Ask Sam letter

Hi there,

Sometimes people hear things that others don’t and there can be many different reasons for this. Some people hear positive things but for others it can be worrying. Whatever voices you are hearing, there are ways to get help.

Feeling scared is a normal reaction, but hearing these voices doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. Bed can feel like a safe place to be when we’re frightened, but not wanting to wake up anymore is a sign something’s wrong and it’s really brave to talk about it.

I don’t think your letter sounds like a load of rubbish. I hear from lots of young people with similar issues. It can be hard to imagine other people understanding what it’s like if they can’t experience it themselves, but there are people who can support you.

Visiting your doctor can be a good way to get help. They will have worked with other people going through this kind of problem. Talking about what you hear might be a difficult thing to do, so preparing for your appointment is a good idea. There’s a website called Doc Ready that helps young people talk to their doctor about mental health by making a checklist of things to say.

Talking with other young people who can relate to what you’re going through might help you feel less alone. The Childline message boards are one place to do this. You might also like to look at Voice Collective, a site that supports young people who see, hear and sense things other people don’t.

Childline counsellors are here for you at any time if you need to talk more. You can get in touch with a counsellor by calling for free on 0800 1111, logging on for a 1-2-1 chat, or writing an email.

Take care,
Sam