This booklet was produced by The Hive, it is intended as
a guide for voice hearers, carers and others seeking
information. Thanks to all the contributions from people
attending voices groups for their advice and input into
this booklet.
Julie McPherson and Dave Boyd, The Hive
The Hive
Royal Edinburgh Hospital
Morningside Place
Edinburgh
EH10 5HF
Tel : 0131 5376256
thehive@samhservices.org.uk
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The Hive is an activity
centre and coffee bar
for in - patients situated
within the grounds of
Royal Edinburgh
Hospital.
The Hive is run by
SAMH and is funded by
NHS Lothian. SAMH is
Scotland‟s leading
mental health charity.
At SAMH, we believe everyone has the right to
EXPECT:
MORE from life
MORE from the people
who support
you
Hearing Voices Groups in Edinburgh
Inchkeith House Group
Stuart Hyde and Alasdair Gormly run a group at Inchkeith
House (137 Leith Walk, Edinburgh), on Fridays 2pm to
3pm.This group is open to anyone who hears voices.
Please contact Alasdair Gormly on 0131 537 4530 for
further information.
Cambridge Street group
This group is on Thursday‟s from 3pm to 4pm at:Cambridge
Street House, 5 Cambridge Street, Edinburgh . This group
is open to anyone who hears voices.
Please contact either George Watson, Barbara Braner or
Christine Hislop on 0131 537 8650
Hive Hearing Voices Support Group
Wednesdays 2 - 3 pm in the relaxation room at The Hive,
Royal Edinburgh Hospital,
The Orchard Clinic Hearing Voices Support
Group
Tuesdays 4 - 5 pm in the Orchard Clinic.
MORE from yourself
SAMH believes that everyone can recover greater
control of their lives and improved quality of life in
spite of the difficulties they may have.
This booklet was produced by The Hive, it is
intended as a guide for voice hearers, carers and
others seeking information.
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Useful Books
What is Hearing Voices?
Living with Voices: 50 Stories of Recovery,
Romme and Escher A new analysis of the hearing
voices experience outside the illness model, resulted
in accepting and making sense of voices. This study
of 50 stories forms the evidence for this successful
new approach to working with voice hearers.
Accepting Voices Marius Romme, Sandra Escher
New Analysis of the Experience of Hearing Voices
Outside the Illness Model", in which thirteen people
describe their experiences of hearing voices.
Hearing Voices: A Common Human Experience
John Watkins - A detailed description of a wide variety
of voice hearing experiences - An overview of the theories
accounting for how and why this happens - A range of
practical techniques for coping with voices - Guidelines for
applying spiritual discernment to hearing voices Strategies for optimising the personal value of voice
hearing experiences
Movies featuring Hearing Voices
Some Voices A British film that deals sensitively
with the life of a voice hearer (Daniel Craig) and the
people around him.
The Soloist A film about the friendship between a
journalist and a homeless violin prodigy who hears
voices. Starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey
Jnr.
People hear voices that have no
apparent external source and feel that
they are coming from someone or
something else. This can be a very
intense and frightening experience.
People can hear one voice or many.
The voices can be someone they know
or not. Everyone‟s experience of their
voices is unique. But it is not
necessarily a sign of mental ill health.
It is estimated around 4 % of the
population have heard voices during
their lives. The problem is not that
people hear voices, it‟s how they cope
with the voices.
“ The best thing about the group is finding out
you‟re not alone.”
A Beautiful Mind A film about the life of John Nash,
voice hearer starring Russell Crowe.
Albert
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Beliefs about voices.
See Me Scotland
Everybody has different beliefs about what
their voices are and where they come from.
Some believe that they are a symptom of
their mental ill health, some believe that they
are the voices of spirits/gods; some believe
they are caused by a trauma in their life.
Whatever the belief, accepting your voices is
the first step in coping with them, though this
can also be the most difficult step to take.
We make no claims about what voices are or
are not. Everybody is respectful of each
other‟s beliefs. It is more important to accept
the voices are real to you.
“ In the group we share experiences on how to cope
with voices, one member of our group shared with us
how his voices were really abusive and negative in
public places so he used breathing techniques and
meditation that he had learnt in Yoga and Karate to
cope. He felt by practising these techniques when he
felt well that it equipped him to be better trained to use
them when his voices became bad.”
www.seemescotland.org.uk
See Me is Scotland‟s national campaign to end the stigma and
discrimination of mental ill- health. Can also be found on Facebook
and Twitter.
Scottish Recovery Network www.scottishrecovery.net
“Recovery is being able to live a meaningful and satisfying life, as
defined by each person, in the presence or absence of symptoms. It
is about having control over and input into your own life. Each
individual‟s recovery, like his or her experience of the mental health
problems or illness, is a unique and deeply personal process.”
Read more on recovery at the site.
Voice Collective www.voicecollective.co.uk
Voice Collective is a 2 year project set up to develop, and co-run,
peer support groups for young people (aged 12-18) who hear, see or
sense things that other people don't.
It is based in London but whether you live in that area or not the
website has a lot of great information.
Ron Coleman www.roncolemanvoices.co.uk
Ron Coleman has used his experiences in his own recovery of
mental illness to develop ideas for treatment for others. Since then
he has went on to write numerous books and papers on the subject
