Involuntary Tension and Auditory Hallucinations in Adolescents - Psychiatry

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Involuntary tension and auditory hallucinations?


Hello, doctor! I am currently retaking my university entrance exams.
I have always excelled academically since childhood, which has made my parents proud, and I have a good relationship with my family.
However, after entering a prestigious high school, my academic performance became average, yet my parents continued to demand high achievements from me.
They would insultingly criticize me daily for not being ambitious, enforcing strict discipline and prohibiting all leisure activities.
As a result, I became increasingly depressed and isolated.
My older brother, who attends the same high school, has outstanding grades, and he also treats me with a strict demeanor, similar to that of an elder.
Both my homeroom teacher and counselor believe that our family's parenting style is quite abnormal.
My father, possibly due to long-term stress, shows clear signs of depression; he struggles to control his emotions, which severely impacts our family.
Since high school, I have experienced the nine major symptoms of depression continuously (I once secretly visited a psychiatrist, who confirmed that these are symptoms of depression).
From my second year of high school until now, these symptoms have worsened over the past three years.
I am aware of my condition and wish to seek treatment, but my parents do not allow me to do so, claiming it is "to protect me from societal stigma," and I am not yet 20 years old.
My father has a strong need for control, making it impossible for me to seek resources outside (my whereabouts are constantly monitored).
I can only learn about my mental health issues online, but some problems cannot be fully understood just by reading online materials, so I would like to consult you, doctor.
My questions are as follows:
1.
During high school, the atmosphere at home was extremely tense.
My study desk faced a wall, and my brother would often walk behind me.
I would experience intense fear, feeling a chill run up my spine and my body would involuntarily shake (as if I feared being attacked, since I couldn't defend myself from behind, which felt terrifying, even though I had never been attacked).
This year, while retaking my exams, my brother has already gone to college and no longer lives at home.
However, in many situations (such as in the library or while dining out), when strangers walk past me from behind, I still feel fear and involuntarily shake, and because these are public places, I have to suppress this reaction to avoid embarrassment.
Doctor, is this a specific symptom, or am I just overly anxious? Why do I still have this reaction even after being separated from my brother for so long (it has already been a year)?
2.
In my first year of high school, I was very neurotic.
At that time, my brother was in his third year and attended the same school.
I was extremely afraid of encountering him in any corner of the campus.
Even when I went to the co-op with friends, he would criticize me for "not using the break time to study and just hanging around." My friends would help me keep an eye out for my brother when we were together.
After he graduated, I would hear his voice questioning me, "Why aren't you studying and wasting time?" even in non-study situations, and I often felt the urge to turn around to find the source of the voice (it felt like he was standing behind me talking), but I would frantically tell myself, "He has already graduated; he can't be at school," and force myself not to turn around, fearing that such strange behavior would attract others' attention.
Because of this, I gradually developed a sense of guilt when talking to anyone and began to dislike conversing with people.
This year, while retaking my exams, I have been studying at home all day.
My father is currently unemployed, so I live with him 24/7.
In high school, if I left my study room too frequently or for too long, my father would scold me.
Later, due to my counselor notifying my parents about my self-harm issues, my father has become somewhat less strict.
However, recently, for about four to five consecutive days, when I left my study room, I would hear my father calling me from the study (about twice a day on average).
The first time it happened, I immediately ran back to my room, but I saw my father reading and not looking for me, so I assumed I had misheard.
Later, I asked my father, "What did you want?" and he replied, "I wasn't calling you." After that, when I heard him call me again, I would sneakily go to the door of the study to observe whether he was looking for me, but he was always focused on reading and never actually looking for me.
The most recent time I suspected I was experiencing auditory hallucinations was the night before last.
There has been severe arguing at home recently due to certain issues, and I am very anxious (plus I am very sensitive).
The night before last, I closed my door and went to bed.
Initially, I couldn't sleep due to anxiety, and then I started hearing my parents arguing.
Since it was late at night, they intentionally lowered their voices, but I heard my father telling my mother, "Speak more quietly; don't let the child (referring to me) hear it and be affected." My father often says this during arguments, and I despise it because I feel like I am the reason for his criticism of others.
I angrily got up to listen at the door, but it was completely silent outside.
So, I lay back down to sleep, but as soon as I did, I heard the arguing again, and I got up to listen...
This cycle repeated about ten times.
The next morning, I asked my mother, and she said they hadn't had any conversation that night (I hadn't been drinking the night before).
Doctor, are the three situations of hearing my brother, my father, and my parents arguing all auditory hallucinations? Can someone experiencing auditory hallucinations recognize the irrationality of these "false voices" without external guidance? Additionally, since I started drinking alcohol after graduating high school (I had a period of heavy drinking but currently drink in moderation), does alcohol exacerbate auditory hallucinations (if this is indeed what I am experiencing)? Also, is my getting up about ten times a possible sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder? Furthermore, doctor, if I continue to avoid seeking treatment for 2-3 years, aside from the increased likelihood of a relapse of depression in the future, will it cause any irreversible damage to my brain? Will the treatment process be more difficult and prolonged in the future because of this? I am still young, and I am genuinely worried about these issues.
I apologize for the lengthy description; I have tried to be concise.
I know this cannot serve as a diagnosis, but this is the only way I can understand my situation without being able to seek medical help.
Thank you, doctor, for your patience in reading and responding!

Nìmíng zhě, 10~19 year old female. Ask Date: 2019/06/16

Dr. Huang Xiaoxian reply Psychiatry


Dear Bonnie,
From your description, it sounds like you are experiencing a lot of stress and worries in your life.
I'm sorry to hear that! If your family does not allow you to seek medical help, perhaps you can try reaching out to mental health centers in various counties for assistance.
Many of the situations you mentioned can be explained through psychology.
A person's psyche can be divided into the superego, ego, and id.
The superego acts like a moral watchdog, criticizing you when you do something wrong.
The id represents your more primal urges, such as the desire to rest when tired or to eat when hungry.
The ego serves as a rational mediator between the demands of the superego and the id.
However, when the id is not well-regulated, it can lead to various symptoms.
The pressure from your family has been high, and they have been quite strict with you, often criticizing you.
As a result, your superego is also very strict with yourself.
Even when your family is not around, whenever you want to rest or take a break, your superego triggers an alarm, making you anxious and worried about your family's presence.
You may even worry about others scrutinizing you, which can affect your interpersonal relationships.
When under significant stress, people can become more sensitive to sounds and may even experience auditory hallucinations or misinterpret sounds.
For example, many doctors on duty might hear their phone ringing while showering, only to find there were no missed calls.
On the other hand, many individuals facing a harsh superego may resort to alcohol to numb their feelings temporarily, allowing them to relax and not think too much.
However, alcohol is a temporary central nervous system depressant.
While it may provide some relaxation when the superego is suppressed, those feelings often return once the effects of the alcohol wear off, leading to a futile cycle.
Therefore, the solution may not lie in alcohol.
It is advisable to seek psychological therapy and a psychiatric evaluation for appropriate medication, which would likely be more effective.
As for the likelihood of relapse if you do not seek treatment, there is no definitive conclusion.
However, seeking medical help can shorten the duration of your distress and alleviate the suffering caused by symptoms, ultimately improving your quality of life.
I recommend that you seek assistance from a mental health center, where professionals can conduct interviews and provide further support.
Wishing you all the best!

Reply Date: 2019/06/16

More Info


Understanding the complexities of mental health, particularly in adolescents, is crucial, especially when it comes to symptoms such as auditory hallucinations and involuntary tension. Your situation reflects a combination of environmental stressors, familial pressures, and potential psychological conditions that warrant careful consideration.

Firstly, the experiences you describe—feeling fear when someone approaches from behind, hearing your brother's voice when he is not present, and perceiving your father's calls when he is silent—can indeed be indicative of heightened anxiety and possible auditory hallucinations. These symptoms are not uncommon in individuals who have experienced significant stress or trauma, particularly in a high-pressure environment like yours.

1. Fear Response: The intense fear you feel when someone approaches from behind could be a manifestation of anxiety. This response may stem from a learned behavior due to the strict and often critical environment you grew up in. Your body may have developed a heightened state of alertness, causing you to react strongly to perceived threats, even if they are not present. This is often seen in individuals who have experienced emotional or psychological stress, leading to a hyper-vigilant state. It’s important to recognize that even though your brother is no longer living at home, the psychological imprint of his presence and the associated fears may linger.

2. Auditory Hallucinations: Hearing voices, such as your brother's criticisms or your father's calls, can be categorized as auditory hallucinations. These experiences can occur in the context of severe anxiety or depression, particularly when an individual feels overwhelmed by their circumstances. The fact that you are aware of the irrationality of these voices—understanding that your brother is not physically present—suggests insight into your condition, which is a positive sign. However, it also indicates that these experiences are distressing and disruptive to your daily life.

3. Impact of Alcohol: Regarding your question about alcohol consumption, it is known that alcohol can exacerbate mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. While moderate drinking may not directly cause hallucinations, it can impair judgment and exacerbate underlying psychological conditions, potentially leading to increased hallucinations or anxiety symptoms.

4. Long-term Effects of Avoiding Treatment: Prolonged avoidance of treatment for mental health conditions can lead to worsening symptoms and increased difficulty in managing them later on. Chronic stress and untreated anxiety or depression can indeed have lasting effects on brain function and overall mental health. Early intervention is key in preventing the escalation of symptoms and can lead to more effective treatment outcomes.

5. Compulsions and Anxiety: The repetitive behavior of getting up to check on your parents' conversations could be seen as a compulsive behavior, which is often associated with anxiety disorders. This behavior may serve as a coping mechanism to alleviate the distress caused by uncertainty or fear. However, it can also reinforce anxiety, creating a cycle that is difficult to break without intervention.

In conclusion, your experiences suggest a complex interplay of anxiety, potential auditory hallucinations, and the effects of a high-stress family environment. It is crucial to seek professional help, even if it requires navigating the challenges posed by your family dynamics. Engaging with a mental health professional can provide you with coping strategies, therapeutic support, and potentially medication to help manage your symptoms.
If direct access to a therapist is challenging, consider online therapy options or support groups that can offer guidance and understanding. Remember, prioritizing your mental health is essential, and taking steps towards treatment can lead to significant improvements in your quality of life.

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