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Accepting the Inner Voices: A Useful Summary

Voice hearing is so common that it could be considered "normal" (Morrison, 2002)
Professionals are now starting to learn from the experts - the voice hearers themselves.
Researchers and voice hearers are now developing new techniques to help people cope with their voices.
New research suggests that hearing voices is very common and not just a disease but a human faculty or variation in experience
30% of voice hearers find medication completely effective in removing their voices, however this leaves a lot of people still affected by the voices despite medication. Historically, mental health workers were not encouraged to talk to people about their voices
According to one study, 55% of the 'normal' population hear voices at some time in their lives.
3% of the population hear voices regularly but most do not enter the psychiatric services.
Famous voice hearers include Anthony Hopkins, Zoe Wannamaker, Ghandi and Winston Churchill.
Voices can be regarded as real and meaningful and speaking to a person in a metaphorical way about their lives, emotions and environment.
Voices can express what a person is feeling or thinking and be the result of past stress or trauma. On rare occasions they tell the voice hearer to do things they would not normally do and it helps to talk about this.
Many voice hearers:
- feel alone, ashamed and scared that they are 'mad'
- want to discuss their voices
- look for explanations to account for their voices
The new approach to dealing with voices is about helping the person accept and cope with them, with the aim of controlling them.
Accepting the voices as belonging to oneself is crucial to the process of growth and resolution but may be the most difficult step to take.
Voice hearers cope with their voices not because of the content but because of the nature of their relationship with them. If you believe that the voices are in control of you, you'll have problems coping. If you believe that you are stronger than the voices you'll cope much better.
Hearing voices can be overwhelming at times. Self-help groups or hearing voices groups can help with this. It is important to remember that voice hearers can feel very vulnerable sharing their experiences with others and their voices may become temporarily worse.
Making space for your voice is important. This involves listening to your voice in your own time and space but not necessarily following it. This will help you learn to control your voice.
Imposing a structure on your relationship with your voice (telling the voice to go away or not to speak now and so on) can reduce feelings of powerlessness.

The role of the mental health worker with voice hearers is to:-

help them accept and understand their experiences
help them to communicate with their voices
learn methods to cope, regain control and focus on recovering
encourage the voice hearer to meet with others with similar experiences or to read relevant literature

Kate Edgar