How to deal with someone who has hallucinations.
Hallucinations vary from person to person so not everything in this post may help but it may be a good start.
Like I said before this is just based on my experience, I am in no way a professional!!! Now let's get started.
Audio hallucinations come in many forms and aren't just hearing voices. They can be hearing car alarms, buzzing, foot stomping anything.
Visual hallucinations are of course seeing something that isn't real. Sometimes it can be obvious to the person that they are having a hallucination but even those times are scary and may even make it scarier.
Tactile hallucinations are feelings of movement or sensation on your body. They can vary from the feeling of someone holding their hand to feeling as though they have bugs crawling around or inside them.
Olfactory hallucinations involve the sense of smell or taste, both good or bad, that are not actually present.
Signs someone is hallucinating can include
1) Hesitating and or pausing in what they were doing. Once they start again they may be slower at it then before or seemingly distracted
2) looking ahead with a confused look, probably even tilting their head or scrunching their eyes/eye brows and or nose
3) Being jumpy and or seemingly suddenly panicked for no apparent reason
4) Asking you if you've seen and or heard something
5) Zoning out of a conversation or having trouble keeping track of it, maybe even forgetting what they were going to say or saying something that doesn't seem to follow with the conversation
6) Mumbling "Shh" "Shut up" "Not right now" "Please stop" etc
7) Not responding to you calling or touching them or even anything around them. They may be completely still or their body might be moving, they may even look as though they are looking directly at you but
These are just signs for me that I've experienced. I can't stress enough that it varies for different people.
Someone who is regressed or has involuntarily regressed due to a hallucination may start having what you'd call a "Fit" or a "Temper tantrum" involving kicking, screaming, crying etc. This can be very difficult to understand and help them but please do not get ever get angry or upset at them. Not to undermine how you are feeling but I guarantee they are more confused and scared then you are in that moment. The only thing they can think to do is panic.
It is alright to feel panicked yourself but try not to show it too much if you can. Touching them during this may make it better but it can also make it worse, so please unless you feel you have no other choice until they can clearly tell you it is okay, do not touch them.
Play something that is calming and or soothing to them like if they have a little space playlist or a comfort movie, show etc. Often times for me a comfort show/movie can pull me out of a hallucination as I am more easily able to focus on it. Especially if it is a hyper-fixation of mine. Saying phrases such as "I'm here for you", "I love you", "You are safe" and also telling them what is actually going on and where they are etc.
If they have a stuffed animal that's scented give them that. If they have a stuffed animal that plays music or Peekaboo or whatever hit play on it and give that to them.
If they're flailing too much to take it just hearing it or placing it as close as possible so they can smell the scent can be incredibly soothing.
Get them something to drink in a bottle or a sippycup, doesn't matter if they usually use a regular cup even when they're small b/c they are likely to spill it and not because they're little but because they are feeling shaky. If there's no bottles or sippy's then gently help them with the juice or water or whatever drink you've given them. If they use Pacifiers that can be helpful too once they've calmed down a bit.
Once they are able to respond to you ask them if it is safe to hold them. If it is then you'll either need to hold them as tight as possible (w/out hurting then of course) or loosely because some need to feel they can get away but still need to be as close as possible. Not only can it differ from person to person but it can also differ from situation to situation.
They may break down and start crying or clinging onto you while you hold them and that's okay. Just continue to say where they are, what is going on and that you aren't going anywhere.
Don't let them go before they tell you to. Also don't assume they are perfectly fine now once they feel okay to be let go of. Keep a watchful eye on them, offer to take a nap with them, color with them, etc. A calm and relaxing activity should take place next.
I honestly can't think of much things to help during a video call or text so if anyone has anything they can add that would be lovely.
I'd also like to add that you should never ever, even when they're feeling big again, try and force them to tell you what the hallucination was. If you want to offer that to them, please do because sometimes talking about it can help but do not push because it can also trigger a reaction and have them go through it again, cause them to panic etc.
I know this wasn't much but I just wanted to try and bring a little attention because I feel like I don't see anything about helping littles who have hallucinations.
I don't know how helpful this is as this is based on my experience and I wasn't sure how exactly I wanted to write this as I've never really written anything like this but i just keep telling myself it's better then nothing so here it is. My bad if it looks jumbly I typed it on my notes app and pasted it on here.
@bigsisterpaca asked me to tag so they can share it. Which honestly thank you so much!!! Though I don't know how helpful my post will be I did try my best.
