Schizoaffective, Schizophrenic Voices Can Say Good Things

Schizoaffective, schizophrenic voices are a nuisance, to say the least, but schizoaffective, schizophrenic voices can say good things. I usually try not to listen to them, but sometimes my schizoaffective voices are so loud even music can’t drown them out. And sometimes, as other people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder may know, the voices say good, or even helpful, things. What’s up with that?

Schizoaffective or Schizophrenic Voices Can Give Good Advice

My schizoaffective voices talk a lot about smoking. One time I told my dad I was hearing voices, and he asked me what they were saying. “They’re saying smoking is bad for you,” I reported, from what seemed like another world even though he was sitting right next to me.

“Well, they’re right. You should listen to them,” he said.

Then he looked at me to see if it was okay to laugh. We both laughed.

Honestly, I don’t know why my voices talk so much about smoking. I quit smoking over four years ago. I’ve noticed that the word “smoking” is often a code word my voices use for something else. Sometimes when they say “she’s smoking” (referring to me), they mean I’m calming down. This makes sense, because people smoke to calm down. Sometimes they say, “You look so beautiful when you’re smoking.”

I hate it when my voices flip-flop on the issues.

I heard voices last night. They break through my medication. And they had a lot of comments about smoking. Good and bad things. I think most people, even those who aren’t schizophrenic or schizoaffective and don’t hear voices, will understand when I say I just want the voices to go away -- even if the voices sometimes give good advice. My husband thinks that maybe the voices are reminding me that smoking is bad for me because I haven’t really found a good way to relax since I quit smoking.

Good Advice Aside, Schizophrenic Voices Are Awful

I’m going to work tonight and I’m so afraid I’ll hear voices at work. I tried a medication that kept the voices at bay, but it wreaked havoc on my stomach. I felt incapacitated by pain and cramps. So I went off the medication under the supervision of my psychopharmacologist. But then the voices returned. As the old saying goes, I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place.

The fact is, whether they’re saying useful things or not, hearing voices is awful. Medication side effects are awful, too. I guess the only thing that helps right now is to know I’ve heard voices at work before and I have gotten through it. I have an on-demand medication to help switch them off. I have a ritual of drinking tea or water and keeping calm around me. I call my family and they check back with me at 10 or 15 minute intervals as the voices dim. It all helps a lot, even if it’s not a cure.

How to Cope With Hearing Voices, Auditory Hallucinations

Photo by Elizabeth Caudy.

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