my younger sister has confided in me that she hears nasty voices in her head,shes 13.what could this be?

Question

she says it usually happens when shes on her own and its two people,arguing ,usually or telling her to do things.Its happened at school a few times and she said she cant concentrate ,she seemed really scared when she was telling me and she started to cry.im really worried but she made me promise not to tell anyone,shes not had the best upbringing.and i wonder if its a cry for help.our parents are divorced and she took it bad,she did live with my mam but after she had a new baby she was pushed out,so now she lives with my dad,but i dont think shes happy there because his new wife is always shouting at her and he takes her side.can anyone give me some advice?

Answer 1

Tell your parents and have them take her to a therapist for an evaluation. In a situation like this, it is more than okay to break your promise to not tell. She could be in danger, especially if she really has a psychiatric illness (which sounds very likely). She may get angry with you, but it's worth it to get her the help she needs.

I'm disgusted with the morons who are answering with crap about demon possession. Contrary to your imaginary little world, mental illness is caused by faulty neurochemicals and trauma, *not* by being possessed of a demon. Talk about your archaic stupidity.

Answer 2

If she can communicate with them, and if they have no control over any of her limbs, she will be fine. A good friend(s) of mine had exactly the same issue, and she turned round to her voices and told them all where to go. She said that unless they could actually pull their weight or make her do something, they had no say in the run of her life. She effectively punched them in the teeth and after about a year or two of her fighting back, they caved in. She let them ruin her life for a good three years before finally coming to her senses and realising that they didn't have to bother her unless she wanted them to.

This is a very brief summary. This is actually the third time I've tried to write the answer to your question. The previous two attempts told the full story from beginning to end but somehow I don't think it's appropriate. What I will say though is that my friend(s) voices started up around the time of adolescence and she/they do(es)n't believe herself/themselves to have a multiple personality disorder. She/they now believe/s herself/themselves to be priveleged. Because no matter what, she/they is/are never going to be alone. She/they think/s of them as extended parts of her/their consience. She/they is/are perfectly happy sharing the same body so long as they all get to experience some part of life.

Of course your sister may prefer medication.

Answer 3

There is, of course, the chance that she is making this up because people of that age can do some bizarre things....
There's something about some kids that makes them hear about some awful thing and for some reason they find it attractive and "borrow" it - some kids find anorexia an attractive thing, some like the image of having mental problems. I know this sounds ridiculous, but kids can be ridiculous,

Still, there's also the very real chance (especially if she cried when she told you) that she has schizophrenia, which, if I understand correctly, in people who have a predisposition to it can be brought on by stress.

You should talk to her again and try to convince her to either talk to someone about it or else allow you to. Tell her there's the chance she has real mental illness if she is truly hearing arguments, and tell her there is help. Give her the chance to say they stopped (in case she was lying before). Ask her if she's sure the voices are not just her own thoughts like, "Should I let this homework go?" and "No. I shouldn't. I'll be sorry if I don't finish it." (the kind of "arguments" anyone may have with himself at one time or another - but they don't come across as voices from someone else from the outside)

I would think the best possible thing would be to get her to realize she can get help if she needs it, but that if you believe she is ill you cannot promise to keep quiet about it any longer. Try not to betray her trust in your way of handling this, and don't go behind her back without her knowing about it. You shouldn't keep her secret (if it wasn't just something she said for some reason other than the truth), so first try to get her ok on your helping her get help and if that doesn't work at least tell her why you are not able to keep this trust before you take any action. Ask if she has a preference as to who you speak with about her first. Ask if she'll go with you when you first mention it to whoever it is you decide on.

Its better that she be angry or disappointed in you than being shocked at having a whole bunch of stuff going on behind her back without her knowing it. She should be better able to deal with your inabillity to keep quiet if you are honest about why you can't. Sure. She may be disappointed with you and angry; but she won't be traumatized by being surprised the way she would be if you say nothing and just go behind her back.

