Mental Illness Stigma And Hearing Voices.

The mental illness stigma and hearing voices are not necessarily related. There is a fine line here and the stigma attached to this spiritual gift of clairaudience is often associated with schizophrenia.

If you hear voices and are not sure what is going on, most people will tell you to have a psychiatric evaluation.

Talk with someone who understands and can share your concerns. You do not necessarily have a mental illness because you can hear voices. There are support groups, especially in the UK. Check them out online.

Back in the 50's, growing up was difficult. I did not have support or anyone with whom I could share my feelings. I felt as if something was wrong with me, even though 'the mental illness stigma of hearing voices' was not my problem.

Apparently, my mother told me much later in my life that I heard voices as a young child which frightened her when she caught me chattering to my friends. I can remember hearing voices in my room.

While in public school I was constantly picked on by teachers who accused me of "daydreaming". I was preoccupied with the voices, which I always heard. I was having conversations with my new found friends which today we refer to as our angels and guides.

Because of this ability-cum-affliction (mental illness stigma of hearing voices) which my mother feared, I was sent for psychiatric evaluation which led to numerous sessions with a social worker.

I was just six years of age when I went for psychological sessions in order to see if 'the mental illness stigma of hearing voices' was my problem. I guess mother wanted to make sure that I was normal - whatever that was. Actually, all I wanted was to be like all the other children in class. If only...

As a result, I spent the better part of my adult years in psychoanalysis learning a great deal about medication.

Recently, I asked my mother why she was so frightened of my ability of hearing voices, and she said,

"It was the wrong thing to do, and I was very frightened that something was taking hold you.”

Where did you get this fear from?

"Your Baba (grandmother in Ukranian) used to hear voices and communicate with the dead and it always frightened me when she did so because she acted strangely. It was as if she was transformed into another place...something would come over her and I couldn’t communicate with her."

You mean she was in a trance-like state?

"Yeah, something like that."

I can imagine that it would be frightening for you as a small child. I used to also feel that Baba was strange and she frightened me too. You never told me this?

"I didn’t want to discuss this because it frightened me and I didn’t want the same thing to happen to you. I know now that I didn’t handle it properly, I should have encouraged you but instead I filled you with my fears." (I can hear my mother crying.)

Oh Mum...it's okay. I'm not blaming you or anything like that. I just wanted to know why you didn't encourage me, and now I understand how you felt. _____________________________________________________

I often have conversations with my mother, who died in 1997. Many of my conversations with her are in my book titled"That Damn Voice Again, Communication from Beyond".

I was very candid in my conversations with my mother with whom I had a very turbulent relationship. I loved my mother, yet there were many issues I had yet to resolve, and which I began to heal while writing my book.

You can read about my experiences during my adult life and my grieving process of losing my loved ones, at death of a parent.

I had a lot of difficulties accepting my mother's death. I took me years to finally deal with my emotions and also the mental illness stigma of hearing voices.

Now that you have read my story, do you have a story that you would like to share regarding hearing voices? If so, do that now at hearing spirit voices

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