My sister is hallucinating at random

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poison

Well-Known Member
#1
I don't know what is causing it and neither does she, but my sister, who is only 12, is hallucinating at random. She says they have been going on for about 3 - 5 months and they sometimes happen daily, though not always. They are extremely brief, the longest ones usually only last up to 15 seconds. She usually sees a man in a top hat dressed in all black with a cruel smile and sometimes dark laughter. She sometimes sees people burning in fires, and she has never witnessed a fire. Other things include people hanging themselves and just hearing people scream. She has no clue why and I asked her if she saw anything shocking and she said no. I also asked her if the amount of stress recently has been considerable and she said no as well. We told mom about it and she said she will call a doc ASAP.

I'm only 14 going on 15 and I am very scared and worried - what should I do? what could this be? please help!
 

Beret

Staff Alumni
#2
Im sorry to hear that your little sister is expressing some psychotic symptons. Its not our fault that we are dealing with mental health issues, and its certainly not your sisters fault. I would hope that your mom is capable in finding a good doc, who will be able to talk with her and give her medication if needed.
Let us please know how she is doing.
 
R

Robin

#3
It sounds like you have a very supportive mother and for that I'm glad :) Your sister is very lucky to have a brother as understanding as you too. I went through similar (though not as many types of hallucinations as your sister) issues when I was young all the way till I was 18, it was incredibly scary and painful often too.

I'm sure the drs can help, the only thing I'm worried about is her age as I've heard that medication doesn't always work the same way on children as it does on adults but am sure the drs have something up their sleeves with which to help.

Keep us posted and don't underestimate the power of a :hug: for your sister, reassurance can help a great deal.
 
F

Fishman

#4
The doctors should have the right assessment for her and know of the right treatments, My hugs and sympathy's go out to you and your family. Try not to cause so much trouble around the house and be supportive to you family in this time, you all need each other. Try doing somethings that help you bond as a group. :smile:
 
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Dave_N

#5
They are extremely brief, the longest ones usually only last up to 15 seconds. She usually sees a man in a top hat dressed in all black with a cruel smile and sometimes dark laughter. She sometimes sees people burning in fires, and she has never witnessed a fire. Other things include people hanging themselves and just hearing people scream.
I have had visions before. I call them visions because they were brief (about 10 sec each time) and they occurred just after I woke up in the morning. It was like watching a movie that projected from my mind. The things I saw were really mundane in comparison to what your sister is seeing. I saw things like an old room in a house, old cartoons and other old things from about the 50's.
 
#6
I know someone who has really bad hallucinations, the other day she followed me concerned because she thought someone was tampering with the gas and was worried the same person had hurt me, often talks to other 'people' who are hiding behind the doors too. The best thing you can do as a brother (and a friend) is to reassure her and let her know everything is ok. Calling the doctor is a wise thing to do, your sister will most likely be assessed and she will be helped in some shape or form, either by medication or some sort of therapy. Good luck with everything. :hug:
 

Hae-Gi

Banned Member
#8
Hmm, I had my first hallucination when I was around twelve, too... I wonder if this has any connection to the age? It took until I was fifteen before it started happening again, though, but mainly after I was seventeen, I believe it must have been... it happened every now and then, usually when I had been sleeping, and usually awakened me in an alternate reality that looked exactly the same, but wasn't. It was so horrible I can't even describe it... usually, I thought that absolutely everything that existed was going to end, due to humanity's greed, and I had been chosen as the one to stop it. When I didn't try to deny that this indeed was the truth, and realised I had to get out of bed to stop it all, I always "woke up" from the delusion. It's probably been five years since I had any of this, but I still, every now and then, feel as if it's "on its way," but it always goes away... I counter it with positive thoughts, which may be why it goes away... if I'd be asleep, however, I probably would end up in the delusion, because I believe the psyche is significantly more vulnerable during sleep. I've never taken any medications against it, either... I've always been able to handle it.
 
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Dave_N

#9
Hmm, I had my first hallucination when I was around twelve, too... I wonder if this has any connection to the age? It took until I was fifteen before it started happening again, though, but mainly after I was seventeen, I believe it must have been... it happened every now and then, usually when I had been sleeping, and usually awakened me in an alternate reality that looked exactly the same, but wasn't. It was so horrible I can't even describe it... usually, I thought that absolutely everything that existed was going to end, due to humanity's greed, and I had been chosen as the one to stop it. When I didn't try to deny that this indeed was the truth, and realised I had to get out of bed to stop it all, I always "woke up" from the delusion. It's probably been five years since I had any of this, but I still, every now and then, feel as if it's "on its way," but it always goes away... I counter it with positive thoughts, which may be why it goes away... if I'd be asleep, however, I probably would end up in the delusion, because I believe the psyche is significantly more vulnerable during sleep. I've never taken any medications against it, either... I've always been able to handle it.
This sounds more like sleep paralysis experiences to me.
 
#10
I asked her if she saw anything shocking and she said no. I also asked her if the amount of stress recently has been considerable and she said no as well.
She didn't find the visions shocking? Are the visions making her anxious? For me, the things she described would be disturbing, so if she doesn't find them as such, that may be a clue as to what is going on. It could help the doctor make the right diagnosis.

Your mother is calling a psychiatrist, I hope? Your sister will probably have to see a medical doctor to rule out any physical ailments, but she may as well start getting a specialist's help.

Narcolepsy, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, sleep deprivation, brain tumor, a few STDs, hypoglycemia, and drug use can all cause hallucinations. Of course, stress can be a cause as well, and puberty is very stressful for many people, even though we often don't realize it at the time.
 

Hae-Gi

Banned Member
#11
This sounds more like sleep paralysis experiences to me.
Well, except that I always used to be able to walk around perfectly, when I got them. Also, I didn't "wake up" from a delusion, instantly after I realised it was "true," and that I had to take care of the problem, but shortly afterwards, after I had got out from bed.

I've never had sleep paralysis, by the way... not in a significant way, anyway... it may be I've been paralysed for a few seconds, a few times, however.
 
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