While hearing voices can be a symptom of some mental health problems, not everyone who hears voices has a mental illness. Hearing voices is actually quite a common experience: around one in ten of us will experience it at some point in our lives.

Hearing voices is sometimes called an ‘auditory hallucination’. Some people have other hallucinations, such as seeing, smelling, tasting or feeling things that don’t exist outside their mind. Whatever your experience, you’re not alone.

Everyone’s experience of hearing voices is different. The voices can vary in how often you hear them, what they sound like, what they say, and whether they’re familiar or unfamiliar.

Sometimes hearing voices can be upsetting or distressing. They may say hurtful or frightening things. However, some people’s voices may be neutral or more positive. You may feel differently about your voices at different times in your life.

Talking therapy, such as  cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT can help you learn what triggers your voices and how to manage them. It can also help you stand up to them if they’re critical or negative