Research digest : Dixon, L., Sanderson, C., Alexander, T., & Holt, L. (2018). A Weird but interesting journey : personal traumatic growth for individuals with hallucinations. Journal of psychology and psychotherapy, 8.
Hallucinations are often perceived as a symptom of schizophrenia, so negatively, but this study investigated whether hallucinations can also offer opportunities for growth.
It’s a qualitative study which used semi-structured interviews to explore auditory and visual hallucinations in a perspective of personal growth.
Seven participants who experience hallucinations (five men and two women aged 28 to 53) participated in this study. These people were recruited from mental health services. Some of them begun to hallucinate in their childhood, others later in their life. The researchers explored the impact of their hallucinatory experience, within their interactions with others and on their expectation on their future. Then, these interviews were focused on the challenges encountered and overcome: the facilitators and hindrances.
The researchers have found a major theme (a journey towards personal growth) and five subthemes (a difficult journey taken day by day, stigma, acceptance, finding the right support and personal growth) from the participant’s responses during the interview. A difficult journey taken day by day: Most participants described hallucinations as a process made of little steps (« it’s hard to describe how the changes happen ») even if minor changes are perceived (« I can see eventually me getting better, it’s starting to become a part of my life you know what I mean, like an everyday thing »). Stigma : The diagnosis of schizophrenia has been difficult to accept because the participants are afraid to be stigmatized by others. Going to a mental health center was difficult for these people. Acceptance : Initially, participants wanted to reduce their hallucinations but going through a process of acceptance, they sought to make sense of their experience (« I remember being at my best friend’s house and she said well why don’t you just talk to them, and I spoke to them ‘hello’ »). Finding the right support : Participants reported that social support (being listened to and accepted as they are) facilitated the process of acceptance. Personal growth : The participants developed a more holistic view of life and went beyond mental health issues (« It’s changed the way I see others, think about other attitudes and I the way I’ve seen myself »). People described a series of changes within their vision of life and their vision of others (« I show more empathy »).
To conclude, hallucinations are a symptom of schizophrenia, but they have participated in personal growth for these participants. This study showed that personal growth was seen as a process of change, a long journey generating rewarding development. Acceptance seemed to facilitate this process and to allowed a greater resilience and a better inner understanding. Moreover, stigma and hopelessness has been recognized as an obstacle to personal growth.
Words I have learned :
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- growth = croissance personnelle
- acceptance = acceptation
- expectation = anticipation
- hindrances = obstacles
- stigma = stigmatisation
Alexia VACHON, M2 PCPI