What are hallucinations in a child, the types and causes, how they manifest themselves, ways of fighting, is it possible to get rid of on their own, drug treatment. A hallucination is a false auditory, visual, other image or sensation that arises in consciousness independently of the will due to a mental disorder. They can appear due to deep fatigue, alcohol, drugs or diseases of the nervous system and other organs.
Description and mechanism of development of hallucinations in children
Hallucinations in a child are not at all rare. Most often appear at early school age, when he is 7-8 years old. A large load in the first school years adversely affects the fragile child's body. Overwork affects the nervous system, it malfunctions, sometimes they appear in the form of hallucinations: whispering voices are periodically heard, false visual images appear. This anxiety condition occurs in both boys and girls, but this is not always a disease.
The mechanism for the development of hallucinations lies in the activity of the brain, in those parts of it that are responsible for the perception and processing of information. When, due to various reasons, there is a malfunction of the analyzers of the nervous system, for example, those responsible for auditory perception, false voices may occur. This is a general principle of the appearance of imaginary feelings not only in children, but in all people - both men and women.
It is necessary to distinguish between hallucinations and illusions in children. The latter are completely natural for them. Dreams help the child live, and hallucinations are uninvited guests that cause discomfort. They do not help, but oppress the life of a little person.
If hallucinations in a child occur periodically and do not cause much concern, you still do not need to leave them unattended. It is recommended to show the child to a specialist to be sure of his health. When unhealthy images, other hallucinatory manifestations bother the baby often, this is already a deviation in mental development. You can't do without the help of a psychiatrist.
It's important to know! Hallucinations in a child are not always a disease, but you cannot treat them condescendingly. Consultation of a specialist is imperative.
The causes of hallucinations in a child
The factors of the appearance of hallucinations are different, they are all a sign of psychosis, when the child is constantly nervous, tormented by fears.
Let's consider in more detail the causes of hallucinations in a child:
- Fever, fever … Consciousness is unclear, malaise provokes poor functioning of the cerebral hemispheres, which leads to hallucinatory manifestations, which are accompanied by fear and anxiety.
- Intoxication of the body … Poisoning can be: food - poor quality food, for example, mushrooms, although children under 10 are not recommended to eat them; drugs (through an oversight of adults); poisonous herbs - tore off a blade of grass and, as is typical for children, pulled it into his mouth, and it turned out to be toxic; mercury, lead, etc.
- Overwork … It is associated with the work of the nervous system. Heavy workload emotionally tires the child, and there is no corresponding discharge of emotions. This leads to a malfunction in the body. Auditory or visual hallucinations appear.
- Neurological diseases … Disorders of the nervous system become systematic. This is already a pathology. Various mirages, delusions, and other hallucinatory manifestations are quite possible here.
- Puberty … The level of hormones in the blood changes. At this time, hallucinations may appear. It is believed that they do not bring harm to health.
- Decreased immunity … The body is weakened, the child is prone to various diseases, including the nervous system. And this is the likelihood that so-called glitches may appear.
- Alcohol, drugs, other hallucinogenic substances … Nowadays, many high school students are already familiar with alcohol, smoke marijuana, use stronger artificial drugs, for example, heroin, ecstasy. This provokes hallucinations.
- Depression … Typical for adolescence, when thoughts arise that they are not like everyone else. In a depressed state, consciousness is blurry, unreal images and voices appear.
- Sleep disturbance … Heavy loads and inability to rest, then the body is depleted and a healthy perception of reality is disturbed. The line between sleep and reality is blurring.
- Heredity … When someone in the family suffered from mental illness.
- Difficult childbirth … They can lead to hypoxia - oxygen starvation of the brain in a newborn, which will affect the development of the child with the possible appearance of hallucinations.
- Severe injuries … They can be physical and psychological. If they have influenced the work of the brain, it can give out deceptive, for example, visual and auditory sensations.
It's important to know! If a child develops auditory or visual hallucinations, he is predisposed to some mental illness, but this does not mean illness.
Varieties of hallucinations in a child
The main symptom of the appearance of hallucinations in a child is his behavior. Unnatural manners, when a child constantly looks around, tries to hide, or suddenly stops suddenly and stares at one point, speak of anxiety and possible hallucinations. Other signs include confused speech, ambiguity of thinking, which means fuzzy work of the brain, possibly pathological processes are going on in it. Hallucinations vary in form - true and pseudo-hallucinations, they can be simple or complex. When true, the images seem real and are seen from the outside, for example, it seems to a person that he sees his friend at the table and is talking to him. With pseudo-hallucinations, ghosts, false sensations only in the head. Everything is "seen" only by the mind. If a child, for example, hears only one voice, this is a simple hallucination, and when he sees a ghost and feels his touch, it is a complex hallucinosis.
