Hallucinations
Hallucinations refer to sensory experiences that may appear real but are merely created by the mind. It can impact all your senses, such as seeing things that nobody else can or hearing voices that aren’t real. Often, they’re triggered by mental illnesses, adverse effects of some medications, or physical conditions like stroke or epilepsy. Because of the complexity and severity of these conditions, you may have to consult with a general practitioner, neurologist, or psychiatrist.
Some examples of mental disorders that cause hallucinations are schizophrenia, delirium, and dementia, and the use of hallucinogenic drugs, such as PCP and LSD, can also bring about hallucinatory episodes. Sleep deprivation, high fevers, vision problems, social isolation, deafness, epilepsy, seizures, and terminal illnesses are also risk factors for hallucinations. The condition is normally diagnosed via brain scans and physical exams.
The underlying cause of the hallucination generally determines the treatment. For example, alcohol withdrawal-induced hallucinations may require medication to calm the nervous system. Other medications may be prescribed to treat the hallucination if the cause is a mental condition like dementia or Parkinson’s disease. Therefore, a precise diagnosis is crucial for its effective treatment.
