Leaflets to Download

Coping with Hearing Voices

The following are a collection of helpful free leaflets and booklets to download about coping with hearing voices.  They have been compiled by various Hearing Voices Networks and Hearing Voices Groups around the world, some compiled by the NHS , and some by professional bodies and people.  Talking Voices do have permission to share these with you but do not own the copyright, nor intellectual property rights, of any of the following documents. They include ideas and suggestions for coping, two are about how to start up a conversation about hearing voices with loved-ones. The last five leaflets are specifically for parents and carers of children and young people.

How To Cope with Hearing Voices is a 22 page booklet produced by mind. It is for anyone who hears voices and wants to understand why and what things might help if their voices are a problem, as well as their friends and family.
Its opening page gives some reasons why or when you might hear voices including:  Lack of sleep, Physical illness, Drugs, Bereavement, Abuse or bullying, Other traumatic experiences, Spiritual experiences, and  Mental health problems – you may hear voices if you experience psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or severe depression.
Download here

The Voice Inside – A Practical Guide to Coping with Voices – Paul Baker.  This guide has been written by the Hearing Voices Network as an introduction to a new way of thinking about “hearing voices”. Hearing voices can be a very disturbing experience, for both the person who hears voices and their family and friends.
In this coping with hearing voices guide we ask what is it like to hear voices, why does it start and how can people cope better with this experience? The information in this guide is based on research and practical work carried out in the Netherlands and the UK which comes directly from voice hearers themselves.
Who is this guide for? This guide is targeted at voice hearers, family and friends, as well as being of interest to professionals working with voice hearers. We hope that when you read the guide you will be interested in finding out more.
Download here

Hearing Voices Group in Manchester have produced this three page leaflet titled ‘Hearing Voices Coping Strategies’.  It has suggestions for living with voices, visions and tactile sensations including setting small goals for coping,  keeping busy, being prepared and knowing your warning signals, getting creative, listening to music, keeping a journal, and so on. It is hoped some of these ideas can help you, or someone you care about. Remember you are not alone: Research shows that 4% of people hear voices, this is the same number as have asthma. Voice hearers throughout history have included a great many influential people: religious prophets, doctors and psychologists, philosophers, artists, poets, explorers and politicians.
Download here or from the Hearing Voices Network website

Strategies for Coping with Distressing Voices. From HVN Australia comes this one page leaflet full of ideas to help cope with distressing voices. It includes focusing techniques, positive emotional techniques, points to remember to look after yourself, relaxation techniques, comforting techniques, distraction techniques, what works in a crisis, what may not help. It’s full of ideas, some if not many of which might be helpful to most people.
Download here

Better Sleep for Voice Hearers has been put together by the HVG in York. Many voice hearers report problems sleeping. Poor sleep can mean not being able to fall asleep in the first place, waking during the night, waking up too early or not feeling refreshed on waking. It is common for voice hearers to report that their voices are worse at night, and that the night time means they cannot use their usual coping strategies such as going for a walk. People are also often alone at night, lacking distraction, and in trying to unwind for the night, their lack of occupation may bring on their voices.
The leaflet gives tips on all aspects of sleep hygiene and can be downloaded from here

Self-help Guide to Talking with Voices: This guide focuses on dialoguing with voices and has been compiled by Rufus May and Elisabeth Svanholmer.  It’s for people who want to try engaging and communicating with their voices. Society tends to encourage people to think that voice hearing is bad and something that it is best to ignore at all costs.  However, many people have found that talking with their voices can be helpful. Particularly if you have others around you who are supportive of this.
Learning to talk with voices in a measured way can help some people better manage the experience. Some people have found through this approach their voices have become more collaborative and respectful.
This 21 page guide can be downloaded here 

Talking About Hearing Voices – Suggestions For Voice Hearers.  It can be hard to know how to start a conversation and feel comfortable talking about hearing voices with family, friends, and other people in your life. Here are some ideas and suggestions around how to plan for a conversation about voices which might help to make talking about your experiences easier. A good place to start can be asking yourself – why am I thinking of telling someone? Do you want understanding and emotional support, a sounding board to help you figure things out, access to mental health services, or changes at university or in the office to help you work more effectively? Being able to answer these questions can shape what type of conversation you have and with whom.   The website Understanding Voices has been put together by Durham University and The Wellcome Trust.

