Hearing Voices Is More Common Than We Admit
That faint whisper you dismiss as a bad dream, or the shadow you saw near the fridge? For millions of people globally, these false sensory experiences are clear, constant, and command attention right when they are trying to live their normal, Lagos life. These are hallucinations, and they are not always a symptom of mental breakdown, yet they are always real to the person experiencing them.
Auditory hallucinations-the classic "hearing voices"-are the most common type. Per the WHO, schizophrenia affects about one in 300 people worldwide. And experts confirm that between 60 to 80 per cent of those diagnosed will hear these sounds, whether they are critical remarks or even comforting music (Good Health Psych, 2023).
You probably think of psychosis immediately. But the causes are broader than you imagine. Hallucinations can stem from neurological issues like Parkinson's disease, or even temporary conditions like extreme sleep deprivation, high fever, or intense grief (Cleveland Clinic). Anyway, these are just chemical reactions, not ghosts, which means they are treatable.
For decades, clinicians assumed people developed wild beliefs-delusions-to explain the sounds they heard. Why do I hear footsteps? Because the FBI is chasing me. Yet, a 2025 study from Yale researchers suggested a surprising pattern: the delusional thinking often emerges before the hearing voices begin. The brain is trying to make sense of something that hasn’t fully manifested yet.
The experience is often overwhelming, like standing beside a generator running too close, the hot plastic smell of it thick in the air while the voices argue in your head. But people learn to live with it. Coping strategies, according to research from PMC, include increasing real-world social contact to distract the mind, or using loud music to suppress the internal auditory clutter.
The key remains early assessment and treatment. Don’t argue with the reality of the person hearing the voices; accept their distress and seek professional guidance. It is possible to recover and lead a meaningful life. The mind is a fierce battleground, but if one in three people with schizophrenia can achieve complete remission, what does that tell you about the power of support?