Coping Strategies for Voice Hearing

[sscott]

I have to cope with hearing voices as a result of my schizophrenia. Over the years, I have tried many approaches to managing them. I found one method that works brilliantly, and that is to write down exactly quote unquote what they say. This enables you to discredit them and maintain the higher moral ground. Many of my voices have names, human names. So when I am writing down what they are saying, I write down who was saying it. I have made several infographics about coping with auditory verbal hallucinations, that can be found at http://hearingvoices.info. Also, if you write down what they say, you can make a recording and put it on YouTube to help other people.

 

[sscott]

The coping strategies infographics / posters at The Hearing Voices Database Of Verbal Auditory Hallucinations are free to download and duplicate. Go directly to Schizophrenia Hearing Voices Infographics

 

[Kerome]

How is a database a coping strategy? It seems a bit of a random addition to the thread...

 

[sscott]

Yes sorry. I was in the process of updating the website, that is now called "Schizophrenia Voices Info". The database stuff is now deprecated and the link was erroneous.

 

[sscott]

SORRY ** The above link was named incorrectly. Below is what it should have read:

The coping strategies infographics / posters at Schizophrenia Voices Information are free to download and duplicate. Go directly to Schizophrenia Hearing Voices Infographics

 

[Gracey]

I feel good laying in bed at home sometimes. Just relaxing. It makes me feel better.

 

[Judy31]

Hearing disturbing screams

I have recently been hearing screams in my head. Very loud and very real. I suffer from depression but not bipolar or schizophrenia. I have gone through some recent stress but the screaming is making me very aggressive . I have no intentions of harming anyone. I can't imagine living with these voices like you all say you do. What do I do. Distraction is difficult.

 

[Positivelypositive]

I find it helpful too to actively think silently in (positive) sentences rather than letting ideas or voices come to me as images or implied concepts. I'm not sure if that's an issue for other people. Fully fleshing out thoughts and organizing them into journal entries has done a lot more for me than I expected. Fish Oil seems to help quell erratic thinking patterns for me as well.

 

[Miller77]

Hi there, these are some helpful techniques that I think may of help to others. This may be of use to low to mid level intensities. But if you find that you are not coping, even though you may be trying these suggestions, it is important to seek help from a medical professional:

Focussing Techniques
Identify your voices, number, gender, age etc
Reason with your voices
Listen for positive voices
Schedule time for the voices
Let a trusted person interview your voices
Write down what the voices say

Positive Emotional Techniques
Listen to upbeat music
Make a list of blessings
Get friends to write positive things about you
Make a list of your assets and strengths
Read positive scriptures
Read jokes online
Say positive affirmations
Record in your voice positive things about you
Watch comedy tv/movies

Look After Yourself
Do something nice for yourself each day
Eat healthy
Exercise regularly
Keep to a daily routine
Plan your day
Set realistic goals
See that life has grey areas too

Emotional Focusing
Talk to a mature person
List emotional triggers
List a plan b for emotional triggers
Paint/draw/scribble emotions
Keep a mood diary
Write poetry

Coping Techniques
Keep free from illicit drugs
Singing
Games
Support Groups
Good friends
Comedy
Identify most likely times you hear voices
Keep a diary
Cooking
Chores
Exercise
Music
Massage
Prayer
Sleep
Talk to a mature person

Unhelpful Things
Self-medicating/ taking yourself off meds
Being told not to talk about voices
Not talking about your voices [bottling up]
Disturbing dreams
Lack of sleep
Being told it’s your imagination
Negative thinking
Isolation

Relaxation Techniques
Acknowledging fear, worry and stress and letting go
Slow deep breathing
Dancing/walking
Listen to relaxing music
Massage
Exercise

Crisis Techniques
Tell a mature person
Plan in advance for emotional triggers
Cry
Have a safe place
Get rid of possible self-harm implements
Have PRN meds
Remind yourself that it will pass
Shout into a pillow
Identify the trigger and write it down

Comforting Techniques
Change bedding
Eat favorite food
Hot bath
Hot drink
Hug someone
Music
Prayer
Illuminate dark rooms
Sing
Soak feet
Comfort a pet
Incense
Write in a diary

General Ideas
Don’t expect perfection from yourself
List assets and strengths
Positive affirmations
Self-forgiveness
Voice dialogue
Listening to two separate sound sources in each ear, one music the other a book

Distraction Techniques
Movies
Chores
Games
Exercise
Gardening
Music
Paint/draw/scribble emotions
Shopping
Sports
Phone a friend
Visit a friend
Walk by the sea
Bathing
Write

Source: www.hearing-voices.org; www.hearingvoicesnetwork.com; Intervoice: The International Hearing Voices Network

Very good grounded advice displayed here

 

[Miller77]

Hearing disturbing screams

I have recently been hearing screams in my head. Very loud and very real. I suffer from depression but not bipolar or schizophrenia. I have gone through some recent stress but the screaming is making me very aggressive. I have no intentions of harming anyone. I can't imagine living with these voices like you all say you do. What do I do? Distraction is difficult.

Hi Judy, What you have described here I have heard before during attending a local hearing voices support group, They naturally thought it was her younger brother in the next room playing tricks, may I ask a few questions though just give me the basic dynamics of what your experiencing, does it sound like it's coming through the next room, is it loud or do you have to pay it attention first! is it just screaming or have you developed full conversations after that first event, do you have other symptoms like being followed or bright lights at night when trying to sleep, do you have one ear which is louder than the other, where you bullied in your past and still live in the same area, do you experience subvocalization or inner speech leaking from your head like a broadcast, or phone conversation. You can contact me via e-mail if you would prepare too, my e-mail is, [email protected] hope are better, if not e-mail.

 

[Miller77]

Please don't shout at them, i don't think it works.

I say to them, What you know about parrots! or Is sand passive, just subvocalize something random, as they are trying to get you to act out, do everything opposite to them, if you get welfare, say thanks for the money, talk about Donald Trump or God or something nonsensical, if they attack you while your on the loo, insult them, regard them as pedos they hate this!!