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| Imaginary Garden 2024 by G. Sutton & Designer |
Hallucinations are false perceptions of
sensory experiences. They can involve various senses. The following are different types of hallucinations.
Auditory (sound) hallucinations: These are
the most common type. People hear sounds that aren't real, such as music,
footsteps, or voices—even when no one has spoken. The person may consider the voices
as positive, negative, or neutral.
Visual (sight) hallucinations: These
involve seeing things that aren't real, like objects, shapes, people, animals,
or lights.
Tactile (touch) hallucinations: These cause
sensations of touch or movement in the body that aren't real. For example,
feeling bugs crawling on the skin or internal organs moving.
Olfactory (smell) hallucinations:
Experiencing smells that don't exist or that no one else can smell.
Gustatory (taste) hallucinations: These
cause strange or unpleasant tastes. They're relatively common in people with
epilepsy and may have a metallic taste.
Presence hallucinations: A person feels
that someone is in the room with you or standing behind you.
Proprioceptive hallucinations: You perceive
your body as moving (e.g., flying or floating) when it's not.
hypnopompic hallucinations: these which
occur when a person as you wakes up from sleep and are usually considered
normal.
Treatment for hallucinations
The treatment of hallucinations will vary with the type of hallucination and the underlying cause. Hallucinations can be temporary experiences. Many people with Schizophrenia experience auditory or visual hallucinations. Some hallucinations are associated with drugs and medications.
People desiring
treatment should consult their health care providers who may provide a referral to a
psychologist or psychiatrist for evaluation.
Turning hallucinations into literature
and art
From a conversation with Microsoft Copilot,
I found these examples.
Yayoi Kusama: The Japanese painter Yayoi
Kusama’s art is influenced by the hallucinations she experiences. Her work
features polka dots and incorporates imagery from her own visions. Kusama’s
“Infinity Rooms” are small mirror chambers that evoke the universe, allowing
viewers to lose their sense of identity in the repetition of images.
Jean-Paul Sartre: The French existential
philosopher and writer Jean-Paul Sartre experimented with mescaline, leading to
a “bad trip.” During this experience, he encountered bizarre crustaceans and
saw ordinary objects transform into animals. His hallucinatory adventure left a
lasting impact on his work.
Vincent van Gogh: Van Gogh’s mental
illness, including bipolar disorder and hallucinations, influenced his art. His
painting “Corridor in the Asylum” reflects his struggles during his time in a
psychiatric institution.
William Blake: Blake’s visionary
experiences and hallucinations inspired his mystical and symbolic art. His work
often blurs the line between reality and imagination, as seen in pieces like
"The Man Who Taught Blake Painting in his Dreams".
Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is www.suttong.com
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Dr. Sutton’s posts are for educational purposes only. See a licensed mental health provider for diagnoses, treatment, and consultation.
