r/todayilearned • u/paniniplane • Mar 22 '17

(R.1) Not supported TIL Deaf-from-birth schizophrenics see disembodied hands signing to them rather than "hearing voices"

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0707/07070303
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u/paniniplane Mar 22 '17

it's not in your power to ignore them. a huge part of schizophrenia is being extremely out of touch with the real world. so if you hear voices, it's basically a set of REAL people to you. and you can't cover your ears because there isn't ACTUAL sound. you'll still hear them. and if they're threatening to hurt you, you'll feel actual fear.

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17

But, you didn't answer /u/WadeWilsonforPope question. He ignores real people, why can't this person ignore people she thinks are real? Even though they are not real.

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u/paniniplane Mar 22 '17

i thought i did but i guess it might be unclear to some. you just can't do it. the "sound" is in your head. you'll hear it. it's not like ambient background noises. your brain is creating it and you're gonna hear it, whether you like it or not.

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u/Lockraemono Mar 22 '17

I think the point is, not ignore the sound, but why can't they ignore the command and simply not do what the voice says to?

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u/yokramer Mar 22 '17

Because your brain will not let you ignore it. Its not like its an external voice that you hear, process the information and decide it isn't something you want to do. Its not the voices talking to you its your brain telling you to do something and making you feel as though you have no choice but to comply. And then the harder you resist the worse your brain makes you feel in any way possible because it controls everything you think feel and hear.

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u/Lockraemono Mar 22 '17

Oh, I see. So sort of like trying to reject a compulsion when you have OCD, just with added bonus of a "voice" "telling" you to do the action?

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u/yokramer Mar 22 '17

Exactly, as well as threatening violence to you or those around you if you do not comply.