If someone is having hallucinations do you correct them or let them go?
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If someone is hearing or seeing things that others don't they need to be reoriented to reality. Sometimes this is very difficult to do and they may need a short inpaitent stay to get stabilized. I always let folks who are hallucinating know that what they are seeing or hearing is not real.
I would correct them, since they're either on drugs or have mental problems. Whichever the case may be, encourage them to seek help.
Try to calm them down if they are getting scared/worried.Otherwise leave them too it ,as you will confuse them and could make them angry.
You support them (the person) acknowlede them but dont contribute to thier hallucinations. Then seek immidiate medical advice.
Let them know and reassure them that you understand they are having hallucinations. I wouldn't play into it by correcting it because what they are seeing/hearing/feeling whatever is real to them and they might become angry, upset, or scared if they are told that those perceptions aren't real. DO get medical help for them as soon as possible. Check your local phonebook for numbers to mental health clinics in your area and ask about what the procedure is for getting an assessment done on somebody who's hallucinating. If it's an emergency (like they are hurting themselves or others, making threats, behaving erratically, etc) take themt to the ER...they can get help there. Hope this helps.
If the hallucinating person is someone you know, try to keep them calm. If they are distressed, remove them from whatever situation or environment is causing their distress. Hallucinations are REAL to the person having them. If you cannot calm them get the affected person to a hospital at the earliest chance. Psychosis, whether caused by drugs or a natural mental imbalance, can escallate to the point where the affected person harms him/herself or another.
If you don't know the affected person you may have to call 911. Report the situation as a medical emergency. A person having hallucinations doesn't know what is real, and may react aggressively to a perceived threat. If police arrive they should be told that you believe the person is hallucinating.
If the person is someone with whom I'm well connected, I will ignore being put in a bad place and let them know that what they are experiencing is not real. I owe it to them as a friend.
There are some problems with doing this. The first is that some psychotics aren't interested in reality; they believe what they are experiencing and that's where they want to be.
When you challenge their perception of reality, they can get angry and abusive.
I had to have this kind of conversation with someone who was delusional this year. He didn't want treatment and I ended up not trusting him and having to terminate a 25 year-old friendship.
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