In addition, hallucinations are distinguished by the area of origin - in which of the analyzers (perceive information and form a response to it) of the nervous system they are formed. On this basis, they are classified as:
- Flavoring … When an incomprehensible taste appears in the mouth, not at all related to the food used. It can be so unpleasant that the person refuses to eat.
- Tactile … When the body is touched. Suppose someone touches or crawls an insect, a feeling of cold, heat, someone tickles, tingles, although there are no irritants that cause such sensations.
- Auditory hallucinations in a child … Some of the most common and are most often the result of severe overwork. The child hears various voices that can turn into screaming or whispering, they praise, scold. Such imaginary sensations evoke fear.
- Visual hallucinations in children (hypnagogic) … They often arise along with auditory. They can be some kind of scary images that are usually visited at night. The child is in a panic, may scream with fright. If the parents are serious about what happened, after a confidential conversation with their son (daughter), the vision will disappear forever.
- Internal (visceral) … When the presence of foreign objects or living beings in the body is felt, for example, a dog gnaws at the insides, the ear is stuffed with cotton wool, etc.
- Vestibular … Loss of balance. These hallucinations are common in adolescence. Often, young men and women feel that they are falling or flying, they even see how they pass through the wall.
Important! Don't dismiss or laugh at the child's fears! Try together with him to understand his painful condition.
Ways to combat hallucinations in children
With hallucinations, the child can only fight with them, especially if they have become obsessive. But how to get rid of them depends on the general state of health of the child, the severity of the external manifestation of the hallucinatory state. In mild cases, parents can themselves help their child to avoid imaginary visions.
Independent actions to combat hallucinations in a child
In no case should one laugh at his sensations, convince that all this is "nonsense, in a dream." The child needs to be reassured, say: "Do not be afraid, nothing terrible has happened, I am next to you."
It is necessary to measure the temperature and make sure that the condition is not serious. It is necessary to close the windows, external irritants, extraneous voices and noises, should not reach. No TV or computer! However, you cannot leave alone! The child must be taken care of. The main thing is a sense of security.
You can give your child a sleeping pill that is mild in strength. It can be Magne B6, Persen, Tenoten. The composition of such preparations includes extracts of various herbs that have a sedative effect - valerian, mint, and some others. Not a bad homeopathic tea Nervoflux, motherwort tincture and codeine are recommended.
When the child gets better - walks in the fresh air, creativity, for example, drawing, visiting different circles. This will distract the boy (girl) from extraneous thoughts and unpleasant sensations. Then it is quite possible that the hallucinations will go away on their own.
It's important to know! No independent experiments with the health of the child! Medicines can be given to him only as directed by a doctor.
Treatment of hallucinations in children in the hospital
Hallucinations are often associated with serious mental disorders, when imaginary visions, voices, other manifestations of the hallucinatory syndrome bring the child to a hysterical state. In this case, urgent hospitalization is needed. This means calling an ambulance and referring to a hospital - a children's department of a psychiatric hospital. After a comprehensive examination, testing, examination by a pediatrician, neuropathologist, infectious disease specialist, and other doctors, the psychiatrist will prescribe a course of treatment. The main thing is to find the underlying disease that caused a severe mental disorder and, as a result, hallucinations in the child.
In acute poisoning, detoxification therapy is prescribed, when toxic substances that caused hallucinations are removed from the body. Children aged 7 years and older are treated with antipsychotics (Mesoridazine, Clozapine, Tizercin, etc.), which help to restore normal sleep, enhance the effect of sedatives. However, they cause undesirable side effects, therefore, such psychotropic drugs are prescribed for severe illness.
Glycine (amino acid) is also used, children under 10 years of age are prescribed Pantogam (syrup, tablets, capsules), Citral (with the smell of lemon), nootropic (affects brain function) drug Phenibut. If the child's psyche is very agitated, tranquilizers are attributed: Phenazepam, Sibazon, Tazepam, Elenium.
It's important to know! All of these drugs are used in the treatment of severe mental disorders accompanied by hallucinations. Watch the video about illusions:
Hallucinations in children are always alarming. Parents should not ignore this condition. Perhaps this is a consequence of the usual overwork, then you just need to limit the load and give the child the opportunity to have a good rest. And good health will be restored. But imaginary images are often caused by a serious illness, hereditary or acquired in the course of life. This is already a pathological developmental disorder and requires immediate medical intervention. Otherwise, the consequences of frequently appearing ghosts and false sensations can be very sad for the mental health of a little person.
