INTERPRETING THE VOICES

Sometimes voices talk in metaphors, riddles or emotional truths in the place of, or alongside, literal truths. It can be confusing or overwhelming to hear them talk in these ways, and some people find it useful to try and interpret what the voices are saying, or to find the hidden or metaphorical meaning behind the voices.

For example, a voice saying that a bus is about to be attacked might not be telling the literal truth, but instead might be saying it’s feeling afraid or anxious, or that the person is feeling afraid or anxious about making the journey.

The brain is a very complicated thing that we don’t fully understand. Maybe one day you will know exactly what is happening in your brain and why. But what is more important and more meaningful is what has happened to YOU. What is your story that has brought you to this place. Is this your body/mind reacting/processing/ trying to make sense of the things that have happened to you?

Peter*

Find out more

Read

Voice Dialogue. This website is produced by the team behind Voice Dialogue UK and outlines the processes by which some people may tune in to their different selves.

Read an excerpt on Reframing what the voices are saying as something positive from Ron Ungar (2016). Some ideas about how to cope with voices. Recoveryfromschizophrenia.org.

Watch

King’s Cultural Community (2015). Compassion for Voices: a tale of courage and hope. Youtube.

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Reframing what the voices are saying as something positive

An excerpt from Ron Ungar’s 'Some ideas about how to cope with voices'

Using this method, you assume that the voices are really trying to help you in some way, though perhaps they are misguided or overly enthusiastic in what they are trying to do. For example, if the voice tries to convince you that everyone hates you, you might reframe it as trying to make sure you aren’t overly self confident. If the voice wants you to kill someone, you might reframe it as the voice wanting to make sure that person doesn’t take advantage of you. If the voice wants you to kill yourself, you might reframe it as the voice wanting to save you from a distressing situation that it is worried will be too painful for you to endure. By finding a possible positive intention in what the voices say, you can then focus your attention to handling those concerns, and you can even thank the voice for its concern and ask it to help you. For example, you can tell a voice that wants you to kill someone that you appreciate its desire to not let you be taken advantage of, that you do not want to go so far as to kill the other person, but that you are open to other suggestions about how to protect yourself from this person. When you reason with the voices in this way, you might find that a healthy dialogue begins inside you.