Think about the last time you thought you saw or heard something that wasn’t actually there. It may have been a shadow in the corner of your eye or a faint sound in the middle of the night. You’re not alone; in fact, around 5% of people experience hallucinations at some point in their lives. These hallucinations, once only seen as symptoms of psychosis and serious mental illness, may just be a result of your brain trying to make sense of an unclear world.
The Brain’s Role in Hallucinations
Contrary to popular belief, our eyes and ears don’t work like video cameras recording sounds and images and sending them directly to the brain to process. In reality, the information sent to the brain isn’t very detailed at all. The brain has to fill in the information gaps based on previous knowledge and context clues. Most of the time, this process happens seamlessly and the brain fills in accurate information. But when it doesn’t… hello, hallucination!
Researchers believe that hallucinations are the result of the brain’s overreliance on old information, causing the brain to fill in gaps with details that aren’t actually there. It’s not that these brains are “broken,” but rather that the brains of people with signs of serious psychosis are more adept at using prior knowledge, albeit incorrect, to fill in the gaps delivered from their visual systems.
Psychosis: A Spectrum Disorder
An important takeaway from recent research is the notion that psychosis is a spectrum disorder, not a condition that you either have or don’t have. Hallucinations can be normal, so long as they don’t take over a person’s life. According to neuroscientist Christoph Teufel, “there’s a continuum between mental illness and mental health, and we’re all on it.”
Non-disease associated hallucinations often manifest as a result of bereavement, stress, or sleep deprivation. High caffeine consumption has also been linked to increased rates of hallucination, with as few as five cups of coffee per day potentially triggering the phenomenon.
Additionally, a higher than average number of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease patients report having hallucinations. For those with macular degeneration or other vision problems, there is a condition known as Charles Bonnet syndrome, wherein vision loss is accompanied by hallucinations.
When to Relax and When to Seek Help
If you experience a relatively small number of mild hallucinations, such as hearing someone call your name, you can relax – it’s likely just your normal brain trying to sort things out. However, it’s important to be aware of the potential severity and impact of hallucinations, especially if they become more frequent or intense.
The hallucinations experienced by Mary Todd Lincoln, for example, were much more serious than those of most people. Her schizophrenia-related hallucinations eventually led to her being committed to Bellevue Place, an insane asylum. Jerry Garcia’s hallucinations were drug-related, due to his use of psychedelics.
Knowing the difference between an “average” hallucination and one that could signal a more significant mental health issue is key. If your hallucinations cause you distress or begin to interfere with your daily life, it’s essential to seek help from a mental health professional. Remember that hallucinations can be a symptom of an underlying mental illness, but they can also be a natural part of how the brain works. Understanding that difference and seeking help when needed can help keep your mental health in check.