and was influential in the development of the Hearing Voices
Network in the UK.
Rufus May www.rufusmay.com
Dave
Group Facilitator
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Rufus May is a Clinical Psychologist best known for using his own
experiences of being a psychiatric patient to promote alternative
recovery for those experiencing mental health problems and negative
voices. His website contains useful coping strategies and the
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interesting film he was involved in “The Doctor Who Hears Voices”.
Useful Web Sites
Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH)
www.samh.org.uk The Hive is run by SAMH it is Scotland‟s leading
Mental Health Charity. SAMH is the Scottish Association for Mental
Health, a charity working across Scotland, founded in 1923. Every
year, we provide over one million hours of support to people who need
our help. Every day, we campaign for better mental health for the
people of Scotland
Hearing Voices Network (Scotland)
www.hearingvoicesnetwork.com
Info: The Network aims to erase the stigma of voice hearing, and to
enable voice hearers to realise their place in a society which knows
and understands their plight, and to be at the forefront in achieving
innovative user-led approaches to recovery.
Intervoice- The International Community for Hearing Voices
www.intervoiceonline.org
Intervoice is the International Network for Training, Education and
Research into Hearing Voices. The website has lots of useful info
practical advice on dealing with negative voices to an online shop with
books and DVD's about voices. Can also be found on Facebook.
Mental Health Forum www.mentalhealthforum.net
Has a Hearing Voices forum run in association with Intervoice. A great
place to share experiences with fellow voice hearers.
DHVS- Independent Hearing Voices Website
www.dhvs.freeuk.com
The Hearing Voices Website is an independent website which has no
formal relationship to any National Health Service Trusts, local
government or any other organisation whatsoever.
It does have some great information for Carer‟s and family members as
well as a forum where you can discuss your experiences.
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“ Nobody expects you to say anything you‟re not
comfortable with, in fact it was a great relief to finally
say out loud „I hear voices‟ There is something very
powerful about talking with other voice hearers and
listening to their stories. If you don‟t feel like talking
there is no pressure, just spending time in a room full of
people who can relate to your experience is enough in
itself. The group enabled me to share my fears without
judgement or ridicule. “
Chloe
Voice Hearer
It is also important not to be afraid to talk
about your voices. This is not easy and
sometimes it is hard for family or friends to
understand. Which is why coming to a
hearing voices group can be a great first
step to accepting and coping with your
voices.
People learn to cope with their voices not
because the content of the voices change
but because the nature of their relationship
with the voices changes. If you believe that
the voices are in control of you, you'll have
problems coping. If you believe that you are
stronger than the voices you'll cope much
better. This can be hard to accept but by
talking about your voices in a support group
it can become easier.
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The Hive runs two Voices groups to serve
the needs of patients of the Hospital
The Hive Hearing Voices Support Group
2-3pm at the relaxation room within the centre
every Wednesday.
The group is a relaxed, safe place where people
can get together and share their experiences of
hearing voices. It is open to both in-patients of the
royal Edinburgh Hospital and to people from the
community. It is not a therapy group. It is a place
where they help each other by sharing stories and
ways to cope. It is run by Dave Boyd and Julie
McPherson, Activity Workers at The Hive.
“ One of the suggestions we have made in the group
on how to cope with your voices when out in a public
place is to use your mobile phone to talk back to them.
We had been suggesting this for people to try this for
years without mishap. Then one our group members
told a cautionary tale. He had been finding this useful
for dealing with his voices while on the bus.
Unfortunately one day while doing this his phone rang,
while he was supposedly already using it. Ooops. He
saw the funny side as did the rest of the support group.
So now our advice is to talk back to your voices on
your mobile just make sure you put it onto silent first”
Julie
Group Facilitator
In the group the Voice hearers are the experts and
we respect everyone's beliefs on what or who their
voices are and the causes of them.
The group is also a great place to get to know people and make new friends. With fun events and
trips planned throughout the year, it is important to
remember you are not alone.
The Orchard Hearing Voices Group
This group is held in the Orchard Clinic. It is run by
Dave Boyd from The Hive and Bill Gilroy, a nurse
therapist from the clinic.
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Dave Boyd and Julie McPherson, Facilitators
of The Hive‟s Hearing Voices Support Group
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Things that can help when the voices are bad
Listening to music –it works better with headphones
Talking back to your voices – saying NO!
Negotiating with the voices asking for a timeout
Playing a game – on your mobile – solitaire, snakes
Read a book – funny or intense doesn‟t matter
Watch films / TV
Singing / chanting
Praying / speaking to God
Phone a friend – talking
Dave, Julie and Albert at The Hive Hearing Voices Group
Taking a relaxing bath
Focus on breathing / use relaxation technique
These are the groups rules that we have agreed
Put lights on / radio (at night )
within our support group.
Cleaning/ tidying / Cooking
Puzzles – crosswords, Sudoko
Exercise
Gardening

