My partner hears conversations in the back of his mind. Especially before he goes to sleep. So he has to fall alseep with TV or other noise producing item on. He says that it is just like background chitchat rather than speaking to him. Does anyone else recognise this?

Is he sure they're auditory hallucinations and himself having conversations in his head?

What do the voices say? Anything relevant?

Is he on any meds? Some meds can cause psychosis. Psychosis is not typical in ADD, it is usually a sympton of bipolar & schizophrenia etc (or a whole slew of medical conditions).

He's not abusing any drugs is he?

He has been doing recreational drugs on off for the past year.

He is not on meds.

He says he can't make out what they are saying. It's as if there is babbling conversation in the back ground.

I strongly urge him to see a doctor (yeah I know, fat chance, he's a guy). My money is on the recreational drug use.

Check what he's been taking against the list below:


Psychotic states may occur after ingesting a variety of substances both legal and illegal and both prescription and non prescription. Psychoactive drug (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoactive_drug) intoxication (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intoxication) or withdrawal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Withdrawal). Drugs whose use, abuse or withdrawal are implicated include:


alcohol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-alcohol_55-0">[56] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-alcohol-55)</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-56">[57] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-56)</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gossman_2005_57-0">[58] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-Gossman_2005-57)</sup>
OTC drugs, such as:

Dextromethorphan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dextromethorphan)
Certain antihistamines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antihistamine) at high doses.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-diphenhydramine_trip_therapeutic_58-0">[59] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-diphenhydramine_trip_therapeutic-58)</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-diphenhydramine_trip_supratherapeutic_59-0">[60] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-diphenhydramine_trip_supratherapeutic-59)</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-diphenhydramine_poisoning_psychosis_60-0">[61] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-diphenhydramine_poisoning_psychosis-60)</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Promethazine_61-0">[62] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-Promethazine-61)</sup>
Cold Medications (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cold_Medications&action=edit&redlink=1)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-62">[63] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-62)</sup> (ie. containing PPA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenylpropanolamine), or phenylpropanolamine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenylpropanolamine))


prescription drugs:

barbiturates (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbiturate)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-de_Paola_et_al_2004_63-0">[64] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-de_Paola_et_al_2004-63)</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Sarrecchia_et_al_1998_64-0">[65] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-Sarrecchia_et_al_1998-64)</sup>
benzodiazepines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzodiazepine)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-White_et_al_1982_65-0">[66] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-White_et_al_1982-65)</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Jaffe_et_al_1986_66-0">[67] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-Jaffe_et_al_1986-66)</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Hallberg_et_al_1964_67-0">[68] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-Hallberg_et_al_1964-67)</sup>
Isotretinoin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isotretinoin)
Anticholinergic drugs

atropine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atropine)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Bergman_et_al_1980_68-0">[69] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-Bergman_et_al_1980-68)</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Varghese_et_al_1990_69-0">[70] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-Varghese_et_al_1990-69)</sup>
scopolamine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scopolamine)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Barak_and_Weiner_2006_70-0">[71] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-Barak_and_Weiner_2006-70)</sup>
Jimson weed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimson_weed)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Kurzbaum_71-0">[72] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-Kurzbaum-71)</sup>


antidepressants (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antidepressants)
L-dopa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-dopa)
antiepileptics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiepileptics)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-72">[73] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-72)</sup>
medications (usually cold medications) that contain phenylpropanolamine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenylpropanolamine) or PPA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenylpropanolamine) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-73">[74] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-73)</sup>





Illegal drugs, including:

Stimulants

cocaine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-74">[75] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-74)</sup>
amphetamines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphetamine)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Diaz_75-0">[76] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-Diaz-75)</sup>
methamphetamine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methamphetamine)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Diaz_75-1">[76] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-Diaz-75)</sup>
methylphenidate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylphenidate)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Diaz_75-2">[76] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-Diaz-75)</sup>
MDMA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MDMA) (ecstasy)


hallucinogens (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucinogens)

cannabis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis)
psilocybin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybin)
mescaline (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mescaline)
PCP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phencyclidine)


psychotropics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychotropic)

LSD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LSD)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-psychotic_PCP_rats_76-0">[77] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis#cite_note-psychotic_PCP_rats-76)</sup>

I agree. It think it is the drugs. He has phoned NHS direct helpline in the past. They suggested he went to the doctors.

I've mentioned the fact that he hasn't been yet. His response was 'yeah but you haven't been either'. Always manages to turn the conversation round to me. lol

He made out that the problems were with me at first. The fact that I'd get hurt and show emotion and want to disscuss things. He made out I was being needy and treats me as though I am attention seeking and controlling. He would have been right if he'd have met me ten years ago but I've learnt alot since then. :)

I kinda know I've got to sit and wait for him to do it. I'm gonna have to take a loan from the patience bank I think

Always manages to turn the conversation round to me. lol

He made out that the problems were with me at first. The fact that I'd get hurt and show emotion and want to disscuss things. He made out I was being needy and treats me as though I am attention seeking and controlling. He would have been right if he'd have met me ten years ago but I've learnt alot since then. :)

I'm pretty sure I've said to you prior how clever ADD'ers can be in conversations: they'll quickly railroad a conversation to steer it away from the real issue (where the real issue is something that is their fault). The trick is to detect when they're trying to change the subject then you just ignore it and continue with what you're saying. :) Just never give them an inch.

Cheers for all your adivce, you've been very helpful. I feel I learnt alot over the past couple of days on this forum. I'm pleased I found it.

They are probably sleep-related.

