Hallucination Types, Causes, and Examples

Hallucination Types, Causes, and Examples Bipolar Disorder Symptoms Print Hallucination Types, Causes, and Examples By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. Learn about our editorial policy Marcia Purse Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on January 01, 2015 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on June 25, 2019 Tim Robberts Collection/ Stone / Getty Images More in Bipolar Disorder Symptoms Mania and Hypomania Depression Diagnosis Treatment The word hallucination comes from Latin and means to wander mentally. Hallucinations have been defined as the perception of a nonexistent object or event and sensory experiences that are not caused by stimulation of the relevant sensory organs. In laymans terms, hallucinations involve hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling, or even tasting things that are not real. However, auditory hallucinations, hearing voices or other sounds that have no physical source, are the most common type. Hallucinations Can Occur With Bipolar Disorder Hallucinations are most often associated with  schizophrenia. However, they may also occur when you have  bipolar disorder when either your depression or mania has psychotic features or symptoms, which include hallucinations and delusions. Sometimes people with bipolar disorder are misdiagnosed with schizophrenia because they may have psychotic symptoms. Hallucinations are one possible characteristic specifically of bipolar I disorder, both in mania and in depression. In bipolar II, hallucinations may occur only during depression.  Cyclothymia by definition excludes the presence of hallucinations. If you have hallucinations and/or delusions, chances are good that youve been diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychotic features. Types of Hallucinations There are five types of hallucinations, including: Auditory: This is the most common type of hallucination. You may hear voices or sounds that no one else can.Visual: You may see people, colors, shapes, or items that arent real. This is the second most common type of hallucination.Tactile: You may feel sensations or feel like youre being touched when youre not. This can include a feeling of bugs crawling all over you or under your skin. These hallucinations rarely occur in bipolar disorder.Olfactory: You smell something that no one else can and that has no physical source. This type is less common than visual and auditory.Taste: You have a taste in your mouth that has no source. This is the rarest type of hallucination. Other Causes of Hallucinations Not only do hallucinations occur in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but they can also occur in these physical and psychological instances as well: Schizoaffective disorderMigraineEpilepsyAlcohol or drug withdrawalMiddle or inner ear diseasesStrokeAuditory nerve diseasePost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Dissociative identity disorderNeurologic disordersGlaucomaOphthalmic diseasesSleep deprivationUsing hallucinogensNarcolepsyMetabolic conditions Examples of Hallucinations Here are two peoples experiences of hallucinations: I dont see pink cartoon bunnies, but sometimes when Im manic I think I see things like motion peripherally where there is none or stuff moving in the reflections in mirrors. I think I hear my name or weird, unclear snatches of noise. It makes me paranoid and then I see more stuff, but I dont actually see anything. Its more like a visual or auditory twitch. Ive had hallucinations during depression which involve seeing dead, decaying flesh on peoples faces. Ive also had auditory hallucinations (i.e., hearing voices) during a mixed episode. The voices have a buzzing sound, and it seems like there are thousands of them. They are talking about me, but I cant make out what they say. And sometimes, while extremely agitated, I think I hear a voice whispering my name.