Chester Hearing Voices is a support group run for voice hearers by voice hearers. If you are a voice hearer or experience other unusual sensations and are interested in joining us please drop into one of our regular meetings.
Where: Mind in Chester, 10 White Friars, Chester, CH1 1NZ
When: Every Thursday 3-5pm
For more details please contact Jacky at Mind in Chester on 01244 343489, and Jacky will put you in touch with the group’s facilitators – Dave and Damien.
My experience of the Chester Hearing Voices Group, By Dave
“The strongest message I got from attending the group in Chester is that you’re not a psycho if you have experienced psychosis. Unusual sensory experiences such as hearing voices are not completely alien to normal human experience, but on a continuum with it – we are all capable of ‘madness’, whatever that word means. In the group I met people with rich and varied experiences, which gave me perspective on my own condition.
My personal experience of hearing voices and other unusual sensations peaked for about a week, after which I was left with a profoundly different world-view and a sensitivity to certain sounds and other stimuli. Whilst distressing, I soon came to realise from the group that my experiences were actually quite mild. Some people hear voices all day every day and these voices are often very negative and extremely frightening. I have a lot of respect for the other people I have met through the group who hear voices regularly, because I don’t know whether I would be able to function as well as they do if I experienced voices on a day-to-day basis.
But the group isn’t just about voices. Many topics are discussed in the group, including coping strategies, medication, unusual experiences and thoughts or just general chat. Part of the recovery is building up a supportive and understanding peer group, as well as a good personal knowledge base – In this respect attending the group has certainly helped in my recovery. If at any point you have heard voices, seen visions or experienced unusual thoughts, I would definitely encourage you to come along to our group. You can say as much or as little as you like, and you will always be made to feel welcome.”
