Altered sensing
Altered sensing can involve the experience of perceiving something through your senses that is not present in the physical environment but appears like it is. This can occur in all of the senses.
Auditory
The most common alteration to sensory experience is that of hearing voices, these are either heard inside the mind or by the ears or a combination of the two. Although voices can occur in the mind they are qualitatively experienced as if they are foreign to the person and come from an external source. When they are heard through the ears they are just like hearing somebody present talking to the person.
People can experience positive voices that are supportive, encouraging and protective or negative voices that are unpleasant, ridicule the person and provoke fear. Also, some people experience voices that comment on what they do, say, think and feel like a running commentary or voices that are directive and commanding telling the person what to do. These voices can also link to a person’s past experiences and or be the voices of positive or negative influences in a person’s life.
In addition to hearing voices people may experience other auditory sensations, for example hearing sounds like alarms ringing, music playing or someone knocking on the walls or door.
Video
The following video is Debra’s story of living with voices is a journey into the soul. Describing her experiences, we start to understand, and are able to better support those human beings living with loud heads.
Visual
Although less common than auditory experiences, a person can also experience visions. There are a wide range of different experiences of this kind. Visions can be brief lasting only a few seconds or may persist lasting several minutes.
Visions are differentiated into 2 types; simple and complex. Simple visions include seeing geometric shapes, colours, spots or flashes of light. These are often related to neurological (brain) or ophthalmological (eye) conditions. Complex visions include seeing fully formed images, objects, animals or people. Those who have unusual experiences are most likely to have complex visions and these are likely to be frightening, for example, insects, snakes, aliens, monsters.
Visions are thought to be the result of three possible reasons:
- Psychophysiological (brain anatomy).
- Psychobiological (neurotransmitter dysfunction).
- Psychodynamic (unconscious becoming conscious).
Olfactory
Although less common than other sensory experiences, an individual can experience smelling odors that are not related to the present situation. These may be pleasant and reminiscent of a positive experience the person has had or they might be unpleasant and lead the person to have unhelpful beliefs e.g. that they smell bad.
Gustatory
This is also a less common sensory experience where the individual tastes something that is not related to the present situation. These may be pleasant and reminiscent of a positive experience the person has had or they might be unpleasant and lead the person to have unusual beliefs e.g. that they are being poisoned.
Somatosensory (tactile)
This is another less common sensory experience where an individual can feel like they are being touched or feel sensations on their skin that are not related to the present situation. Examples of this include:
- Feeling like being tapped on the shoulder.
- Feeling like someone is touching them or breathing on them.
- Feeling like being pushed or hit.
- Feeling like something is crawling on their skin.
- Feeling pain.
If it troubles you
Although some unusual experiences are pleasant and can even be helpful, most people will experience times when this isn’t the case. It may feel overwhelming, chaotic, scary or negative in some other way. At times like these it can be helpful to use coping techniques like the examples given below, try various things and see what works best for you. Click the cards to reveal more information.
- Distraction can be a way to deal with challenging unusual experiences, for example reading, playing games, watching TV or a film, doing arts or crafts, etc.
- Listening to music either with headphones or a speaker can help to drown out unwanted sensory experiences.
- Talking to a relative, friend, carer or mental health professional, either in person or on the phone, can be helpful.
- It can be helpful to set aside time to regularly listen to what you hear and respond if needed whilst ignoring what you hear at other times.
- Using the altered sense with positive associations can help, for example smelling flowers if you’re sensing unpleasant smells.
- Unusual experiences can cause a person to feel tense and using relaxation techniques can help, for example meditation, mindfulness, breathing exercises.
Compassion
Changing the dynamic that a person has with their voices can be incredibly powerful and a worthwhile place to start is with compassion. Have a look at the video below which takes you through the journey of a guy who develops compassion for his voices.
Video: Compassion for Voices: a tale of courage and hope
A film about the compassionate approach to relating with voices, with potential for use as a therapeutic, educational, and de-stigmatising tool. This project is a Cultural Institute at King’s project led by Dr Charlie Heriot-Maitland, Department of Psychology at King’s, in collaboration with Kate Anderson, independent animation director.
Creative sensing
For some there are great benefits in altered sensing, particularly within the realm of creative pursuits. Writers channeling their characters within their writing, characters that come to life and interact with them to tell their side of the story. Musicians hearing their music, some even being able to conduct an orchestra and then bring that music to life through their creations. Artists who see what they want to draw in intricate detail, in some cases in living form and then being able to construct this within their artwork. These can be experienced as within the persons mind or as external to the person but make sense within the context of their creative process. They are very intense but are seen in a positive light and are well integrated for the person.
Consider more:
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