Does hearing sounds in the head indicate schizophrenia?

Question

Hello doctor,

I often hear something in my head such as "If you wear this top, you would not argue with anyone today" or "If you keep your phone over 50 %, you would not have to watch anyone argue" or things like this, and I always did it, not that it worked, but I always believed it and had it said in my mind. What is this? Is it called schizophrenia? I have had it since a younger age and never had it checked.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Having thoughts in your head or hearing something in your mind is perfectly normal and may be at best termed pseudo-hallucinations. Just that alone would definitely not give you a diagnosis of schizophrenia. However, if you find some unwanted thoughts that enter your mind recurrently even though you attempt to resist them, then you have to be careful and consult with your local psychiatrist to rule out obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Hallucinations, which are a symptom of schizophrenia, would require you to actually hear a voice coming from outside yourself, from an objective space and you would not be able to control these. But even then, these may not be due to schizophrenia which is a major psychiatric diagnosis, and should only be considered after a detailed evaluation by your local psychiatrist

Hope I have been able to clear your doubts adequately. Your worry is unnecessary, so just relax and enjoy your life for now.

Thanks and take care.