What counts as a hallucination?

Hallucinations are where someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don’t exist outside their mind. They’re common in people with schizophrenia, and are usually experienced as hearing voices. Hallucinations can be frightening, but there’s usually an identifiable cause.

Should I go to the ER for hallucinations?

Many medical and mental conditions that can cause hallucinations may quickly become emergencies. The person should not be left alone. Call your health care provider, go to the emergency room, or call 911 or the local emergency number. A person who smells odors that are not there should also be evaluated by a provider.

Are you experiencing a hallucination or something else?

But actually, you’re experiencing a hallucination. People who hallucinate typically see, hear, feel, smell or otherwise experience things that simply aren’t real. Sometimes, these sensory fake-outs are caused by something temporary or minor, but often, a pretty serious underlying medical factor is at play.

Can you have hallucinations with epilepsy and not know it?

At first, you may not realize it’s a hallucination, but eventually, you figure out that what you’re seeing isn’t real. Epilepsy. The seizures that go along with this disorder can make you more likely to have hallucinations. The type you get depends on which part of your brain the seizure affects.

Can you have hallucinations right before you wake up?

It’s also possible to experience hallucinations right before falling asleep, known as hypnagogic hallucinations, or right before waking up from sleep, known as hypnopompic hallucinations. Certain medications taken for mental and physical health conditions can also cause hallucinations.

What causes people to hallucinate?

People who hallucinate typically see, hear, feel, smell or otherwise experience things that simply aren’t real. Sometimes, these sensory fake-outs are caused by something temporary or minor, but often, a pretty serious underlying medical factor is at play.