Hallucinations, perceptual disorders

Hallucinations are perceptual disorders that cause someone to see, hear, or smell something that is not really there. Hallucinations can be caused by mental disorders, certain illnesses, or side effects of drugs.

Hallucinations can also be accompanied by delusions, that is, belief in something that does not exist or does not correspond to the actual situation. For example, someone feels he has power and is very close to famous people, when in reality he is not. Hallucinations accompanied by delusions are usually experienced by people with psychosis and schizophrenia.

Symptoms of Hallucinations

Symptoms of hallucinations can be distinguished according to its type, namely:

Hallucinations of vision

People with visual hallucinations will see something that is not really there. Objects that are seen can be humans, objects, or light.

Hearing hallucinations

Hearing hallucinations suffer hearing sounds, commands or threats that are not there.

Smell hallucinations

People who smell hallucinations will smell nice or unpleasant odor, even though the smell is actually not there.

Hallucinations of taste

Hallucinations of this type of person will taste a strange taste, for example the taste of metal, on the food or drink he consumes, even though the taste is actually not there.

Hallucinations of touch

The sufferer feels as if someone is touching or touching him, or feels like an animal is crawling on his skin, when in fact there isn't.

When to see a doctor

Check with your doctor if you experience the hallucinatory symptoms mentioned above, especially if they occur frequently and they interfere with daily activities.

Seek immediate medical attention if hallucinations encourage you to take dangerous actions, both for yourself and others.

Causes of Hallucinations

The causes of hallucinations vary greatly, ranging from mental disorders to physical illness. In addition, hallucinations can also occur due to side effects of drugs used to treat depression, epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease.

Mental disorders

Hallucinations can be caused by a number of mental disorders below:

Schizophrenia

Psychosis

Bipolar disorder

Depression with psychotic disorders

Delirium or dementia

Borderline personality disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Physical illness

Several types of diseases below can cause hallucinations:

High fever (especially in children and the elderly)

Parkinson's disease

Alzheimer's disease

Brain tumor

Migraine

Epilepsy

Stroke

Charles Bonnet's Syndrome

Other conditions

Hallucinations can also be caused by a number of the following conditions:

Alcohol abuse and drug use

Sleep disturbance

Head injury

Hallucinations diagnosis

The doctor will ask for complaints and history of the disease, treatment, and family history of the patient, and conduct a physical examination. After that, the doctor will conduct a supporting examination to find out the cause of hallucinations, such as:

Blood and urine tests, to see the possibility of infection and alcohol and drug abuse.

EEG (electroencephalogram), which is an examination of the electrical activity of the brain to see if hallucinations are caused by epilepsy.

CT scan and MRI scan, to detect strokes and the possibility of injury or tumor in the brain.

Hallucinations Treatment

Hallucinations treatment depends on the cause. The doctor will prescribe medication if hallucinations are caused by mental disorders, epilepsy, or migraines. However, in hallucinations caused by brain tumors, the doctor will perform a surgical or radiation procedure.

The doctor will also recommend cognitive behavioral therapy, especially in hallucinatory patients caused by mental disorders. This therapy can help patients deal with fear or paranoia.

Hallucination Prevention

Hallucinations can be prevented by doing routine checks when you experience mental disorders or health problems that can cause hallucinations.

In addition, to prevent hallucinations, you are also advised to:

Manage stress well, for example by doing relaxation techniques.

Avoid using drugs.

Limit consumption of alcoholic drinks.

Enough sleep.

Subscribe to receive free email updates: