Causes of hallucinations

What are the Hallucinations?

Hallucination is a phantasm arising without the bproper objective sensory stimulation. They occur in some situations and distinctive states of the organism such as excessive emotional tension, fatigue, insomnia and intoxication. The most common are the hearing hallucinations, where person usually hear voices. These are the sounds that are heard only by the patient. Most often voices discuss with each other, comment patient’s behavior, give advice or criticize the patients. Voices also can dictate and than it is about imperative hallucinations. Less common are visual hallucinations, which means that people see things that do not exist - strange lights, monsters, people, objects and so on. There are also bodily hallucinations, which means that patients have the feelings throughout the body that aren’t caused by the real stimuli. For example person may feel that her/his internal organs falling apart or travel through the body and that electricity passes through the legs. Least common are hallucinations of smell and taste.

Causes of Hallucinations

Hallucinations are the main symptom of the mental disorders and mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, childhood trauma, mania, post-traumatic stress, delirium and dementia. Besides that, the hallucinations may also occur in case of intoxication.

It is well known that many drug addicts want to reach a state of hallucinations using various narcotics such as marijuana, LSD, cocaine, crack and heroin.

Also, excessive and often use of alcohol may cause hallucinations.

Sometimes hallucinations occur as a consequence of serious diseases such as kidney and liver failure and brain tumors.

In addition, in some cultures, hallucinations may be induced in various religious sessions and rituals.

Hallucinations can also be a consequence of the abstinence crisis or drugs that former drug addicts currently use.

The probability that people who drink more than seven cups of instant coffee a day have hallucinations is three times higher than in those who drink only one, according to a study of scientists team from the University of Durham. When the body is under stress, it releases the hormone cortisol, which increases after the consumption of caffeine products. An elevated cortisol level could be the cause of hallucinations. Caffeine, in addition to coffee, is also found in tea, chocolate and energy drinks, as well as stimulating tablets containing drugs, particularly amphetamines. The research team surveyed students and their average consumption of caffeine, vulnerability to hallucinations and stress level. Students have reported, among other things, that sometimes they see things that are not in the room, they hear voices and feel the presence of the deceased. However, more analysis is needed to find a causal link. Even if caffeine is responsible for hallucinations, its impact is small compared to the other factor in life.