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OUR OPINION
When I was young, I heard voices.
Voices of demons coming from the bathtub drain.
Voices coming from the closet. I was afraid to sleep in the dark for a long time, and my parents had to keep the hallway light on all night.
It was very frightening.
Then, when I was in the U.S. Army, I heard voices again. Voices calling my name from the back of the room. They were faint at first but became more vocal as time passed.
This caused me to spin into a paranoia that ultimately came down to schizophrenia.
As I reflect on it now, imaginary voices have been heard since civilization began.
According to ancient Greek mythology, the Muses are the sources of inspiration for all the arts and of knowledge. They manifest themselves as whispers in the ears that hear them.
Joan of Arc heard the voices of saints telling her to free her country from the English.
Gandhi heard the voices of saints telling him to free his country from the British.
Even the father of Psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud heard a voice calling him by his childhood nickname.
He said, “During the days when I was living alone in a foreign city … I quite often heard my name suddenly called by an unmistakable and beloved voice. I then noted down the exact moment of the hallucination and made anxious inquiries from those at home about what had happened at that time. Nothing had happened.”
I believe those who hear voices are singled out and touched by the divine. Of the above examples, none are average. Instead, they have changed the world.
Experiencing voices, both internally and externally, may be a frightening experience for those who suffer from it. Many voices talk about being a bad person, a faulty person.
The Son of Sam, David Berkowitz, heard voices telling him to murder people.
Across the Atlantic, an equally infamous serial killer was active at the same time as the Son of Sam. Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, viciously attacked and killed numerous women before being snared. And, like Berkowitz, he claimed to have been motivated by voices in his head.
These examples stigmatize others who hear voices.
For that reason, they do not get the help they need to quiet their voices. Stigma and public shame prevent many from seeking help until it is too late resulting in homicide or suicide, poverty, and homelessness.
All schizophrenics do not hear voices, but it is a frequent symptom of the disorder, common to 70% of those who suffer from it.
As for me, I think my voice touched my life in so many ways. I am more creative and less afraid of taking chances. Instead of a curse, my voice has become a blessing from the divine.
For those who suffer from their own internal demons, get help but stay true to who you are.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline. org.
-Greg Hitchcock