Answer 4

Go to your father, speak in private, and ask if you can confide something very serious. Explain that it is not a joke and that it may very well be something very serious that if caught on time can have very successful results sooner than later. Explain. Do not shout, do not smile and do not insist vehemently. Let him absorb what you've said and tell him that whatever he thinks after the conversation, he is to keep it to himself whether he believes it or not but not to share this with anyone... especially your sister. She will feel betrayed and will never trust you again!

Please read, "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden," by Hannah Green (she may have started using her real name now... Joanne Greenberg). It is a true story. Please read it so that you can get a better understanding. It may be a joke on your sister's part but what if it is NOT? Would you feel comfortable afterward?

It is treatable with therapy and/or medications. She may need help. She is not "crazy." She needs help. This normally manifests itself during adolescense, when the hormones are raging out of control but more often than not it is triggered by some traumatic event in life, like the divorce of your parents. . Please do your sister a favor? YOU will feel better afterward for doing the right thing. Try to encourage your sister to seek help and let her know that she is loved. Listen, the field of mental help has made huge improvements in the treatments and pharmaceuticals that chances are so much in her favor now... it is not like when "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" was written (way back in the early 60s or 50s).

Do not be afraid for what your father may say but fear more for your sister who is crying out for help and may not get it. I lost a very dear relative (long story and I am not at liberty to disclose).

Good luck and very best wishes.

Answer 5

My son had the same thing he has now at 16 been diagnosed with psychotic disorder scyzophreia. He had ADHD as a child then he started to hear voices when he was about 15.
The same thing you have described a bit if he got told of or if someone said something to embarrass him he would hear the voices telling him YOU ARE LETTING THEM OFF WITH IT AGAIN THEY ARE MAKING A FOOL OF YOU and so on then he used to go mad swearing and getting really aggressive.
He has been attending a physaratris now for 3 months every week and is on medication and he is getting a bit better
I sincerely wish you good luck. Its hard for us living with it but is worse for him. By the way please excuse my spelling

Answer 6

My nephew had this start when he was 12. (experimented with drugs though). He had many voices telling how he was no good & would never get anywhere. PLEASE don't keep this to yourself, I know you've promised, but my nephew has been VERY unwell, due to not getting the correct help until he was 17. He's now 23 and is still not able to do alot for/ or by himself. Talk to someone who YOU can really trust. Good luck sweet x

Answer 7

It very much sounds like schizophrenia which can be controlled by lithium.
There was a movie called 'Cybil" starring Sally Field, she had 16 different personalities, voices, characters, inside her head, they often opposed one another. Often a stronger character would protect or dominate a weaker one.
You said she had the best upbringing, normally schizophrenia is brought on by extreme trauma or abuse, sometime it's just chemical imbalances in the brain.
Your sis needs a physciatrist, not a psychologist or regular doctor. There is no shame in that, the poor girl needs help. The shame is in not getting the help. My heart goes out to her and your family.

Answer 8

As a Christian I have to say that she needs the help of a Christian counsellor and prayer 'cos this sounds like it could be demonic...

but before you get totally freaked out also bare in mind that she is a 13 year old girl going through a tough time and puberty and it could just be attention seeking. If she trusts you get her to go to the Dr's with you and talk about it with them and get her some help.

It can't help to take her along to church and talk to someone there in confidence about it. They won't judge and they can pray for her and advise not only on Spiritual issues but on counselling and help available.

Answer 9

It is often the case that Stress is a major factor in anyones life and can show some disturbing symptoms. The important thing is to get your sister some profesional help and give her as much suport as you can.
Are you ok?

Answer 10

Stress relate schizophrenis. The lady should not be yelling ather thats psychological abuse. The lady needs help to stop yelling at the daughte in law. And the poor teenager needs help in coping wiht all these changes. Adolescence is hard enough as it it. She needs to heal her mind and adjust to all these new situations and get assesed for a mental illness. Good thing is being treated soo young she might be able to find a good solution for this problem. Strss is not good for people with mental illness . Its good she has u to confide in. I think u should go with her to see a doctor or counsellor and help her through this scary process.