text: how do people hear voices? i work with people with mental health illnesses, and i just wondered, when someone says they are hearing voices, are they hearing them like i hear someone talk to me, or is different, i knwo the question is vague, but i cant explain it properly..the same goes for seeing things, do tey see them like how i can see my friend sitting next to me? or is it different. hi if you type into your browser "hearing voices mental health" you will get a whole range of sites to choose from which maybe of some help to you.    i work as a senior within a care home for the elderly and they all have mental health issues.    the term "hearing voices"....... they dont actually hear someone talking to them like you would hear me talking to you if i was stood infront of you.  they hear these voices in their inner ear.  the voice can be from someone they know (who maybe still alive) and from someone they have lost.  it can also be a voice of a complete stranger.  this is abit like when our consious self tells us within that something is wrong or that we need to do something, but for these people they hear it not as their own but as someone else telling them what to do or just talking in general.  some of my service users will spend hours holding a conversation with someone who isnt there.  they will even pause as if stopping to let the inner voice reply. then continue as if answering them.  i have recently completed a course on mental heath and i learned that even for something as simple as spotted flecks in a carpet can look competly different to someone suffering from mental health issues.  a few of our service users would bend over and reach for the floor trying to pick things up that werent there.  even talking to the floor as if a small animal was there.  this i learned was because the flecks in the carpet didnt appear as flecks to them.  they saw it as something else and this all depended on the indiviual.  weve recently had a new carpet laid now.  if your in thissort of work and not had previous experience your company should really be sending you on courses to help give you this knowledge.  people with mental health issues may see and there things but they are still very bright.  they will see themselves as being normal, and its you with the problem.  speak to your emplyer about courses hun.  it must be very scarey for you at times.  ive worked with mental health now for 4 years and im still learning new things everyday.  as abit of advice......dont turn it into a joke with someone if they start talking funny or telling you someones there its not likly to turn out very well.  you can try asking them who they see or hear.  you can sometimes understand them more if they feel you want to understand and can be trusted.  if you feel a moment is getting abit heated try and dirvert there attention somewhere else.  if your in their home on your own always make sure you keep the exit door behind you.  never let the client be between you and the door.  if a moment becomes above what you can handle or you feel you need some air then you can exit quietly and easily.  anything your worried about email me arabsaigold@hotmail.com.   i will be happy to help you ok