We strive in our work to constantly be trying to develop our own aims, which are to create an atmosphere in the workshops that is safe, respectful and enjoyable, promoting a deeper understanding of psychosis.
We encourage users to talk about their issues so they can learn from others, using creative mediums as ways of expression and for enhancing participants' skills and ideas for developing psychological approaches for those experiencing psychosis.
We work to explore creativity as a tool for learning and/or developing relationships and look at the implications of labelling and ways of using this to improve mental health services and personal development.
The experience of hearing voices is very diverse
Most people who come to the attention of mental health
services have had unpleasant or disruptive
experiences, which have led to distress or behaviour
that is disturbing to others
Research has shown that there are a significant number of voice hearers who have not contacted services because they are not distressed or disturbed by
the experience and in some cases find it valuable.
The form and content of voice hearing varies greatly.
FORMS OF VOICE HEARING:
Voices may talk directly to the person e.g. you are lazy they may talk about
the person e.g. she is selfish There may be one voice or many, some people describe hearing crowds of voices.
People may hear the voices through their ears or inside their head. Sometimes other sounds such as music or tapping
can be heard as opposed to voices.
CONTENT OF VOICE HEARING:
Voices can be comforting or amusing or may say positive things about the voice hearer. They can also be very critical and disturbing and may discourage the person from disclosing their existence
to others.
Sometimes orders or instructions are
given and this can lead to risk of harm
to self or others. Alternatively voices
can give the person useful advice and
can be an indicator of hidden
thoughts and feelings.
Some people hear random words whilst others hear complex conversations. Other experiences can include hearing ones' own thoughts spoken out loud or a running commentary of ones' actions.
THINGS THAT CAN HELP WITH HEARING VOICES:
Contact with other hearers i.e. in hearing voices groupTalking to others about the voicesWorking with content of the voices (with someone else, possibly a worker)Writing about the voices in diaries or workbooksUsing art, music etc. to express thoughts and feelingsLooking at when and how the voices most occurLooking at environmental issuesDISTRACTION & SUPPRESSION TECHNIQUES
ReadingExercisingMusicSocialising etc.It is essential to consider that each person who hears voices will experience this in their own unique way, therefore what helps them is equally individual.
For the voice hearer, it is important that they develop their ways of coping at
their own pace and they find what is
right for them.
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