Treat people with respect at all times

Do not talk over other people and allow
Painting / Drawing
everybody to have their say
Computer games
Reading out loud
Sewing / knitting / any crafty thing that is fiddly
Visual imagery / Count to yourself when trying to sleep
Go for a walk

Respect other people’s beliefs

Everything said in the group is confidential

Mobile phones off /silent

The group is informal so group members
Yoga
Shouting back at the voices – into the pillow / telephone
can come in and out at anytime
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Annual Hearing Voices Open Day
Every year we hold an Hearing Voices Open day at the
Hive. The day brings voice hearers from all over
Scotland together so they can share experiences. It
also reduces stigma by educating carers, students and
professionals by listening
to the experts, the voice
hearers themselves.
It is a great place to share
information about hearing
voices groups and resources within communities
across Scotland.
Our speakers this year were Bill Gilroy who facilitates
the Orchard Hearing Voices Group with Dave. He
talked about how they set up the voices group and
mindfulness techniques they used in the group.
Andrew Watson, a psychiatrist from the Orchard Clinic
who discussed the latest medical research on voices,
positive and negative. He showed us some amazing
slides of brain scans, showing the differences in brain
activity when people heard voices. Stuart Hyde,
finished off by telling us his experiences of hearing
voices and setting up a
hearing voices support
group .
The barbeque afterwards
was great fun especially as
we actually got a hot and
sunny day. This gave
everyone a great chance to
have a chat and share
experiences.
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Examples:

Breathing in through the nose and out
through the mouth while counting to ten

Sitting / Lying comfortably and
concentrating on breathing out the bad
feelings we have and breathing in good
feelings.

Sitting and tensing all our muscles at
once, starting at out feet moving up our
legs to our body and finally screwing up
our face holding it for 5 secs and then
relaxing everything. Repeat up to ten
times.

Visualising putting all your bad feelings
and stress into a box and concentrate on
shrinking the box smaller and smaller.

Concentrate on your breathing, counting
each breathe in and out, counting up to
100 and then counting back to zero

Imagine your voices like a radio in the
corner of the room, and imagine slowly
turning the volume down.
“ Sometimes we ask the Hive‟s Tai Chi
instructor, Andreas to come to the group to
show people different breathing exercises.
Everyone always really enjoys these sessions“
Dave
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Group Facilitator
Meditation and Mindfulness
Some people who hear voices find that practising some
meditation or mindfulness techniques can help to reduce
the frequency or severity of the voices. Meditation and
mindfulness can help reduce stress levels. Mindfullness
can also show how to notice and work with the experience
rather than engaging in a futile struggle to fight or run away
from it.
“ One of the reasons the support group works
is it‟s not about Dave or I telling people how to
cope with voices, it‟s about people supporting
each other sharing stories and experiences.
Mostly we just supply the coffee and biscuits
and listen as they help each other and grow
stronger from the experience.”
Julie
Group Facilitator
Mindfulness is bringing one‟s complete attention to the
present experience on a moment-to-moment basis. It is
paying attention to breathing, body sensations, thoughts
and feelings in a kind, accepting non-judgmental way. It
can be as simple as stopping what you are doing and
concentrating on the way your body feels at a particular
moment. Is your heart racing? Is body tense? Are you
feeling hot or cold? And being accepting of these
sensations. Meditation and breathing techniques can be
used at any time to reduce stress levels.
Dave, Julie and Albert in a lively group
discussion.
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History of Hearing Voices Groups and
Network
In 1987, Marius Romme, a social psychiatrist and Patsy
Hage, a voice hearer, went on Dutch television to speak
about voices and to ask people who heard voices to
contact them.
750 people responded
450 heard voices
300 could not cope
150 were able to handle
the voices
“One of our group identified that her voices
would be really bad when she was shopping in
the supermarket. With the group she came up
with some coping strategies to help: not to go
when the shop was really busy, making a list
beforehand, at the checkout just put things
back into the trolley then taking them to a quiet
corner to pack them into bags at her own pace.
She found that these helped lessen her voices
when she shopped”
Julie
Group Facilitator
Living Well
Marius Romme
The response from this program led to Marius,
professionals and voice hearers seeing the need to set
up the first self-help Hearing Voices group in Holland.
Groups then spread right across the world.
In the UK, this first conference was held in 1990, in
Manchester, thirteen people attended. This was only the
start there are now more than 90 voices groups regularly
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meeting across the country.
The way we live our lives can effect peoples voices
as well. Eating well, sleeping well, getting plenty of
exercise as well as looking after ourselves can all
help to lessen the voices. And obviously not
sleeping, eating junk food, too much caffeine,
alcohol, drugs, isolation and not looking after
oneself can increase the severity of peoples voices.
In the group, we provide practical information on
healthy eating and affordable ways to exercise.
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Coping strategies
There are various strategies and techniques to help
dealing with your voices. Some strategies can help
give immediate relief, which we call distraction
techniques and others are more long term ideas
that will take practice and may not produce
immediate results but will help long term.

