Adolescent Psychiatrist Questions Psychologist

Is this a serious problem?

It usually happens when I’m relaxed, sitting, and quite weirdly, listening to music. I suddenly get this feeling of heaviness on my chest, my pulse speeds up, the time slows down and I hear incoherent voices in the back of my mind muttering something over and over, telling me to do something, or hating on me, but I can never understand a word they’re saying, I just feel that they are saying mean stuff. It usually goes away in 3-4 mins, but it always scares the sh** out of me. These “situations” occur once or twice a month. It also must have some connection with my sleeping pattern, when I sleep less, it occurs more frequently.

Female | 16 years old
Complaint duration: 4 years

5 Answers

Tell your parents to take you to a psychiatrist. 
Not a sleep problem. Discuss with you PCP or psychiatrist
It could very well be a normal phenomenon particularly when you consider it in the perspective of happening in situations secondary to not having enough restful sleep. However, you are in the age range where it could also be considered the beginning of prodromal phase of early psychosis, if there is no alcohol or drug involved including weed/marijuana. Nonetheless, it is advisable to see your doctor and get a comprehensive assessment.
Please speak to your doctor about this odd symptom. S/he might send you to a neurologist to test whether you have some seizure disorder, easily treated. And you may be right - these more often surface when a person has poor sleep.
Good you asked!

Peace,

Dr. Marian Shapiro
See this link...
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/h/hearing-voices
and
https://www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/about-mental-illness/learn-more-about-symptoms/hearing-voices/