. The striking part here are those people who don’t feel sad at all. Those depressed ones feel that they do not exist. They do not feel anything. They feel empty.

Not just merely a blue mood that passes by. Depression is not a personal weakness or an uncomfortable feeling that an individual can just wish it goodbye. Depression is a medical ailment that needs serious treatment. If left untreated, it could possibly result to a more serious conditions like hallucinations.

Hallucinations and Depression: What are they?

In layman’s term, depression is a mood disorder that can possibly result to hallucinations, perceiving an unreal circumstance, thing or happening. For a thorough definition, depression is a reduction in our body’s autonomic functions, affecting the way how an individual feels about oneself, particularly showing signs of inaction and sad behaviors, inability to concentrate and think right. Hallucination on the other hand is an after effect of depression; a psychotic feature involving hearing sounds, seeing objects, having to taste and smell things that do not exist and only tends to appear in the imaginary world.

Hallucinations and Depression: Common Signs of Depression

• Changes or irregularity in sleep.

• Always experiencing trouble in concentrating and focusing on simple things, making hard to decide, and very poor memory.

• Feeling like having an increase in physical aches like back and stomach pains, and unexplained aching head and muscles.

• One feels irritable, restless, and agitated. Very low tolerance level.

• Experiencing fatigued feeling and sluggish. Feeling that energy is absent and physically low; having to feel like the whole body is too heavy.

• One is feeling helpless that things will just get worse and thinking that everything will end up hopeless.

• Loss of interest in pastimes, former activities, social life, and even sex. Having to feel a sudden reduction in pleasure.

• Significant underweight and overweight changes.

• Loss of appetite or better known as anorexia.

• Having to experience a strong feeling of guilt and self pitying. Harshly criticizing one ’s self for faults perceived.

Hallucinations and Depression: Symptoms of Hallucinations

• Believing that they have been in communication to a person in the past or a deceased person.

• Views simple objects in a different perspective as if they are moving, floating growing, and talking.

• Easily afraid by reflections and shadows.

• Hearing voices that tells them what to do.

• Easily frightened by hearing imaginary sounds.

• Easily gets scared of false images.

• Feeling that there is someone or something touching them.

• Talking to oneself as if there is someone else in the room.

Hallucinations and Depression: Causes and Risk Factors

Depression can not just be simply cured with the typical medication as it is not just a result of a simple chemical imbalance of the nervous system. Depression is the result of the combination of one’s choice of lifestyle, interrelation skills, and the relationships that go over it. The same thing is true with hallucinations. The combination of mental, biological and social factors is the cause of such condition. Several risk factors make an individual more prone to depression.

• Loneliness or being without company all the time

• Experiences from childhood of abuse or early trauma

• Drug and chemical abuse

• Weak or no social support

• Problems within the married life or relationship strains

• Financial problems

• Experiences that have something to do with a stressful past

• Alcohol or liquor abuse

• Problems pertaining to unemployment or livelihood

• Problems pertaining to health and physical disorders

Recovering and Preventing the Onset of Hallucinations and Depression

There are many ways to make one feel better depending on the different symptoms and causes for depression in different individuals. Every situation is not identical. What works for a particular case may not be appropriate for another. Supporting one thru social living, building up psychological skills, changes in the personal lifestyle and help from the professionals are the best options possible for people undergoing these conditions.

Feeling hopeless and helpless is more likely a sign that depression is present, rather than what the situation really is. Asking for professional help is one of the major keys to recovering from depression and hallucinations. Start small and have a strong foundation of support. Reaching out to other people, even if you feel isolated, will go a long way to speed up recovery. Do not keep things to yourself. Instead, let family and friends know your situation and in what means can they help.

A person’s lifestyle change can give a big impact against depression. Though this may not sound easy, but it is assured to be very effective. Effective lifestyle changes include having regular exercise and sleep, taking a healthy and balanced diet, proper stress management and relaxation, being optimistic and nourishing relationships with people around you.

Seek help from a psychological health professional if the combination of nourishing emotional skills, optimistic living and support from people around you are not enough. Right medication, several forms of therapies and medical alternatives are just some help the professionals can lend. Looking over these choices will help you decide what treatment method will suit your case.

Understanding Hallucinations and Depression

Loss is the basic compound of depression and hallucination is a result of depression. Unexpected events like loosing someone or something that is loved most; abuse resulting to unwanted trauma; drug and alcohol abuse; poor social support; and financial and health problems are major factors that could lead to depression. When you have depression, hallucinations are more likely to follow suit. It is essential to do regular exercises, have a balanced diet, nurture a healthy lifestyle, get support from the people around and strive to see each day more positively to promote continued recovery.