Do You Hear Voices In Your Head?

Voices In My Head, Part 1

“Do you hear voices in your head?” I’ve asked patients that question a lot over the years. Doctors often use this sort of inquiry when they are concerned about a patient’s mental well-being. Hearing voices can be a sign of psychosis or schizophrenia.

Recently I asked myself (I know, right?) What if my doctor asked me that question? What would I say? This is how I would imagine that conversation:

Doctor: Do you hear voices in your head?

Me: Voices? Uhhm. Well, yeah. Sure. All the time.

Doctor (leans forward, a concerned look on his face) : Hmmmm…..Tell me about those voices.

Me: OK. Well, there are at least 3 voices. One is pretty negative, putting me down. Pointing out what I do wrong. Another one is positive, giving me reassurance or a pat on the back. And then there’s the “mom voice.” That one just tells me what I should and shouldn’t do.

Doctor: So, Lydia, what kinds of things do the voices say?

Me: Well, the negative voice is always critical. It says stuff like “You are worthless. You don’t matter. You aren’t good enough. You have to be perfect to be OK. God can’t be trusted, so you will need to take control. God doesn’t really love you.”

The positive voice is encouraging and reassuring. It says “You are beautiful. Fearfully and wonderfully made. You make a difference every day. God is crazy about you. He never expects you to be perfect. He just wants you to trust him, to pay attention to how he is leading and follow Him the best you can. God works all things to good. He’s got your back”.

The mom voice is a little different. It’s kind of practical, I guess. It usually begins with the word “should,” and sounds like this: “You should mind your manners. Clean up after yourself. Eat what you are served. Say thank you.”

We all hear voices

Sound familiar? I think all of us hear voices in our heads–at least these kinds of voices.

In Psychology Today, author Clara Humpston Ph.D. writes “If all those who heard voices were labelled mad, there wouldn’t be many “normal” ones left among us.”

Which voices should we pay attention to?

Where do the voices in our head come from? Which should we pay attention to, and which do we ignore? The most important voice to recognize and to pay attention to is the voice of God.

Questions to help you know if the voice is from God

If you aren’t sure if it is God is speaking to you, these questions can help:

Does what this voice is saying line up with what you already know about God? What the Bible says?
Is this thought life-giving?
Is it energizing (or deflating)?
Is it constructive (or destructive)?
Nurturing (or poisonous)?
Is it encouraging (or accusing)?
Hopeful (or depressing)?

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me, and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.” John 10:27-28

Do you hear voices in your head? How do you know what to believe and what to dismiss? Please share. We’d love to hear from you.

Part 2: What Are Those Inner Voices We Hear?

Part 3: How Satan Works

Part 4: Weeding Out the Lies and Responding With Truth

Part 5: What You Feed Is What Will Grow