Voices in your head?

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Zzyzx
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Voices in your head?

Post #1

Post by Zzyzx »

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It is not uncommon for people (here and elsewhere) to ‘hear voices’, conclude that God is commanding or speaking to them, and act upon what is said.
I would be concerned with is how can I be sure God did command me to do it

Okay, exactly how can anyone ensure that God commanded them to do something if they hear a voice in their head telling them to do something?

How would YOU make that determination?
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Post #2

Post by JJ50 »

If you hear a voice in your head, you should seek medical advice, imo.

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Re: Voices in your head?

Post #3

Post by Goose »

Zzyzx wrote:Okay, exactly how can anyone ensure that God commanded them to do something if they hear a voice in their head telling them to do something?
Hearing a voice in your head telling you to do something would be a reason to think it was not God.
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Re: Voices in your head?

Post #4

Post by Bust Nak »

[Replying to post 3 by Goose]

Then what would be the indication of a command from God?

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Re: Voices in your head?

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Post #6

Post by Zzyzx »

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Auditory hallucinations are reportedly common in some forms of mental disorder -- and are not unknown among people who have not been diagnosed with disorders.

Perhaps a vivid imagination is sufficient to 'hear voices'?
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Re: Voices in your head?

Post #7

Post by Goose »

Bust Nak wrote: [Replying to post 3 by Goose]

Then what would be the indication of a command from God?
I would think at least one indication it was a command from God is that it would be consistent with my prior understanding of the characteristics and nature of God.
Things atheists say:

"Is it the case [that torturing and killing babies for fun is immoral]? Prove it." - Bust Nak

"For the record...I think the Gospels are intentional fiction and Jesus wasn't a real guy." – Difflugia

"Julius Caesar and Jesus both didn't exist." - brunumb

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Post #8

Post by bjs »

[Replying to Zzyzx]

Auditory hallucinations are a common among those suffering from schizophrenia, a serious but relatively rare condition affecting a little over one percent of the population. Modern medication is extremely effective at controlling it.

A vivid imagination is not remotely sufficient to “hear voices.�
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Post #9

Post by Zzyzx »

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[Replying to post 8 by bjs]

“Causes of Auditory Hallucinations [From WebMD]

Mental illness is one of the more common causes of auditory hallucinations, but there are a lot of other reasons, including:

Alcohol. Heavy drinking can cause you to see things that aren’t there. You might hear things, too, both as you drink or when you quit after you’ve been drinking for many years.

Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. You’re more likely to hear things in the later stages of Alzheimer’s. A similar condition called Lewy body dementia can cause it, too. (But it’s more common to see things -- visual hallucinations -- than hear them with this type of dementia.) For some people, the voices seem so real, they talk back to them.

Brain tumors. Hearing things doesn’t mean you have a brain tumor. But it could happen when a tumor is in the part of the brain that deals with hearing. You might hear anything from random sounds to actual voices.

Drugs. Certain street drugs, like ecstasy and LSD, can make you see and hear things that aren’t there. It can happen while you’re using them or when you quit after using them for a long time.

Epilepsy. When seizures from epilepsy affect the brain area that processes hearing, you might hear a buzzing sound or voices. In some cases, it warps how you hear things, so they’re not as loud or clear.

Hearing loss. People with hearing loss in one or both ears may hear anything from odd sounds to music and voices, none of which are really there.

High fevers and infections. Some infections, like encephalitis and meningitis, can make you hear things, along with the other symptoms. The same is true for high fevers.

Intense stress. Serious stress, as you might have after going through something traumatic, can cause hallucinations. It’s especially common to hear the voice of a loved one after their recent death.

Mental illness. Hearing voices is very common with schizophrenia. The voices may seem to come from inside your head or outside, like from the TV. And they could argue with you, tell you what to do, or just describe what’s happening. It can sometimes happen with other mental illnesses as well, including:
Bipolar disorder
Borderline personality disorder
Major depressive disorder
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Schizoaffective disorder

Migraines. Often, if you get migraines with auras, you see things. But some people hear things instead. Usually, it’s voices. And that may be more likely if you also have depression.

Parkinson’s disease. It’s more likely that you would see things that aren’t there when you have Parkinson’s. But in some cases, you hear things from the scenes you’re seeing.

Side effects from medicine. If you begin to hear things once you start a new medicine or your doctor puts you on a higher dose of something you already take, that change could be the reason. It most often affects older adults and gets more likely the more medicines you take.

Sleep issues. It’s pretty common to hear a sound just as you fall asleep or wake up. And it’s usually not something to see your doctor about. But if you fall asleep randomly (narcolepsy) or have a hard time falling asleep (insomnia), it’s much more likely to happen.

Thyroid disease. Myxedema is a rare condition where your thyroid is not making enough hormone and your levels get dangerously low. It’s a life-threatening condition that can also make you hear things.

Tinnitus. Doctors don’t think of the usual ringing or hissing of tinnitus as a hallucination. But this condition can raise your risk. It may be more likely if you also have depression.�

https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/aud ... inations#1
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Re: Voices in your head?

Post #10

Post by Bust Nak »

Goose wrote: I would think at least one indication it was a command from God is that it would be consistent with my prior understanding of the characteristics and nature of God.
Would that not leave yourself open to replacing God's wishes with your own wishes?

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