Hallucinations can accompany completely different mental disorders. They occur in older people against the background of progressive senile dementia. In many cases, schizophrenia develops. How to properly interact, communicate with a person who is experiencing an attack with hallucinations?
If your relative or the person with whom you are close, is prone to bouts of hallucinations, never be rude to him at such moments, do not laugh at him. Watch not only his behavior, but also your own. The fact is that many individuals suffering from mental disorders accompanied by hallucinations may lose control of themselves at the time of attacks. Their anxiety can jump sharply, motor restlessness often arises, they do not control themselves well. Taunts and giggles, yelling and harsh actions on your part can generate retaliatory aggression.
Never question a sick person in detail about what he sees, feels or hears. Don't start long conversations with him about his hallucinations. Of course, at first it is necessary to clarify what is happening with a sick person, but such conversations should not become habitual. Try not to maintain a dialogue with the patient when he begins to talk about hallucinations. Otherwise, your answers, your increased interest and willingness to communicate can provoke an increase in seizures, cause even more vivid / real hallucinations.
When dealing with a mentally ill person suffering from hallucinations, do not question their words / stories. Always remember that for the patient all arising sensations, images, tastes and so on are as real as your desk is real for you.
Do not argue with a sick person, do not try to convince him or her or prove to him that everything he says, what he hears and what he feels is only the result of the disease. Firstly, such behavior on your part can make the patient hostile, it will worsen the relationship and make life mutually difficult, especially if the mentally ill person lives with you. Secondly, arguments and attempts to persuade the patient can worsen the patient's condition. Thirdly, a person suffering from hallucinations will still remain indifferent to your words. As a rule, at the moments of attacks, there is no criticism of the patient's condition.
Do not leave the room, do not leave, if possible, the person with hallucinations alone. Especially when he sees, feels or hears something frightening, very disturbing. Always remember that during an attack of hallucinations a person is in “that” world, he is a participant in what he sees, hears, feels. In some cases, this can lead to unpleasant consequences. So, for example, under the influence of voices or visual images, the patient can inflict physical harm on himself.
Always monitor the emotional state of the mentally ill person. If you notice that during seizures a person becomes nervous, fearful, irritable, aggressive, anxious, be sure to inform your doctor about this. In some cases, when the patient is very scared, you can try to come up with some kind of ritual with him that could calm his fears. Trying to fully distract from hallucinations is usually useless, but ritual actions over time can begin to displace bad emotions and positively affect the patient's mood.
Even if you are very tired, do not raise your voice to the sick. Contact him during hallucinations as calmly, restrained as possible, trying not to emotionally get involved in his distorted pathological world. It is impossible to become infected with hallucinations, but too emotionally experiencing everything that happens, you can bring yourself to a nervous breakdown.
Always remain tactful and friendly, even if it becomes very difficult to maintain that attitude. Your harsh statements, any actions, tantrums, threats can only worsen the condition of a sick person. Remember that a person did not voluntarily choose a mental illness for himself, that he himself does not deliberately cause attacks of hallucinations in himself, which, moreover, are sometimes accompanied by delirium. Try not to show your surprise when the patient begins to share with you what he sees, feels, or hears.
