The release of *Bogainvilla*, a new film on the condition of hallucination, has brought back the topic into public discourse. The character of Jyothirmayi in the movie is a person who imagines having children despite being childless, leading them to experience delusional thoughts that blur the line between reality and imagination. There has been increased acknowledgment of the notion of hallucinations in the light of illness and its impacts on people's lives, by those who experience the hallucinations themselves and by society.
Hallucination is perceiving things that are not there, and this can have a significant impact on the person who is hallucinating and those around them. It is a core symptom in many psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. In such conditions, the person may see, hear, or even smell things that are not there, causing them to be unable to carry out their daily activities and to interact with other people.
Most people believe that hallucinators are just imagining things, which is not the case. In fact, hallucinations can be triggered by serious psychological or neurological disorders, and the victims experience extreme fear and disorientation. For instance, they might hear voices or see people who do not exist, causing them even more distress. Such voices can appear so real to the victim that he is confused as to what is real and what is not.
The impact of hallucinations is wide-ranging. For example, the presence of visual hallucinations enables one to see things that exist and are not present. A person may see people or objects that no one else can see. In like manner, auditory hallucinations involve hearing sounds, such as voices, that others can't hear. These experiences heard might include hearing commands or conversations that are nonexistent, further affecting a person's mental state. This may further extend to include distortions of the sensation of touch, taste, and smell. For example, one person might experience feelings of being touched or tasting something that does not exist.
Hallucinations are not group-specific. A variety of conditions may trigger hallucinations, including severe psychological disorders such as schizophrenia, but also physical conditions like Parkinson's disease or even tumors in the brain. As stated, other possible causes of hallucinations include substance use, withdrawal from drugs or alcohol and extreme circumstances like dehydration or fever, stress, or even exhaustion from traumatic events, which are very disorienting.
For instance, some people may hallucinate when they are sleep-deprived or have mental health conditions like narcolepsy. Even during migraine attacks, people may see or hear things that are not real. The presence of a serious illness or a stressful event can act as a trigger, prompting hallucinations.
The hallucination requires treating the underlying cause. Even though they are linked to psychiatric disorders, sometimes it is caused by neurological conditions. Treatment would diagnose the source of the hallucination and address it through medication or therapy. The earlier one catches the condition, the less the condition would deteriorate and have a significant effect on one's daily life.
Hallucinations should be approached with care and understanding because they are symptoms of a broader issue that often requires professional treatment. Hallucinations should not be dismissed as mere imagination, as they are a sign of deeper health problems. More effective management of the condition can be achieved by seeking help from qualified specialists, such as psychiatrists or neurologists.