How do you deal with like… casual hallucinations?
I’m bipolar 1 and managing it quite effectively with a combination of meds and lifestyle. I haven’t had any manic or depressive symptoms since August. I’m sleeping normally, exercising, and functioning well at work and in my personal relationships. However, I have been extremely stressed and somewhat anxious as I am planning a cross country move in a few months (not spontaneous—I’ve been planning it for over two years).
Lately, I’ve had two instances of just… seeing people who weren’t there. The first time, a month ago, I was taking a walk with my boyfriend and a little boy wearing a white t-shirt and red baseball cap darted across the path in front of us and into the grass, where he just vanished. I asked my boyfriend if he saw anything and he confirmed there was never a little boy. I was surprised, but not particularly concerned as I’ve read that anxiety can cause you to see things that aren’t there.
Then, today I was driving to work and I saw a woman in a brightly colored bodycon dress getting into a car on the street. I did a double take because I thought the dress was cute, only for the woman to disappear completely. Like one second she was there, the next she wasn’t. She wasn’t in the car, she wasn’t on the street. Just… gone.
Do you guys think I should talk to my psych about this? I really don’t want to get on any new meds or up my antipsychotic, everything else in my life is going really well and these hallucinations don’t seem threatening or dangerous. Has anyone else experienced this? Did you do something about it? Should I be worried?