Download here

Talking About Hearing Voices –  for Supporters,  Family and Friends Sometimes it’s difficult for people to know what to say when someone confides that they are hearing voices, especially if their voices are overwhelming. It’s OK to worry about not knowing how to react or saying ‘the wrong thing’. If you support someone who hears voices, you might find these suggestions helpful when it comes to talking about their experiences.  If you support someone who hears voices, you might find these suggestions helpful when it comes to talking about their experiences. The website Understanding Voices has been put together by Durham University and The Wellcome Trust.

Download here

Hearing Voices and Disturbing Beliefs by the NHS:  This 28 page document has been compiled by NHS Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyne & Wear. This guide is for people who experience voices or disturbing beliefs and reading it may be a start to help make sense of those experiences.  The booklet is also intended to help caring relatives and friends understand what a voice hearer is going through.  The booklet has been compiled by voice hearers and their carers and relatives.   It gives information and has sections to write your own thoughts.  This booklet can be downloaded here or from NHS Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyne & Wear’s webiste where a further range of booklets about self help and mental health can be downloaded.

How to Talk with Someone who is Hearing Voices
An article from the Metro News
There’s definitely a lack of understanding around the idea of psychosis. In fact, the word itself carries certain connotations that many find unhelpful and often distressing. Even though it may be difficult to do so, it is important to try and stay calm, open and supportive throughout any conversation. Emotions can be infectious, especially when people are feeling overwhelmed. Getting panicked or angry can make the experience more distressing for that person. If someone is really overwhelmed, try to keep things clear and simple and avoid language which may add to confusion e.g. metaphors or sarcasm.
Metro News Link

Understanding Psychosis and Schizophrenia – Why people sometime hear voices, believe things that others find strange, or appear out of touch with reality, and what can help.  This 192 page booklet is published by The British Psychological Society.  Within its pages is mention of peer support and the Hearing Voices Network.
You can download the booklet here

Don’t Panic if your Child is Hearing Voices – By Sandra Escher – A 5 page Document

Dr Sandra Escher (14 June 1945 – 31 May 2021) was from the Netherlands.   She was an expert on children and young people who hear voices. She spent about 25 years years talking to children who hear voices and to their parents and carers. Sandra carried out the most detailed and thorough research into the phenomenon in the world to date. In this article she offers a new perspective on what the voices may represent and how you can help your child cope if they are hearing voices.

Download here

From Voice Collective come this 2 page guide for young people – Tips: Dealing with Scary Voices
The opening paragraph reads: “If the voices you hear frighten you, you’re not alone. Here we’ve put together six tips that others have found helpful to deal with scary voices. At the end, why not list you’re own ideas too? The more tools you have in your toolbox, the easier you’ll find it to cope when things get tough.”
It can be downloaded here

Voice Collective have compiled this 2 page guide for young people – Voices Visions Gender & Sexuality
The introductory paragraph reads: “Are you lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or questioning your gender or sexuality? Do you hear voices or see or experience things others don’t? If so you’re not alone! This leaflet has been put together in partnership with a young person with experiences like yours.”
It can be downloaded here

Voices & Visions 1 – A straight talking introduction: for parents, carers and family members of young people who hear voices or see visions
This booklet has been put together by Mind in Camden’s London-wide Voice Collective project. Voice Collective works with children, young people, families and youth agencies across Greater London to help improve the support available to young people who hear voices, see visions or have other unusual experiences. The information in this booklet has been created by project staff, some of whom have personal experience of living with voices and visions. The development of the booklet was guided by parents and carers, and contains some of their quotes throughout the document.
This is the first of two books and can be downloaded here

Voices & Visions 2 – A guide to coping and recovery for parents, carers and family members of young people who hear voices or see visions
This booklet is compiled by Mind and Voice Collective.  Voice Collective is a UK-wide service supporting young people who hear, see or sense things other people can’t, as well as their parents, carers and supporters.

This is the second of two books and can be downloaded here