They are not "real hallucinations", in the traditional sense (e.g. schizophrenia; psychosis).

GOOGLE "Hypnagogic" hallucinations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnagogia




They are related sometimes to Sleep Paralysis and some Sleep Disorders. Sleep deprivation makes them WORSEN. (And i don't mean necessarily "fewer hours". Some people can have a lot of sleep, but have very fragmented sleep, to the extent that they are effectively 'sleep deprived'.)

Talk to his Sleep Doctor.

Real hallucinations are when you're walking down the street and people are yelling things in your ear. Then when you chase after them to ask them why they said that and you discover that they don't even speak english, you know you have a problem. This happened to me about a month ago when I had a psychotic episode due to my bipolar. The babbling voices in the back of his mind seem more like racing thoughts than serious hallucinations.

yeah blatently the drugs maybe if he doesnt go to the doctors then u should print some stuff off the web n leave it for him to see.
well good luck anyways x

haha that list lists every single street drug.only time I've heard of this from street drugs is from psychedelics, or from prolonged use of speed or stimulants.

I understand that external auditory hallucinations tend to be drug-induced (speed; coke) or related to psychotic conditions like bipolar (mania) or schizophrenia or delusional disorders.

Internal hallucinations [where the voice comes from INSIDE the person's head] can be DID/MPD/PTSD.

Could be onset of a mental disorder like schizophrenia but I doubt it. Sometimes rec. drug use in some people can trigger latent mental conditions.

Try and convince him to lay off the drugs for a while. Especially if he's doing it everyday.

What drugs has he been using? Any history of mental disorders in his family? (ie: depression, bipolar, schizophrenia etc.)

GOOGLE "Hypnagogic" hallucinations.I don't get paralysis or pain, but I do "see" and "hear" things in that sleep / wake state. It happens often enough it doesn't surprise me anymore. My husband still teases me about the time I insisted there was a dog on my pillow. Thanks for another great reference, Queens.

I have experienced this and I remember it quite clearly. I too used the TV to block it out. I struggled to make out what was being ‘said’. I got so frustrated that I lost my head and cried out to no one in particular, “If you want me to understand this you will have to make it a lot clearer!" It frightened me a bit in the beginning. I eventually told my doctor and she gave me some meds that she said would stop this from happening. While trying to tell her, I was struggling and got a bit upset. When I finally got it out she said, “Is that all, we can fix that.” She wasn’t at all surprised. I tried taking the meds but I have trouble taking meds. I just got used to it and in the end it faded. The thing is to stay calm and not be afraid of it. It’s just an episode and it passes. Strange as it may sound it seems to get worse the more upset you get. It would help to talk to the doctor or psychiatrist. They know how to deal with this, I promise you.

I have auditory voices in my head...
....sometimes they have good ideas..I wonder if it's hallucinations or
my thought patterns now.
....I thought they lived in my head, like they belong there.
hmmmm.

in fact, my dr put me on lexipro..
...and I got a new voice, I called "the chemical voice"
it hated me.

I don't take lexipro now.

...it told me I should kill myself because nothing was gonna help me.

me and suzette (my addiction voice) were scared.

.....suzette just tells me I'm a drug addict, and that's what I should be
because that was what I chose for myself, and I don't know how to be anything else
so why bother staying clean?
........she's tied to a chair in the rotten part of my brain.

I'm used to her.

....she never told me to snuff it.

Someone tried to explain it to me once but I'm not sure I got it all. It seems we become aware of sounds in our head and while wondering what it is, our subconscious 'offers up’ explanations and we accept what comes... Doesn't mean that is exactly what it is. I think there is a reasonable explanation but at the time it can be a bit frightening.

Someone tried to explain it to me once but I'm not sure I got it all. It seems we become aware of sounds in our head and while wondering what it is, our subconscious 'offers up’ explanations and we accept what comes... Doesn't mean that is exactly what it is. I think there is a reasonable explanation but at the time it can be a bit frightening.Sort of like how we interpret a near death experience or a drug trip? Makes sense.

I haven't experienced either of those but I have seen it in movies and I would say yes, a bit like that. I talked to a priest about it (I'm not catholic, it was my stepfather's priest), and he was very kind and understanding and said that he knew of quite a few people who experienced it. This reassured me some. I was also asked if the voices told me to do good or bad. Some significance there I think. But I have got nothing but helpful ‘stuff’. Like guidance in a way. Example, cooking dinner one night for my family, three or four pots boiling and simmering on the stove, kids running in and out, I got this niggling voice that I didn’t have the time to register properly, then it got more persistent, in the end I yelled, “Okay! I hear you!” I was being warned that the potatoes were boiling dry. I felt like a fool yelling at myself in the kitchen.

im suprised more people don't find this familier....i've had that "background conversations" thing as long as i can remember. ive mentioned it to my drs before no one ever seemed to thin too much of it. except one dr who prescribved abilify (for bipoler and schizophrenia,im not diagonosed as either) and it didnt affect it at all. i always thought of it being akin to the racing thoughts you know? just too much going on in my mind....i always thought it was worse at night or if im stressed.

Is ADDF emitting weird sounds ... is that why all these "sound" posts and threads are sounding out today? ;)

Stimulants like adderall or ritalin can cause "brain chatter".

There is an old thread on the topic:

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14681&highlight=head+chatter

Me :D


My partner hears conversations in the back of his mind. Especially before he goes to sleep. So he has to fall alseep with TV or other noise producing item on. He says that it is just like background chitchat rather than speaking to him. Does anyone else recognise this?