Accept the voices as part of your reality

Talk to someone about your voices or attend a
voices group

Keep a voice diary – when are the voices bad,
take note of anything that may affect your
voices: sleep pattern, what you‟ve eaten, and
stressful situations that day.

Identify triggers and patterns

Replying to the voices – use a mobile if out in
public place but remember to switch off or put
on silent.

Identifying the voices – who are they? What do
they say?

Accepting that you are in charge of your
actions not the voices.

Negotiating with them – setting times when
you will give the voices your full attention and
times when the voices must give you peace

Check if what the voices are saying is true and
challenge them

Choose only to listen to the good things they
say
Across the world, groups of voice hearers now meet and
talk, sharing view points and strategies to support each
other, telling their stories and exploring ways to work with,
rather than against their voices in order to reclaim control
and rebuild their lives. Together these groups make up the
Hearing Voices Network. The network works towards
promoting recovery, acceptance and education. The
position of the hearing voices movement can be
summarised as follows:

Hearing voices is not in itself a sign of mental illness.

Hearing voices is experienced by many people who do
not have symptoms that would lead to diagnosis of
mental illness.

Hearing voices is often related to problems in life
history.

If hearing voices causes distress, the person who
hears the voices can learn strategies to cope with the
experience. This is often achieved by confronting the
past problems that lie behind the experience.
“ I like the laid back atmosphere of the voices
group, it helps you open up.”
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Stephen
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John Frusciante
Well known voice hearers
People throughout history have heard voices which they
have described as gods, muses or voices. In many
ancient cultures this was not seen as unusual
occurrence and was seen as a religious or spiritual
experience until recently. They viewed voices as a
positive experience which could inspire great creativity.
Here are a few well known people who also hear voices,
more can be found at http://www.intervoiceonline.org/
about-voices/famous-people
Philip K Dick
Philip K Dick was an American
novelist, short story writer and
essayist whose published work is
almost entirely in the science fiction
genre. He often drew upon his own
life experiences in addressing the
nature of paranoia and schizophrenia in novels.
Several stories have been adapted into popular
films since his death, including Blade Runner, Total
Recall, Minority Report and The Adjustment Bureau.
“It hasn‟t spoken a word to me since I wrote The Divine Invasion.
The voice is identified as Ruah, which is the Old Testament word
for the Spirit of God. It guided me for a while. It has spoken to me
sporadically since I was in high school. I expect that if a crisis
arises it will say something again. “ Source: Rod Serling’s The Twilight
Zone Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 3, June 1982
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American guitarist, best
known for playing in the Red
Hot Chili Peppers, selling
millions of records and has
released 10 solo albums
“I had just so many mental
problems. It wasn‟t until I was
28 that my brain actually felt
like a spacious place. When I
was 18, 19, 22, my brain was just clogged all the
time – non-stop voices. I couldn‟t figure out what
was going on. There was a lot of confusion inside
me, this flood of voices, often contradicting each
other, often telling me stuff that would happen in
the future, and then it would happen, voices insulting me, telling me what to do” Source Independent
June 2004
John Nash
The Nobel Prize winning
mathematician has heard
voices most of his life. His life
was documented in the film ‘A
Beautiful Mind’
“I thought of the
voices as... something a little different
from aliens. I thought of them more
like angels... It's really my
subconscious talking, it was really
that... I know that now.” Source 60 Minutes :
CBS News February 2009
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