has anyone got rid of their voices?

[not_so_insig]

I asked my cpn yesterday if she could ask my psych if I could try a even higher dose of clopixol to try and get rid of the second voice. I have had the voices since 2003 and I am sick to death of hearing voices. Idk if I can ever get rid of my second voice because it's the most persistent.

So has anyone ever got rid of their voices? Is it even possible? The reason why I have never wanted to get rid of the voices is that I felt lonely and they were company. I feel no longer lonely and I am sick to death of being controlled.

I am also kind of scared because it's letting go of something that has been part of me for twelve years. I am scared of hating it entirely and having to go back.

[sherlock holmes]

I don't hear voices, but I know of the work done by the Hearing Voices Network and Voice Collective. They look at voice hearing in a different way to traditional psychiatry, as something to live with and learn from rather than a problem that needs to be got rid of.

In particular this Ted video is really good to watch as it's about a woman who started hearing voices. Initially it didn't bother her as the voice was non threatening, but after others freaked out when she told them and told her it wasn't normal to hear voices her voice became more sinister and troubling. She became very unwell over the years, until she decided to think of her voices as an extension of herself that were letting her know she needed something, then it became easier for her to live with them (rather than fight them).

http://www.ted.com/talks/eleanor_longden_the_voices_in_my_head?language=en

Are there any voice hearing groups in your area? It might be good to join one and see how others are living with hearing voices. http://www.hearing-voices.org/

Not everyone does get rid of voices through medication. So I think you should prepare yourself for the fact that the voice might never go. But that doesn't mean it's the end of the world. As I mentioned you can learn to accept the voice and think about it differently.

[Ballerina123]

I have.
I use to get voices but don't any more.
I got voices when I was on 10mg of olanzapine then they were a lot quieter on 15mg now im on 20mg I don't hear anything any more.
so yes an increase in my anti psychotic really helped.
I felt lonely at first but I got use to it. now Im glad they are not there.
I briefly went back down to 10 mg of olanzapine to see if I could lose some weight but the voices came back so ive ended up back on 20mg.

[Ballerina123]

olanzapine is the best medication Ive ever been on for psychosis although I know its personal to each person

[Epicene]

Have you ever had therapy? Voices can often be dissociative in nature, sort of a detached version of your normal thoughts and feelings but tied up with a lot of anxiety and hard emotions. If that's the case for you then therapy can help you get to the underlying stuff and might help reduce your symptoms. I hear voices but for me it's been a definite case of both medication and psychotherapy. I don't hear as much constant chattering unless I'm very tired, and I recognise now that I only get prominent, directed voices when I'm very stressed out or dissociated. It doesn't make it go away entirely but thinking about it differently helps me feel more in contol.

[not_so_insig]

Thanks everyone for their replies.

Sherlock holmes: I already go to a hearing voices group. We haven't done much about learning to cope with the voices because the group is still fairly new (been going for less than a year). I am thinking of quitting because of the fact there is a new person who is making me feel uncomfortable and also is too dominating.

Ballerina 123: I am glad that you have got rid of your voices. I am on clopixol which both I, my cpn and my psych agree that it's the best antipsychotic I have been on. So I don't want to change it and my psych would be reluctant too.

Epicene: I have not had any therapy for my voices.

I am scared that by getting rid of the voices that I am found fit for work. I know that I can't cope with a job. I am also scared that they will stop my dla and that when it comes to being assessed for pip that I won't get it.

[Ballerina123]

I am scared that by getting rid of the voices that I am found fit for work. I know that I can't cope with a job. I am also scared that they will stop my dla and that when it comes to being assessed for pip that I won't get it.

I was worried about this too but it wasn't the reality. I have not been forced to get a job or come off benefits. my benefits don't get reviewed till 2017 now. so Im safe till then. It gives me time to get the confidence to work towards a job/ study.
Ive not had voices since January and no one has pushed me to get a job or inform the benefits people.

[not_so_insig]

Thanks Kate. I am glad that you are not forced to come off benefits.

[tamobhuuta]

clozapine worked for me. I think getting the right meds is important. and I am on benefits.

[Steel Maiden]

I still hear voices, but not continously and sometimes I can go through half a day without them at all.

For me it was a) finding the right meds, b) reducing my general anxiety (anxiety worsens my voices even though my voices are psychotic in origin) and c) accepting the voices to some degree, as when I scream and shout at them, it reinforces them. Although complete acceptance is not possible, for me at least.