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Hallucinations in the movies tend to be about chaos, violence and mental distress. But they can be positive too

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christopher-patterson-308185">Christopher Patterson</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nicholas-procter-147517">Nicholas Procter</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180"><em>University of South Australia</em></a></em></p> <p>Hallucinations are often depicted in the movies as terrifying experiences. Think Jake Gyllenhaal seeing a monstrous rabbit in <em><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246578/">Donnie Darko</a></em>, Leonardo DiCaprio experiencing the torture of <em><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/reel-therapy/201002/shutter-island-separating-fact-fiction">Shutter Island</a></em>, Natalie Portman in <em><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947798/">Black Swan</a></em>, or Joaquin Phoenix as the <em><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/oct/21/joker-mental-illness-joaquin-phoenix-dangerous-misinformed">Joker</a></em>.</p> <p>Each character experiences some form of psychological distress. Scenes connect to, or even explain, a decline into chaos and violence.</p> <p>Experiencing hallucinations can be distressing for some people and their loved ones. However, focusing solely on such depictions perpetuates myths and misconceptions about hallucinations. They also potentially perpetuate harmful stereotypes of mental distress.</p> <p>Movies such as Joker use a broad, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/oct/21/joker-mental-illness-joaquin-phoenix-dangerous-misinformed">arguably incorrect</a>, brush to connect hallucinations, mental health issues and violence. This reinforces the misconception that hallucinations always indicate mental health issues, when this is not necessarily true.</p> <h2>What are hallucinations?</h2> <p>Hallucinations are perceptions that occur without a corresponding external stimulus. They can involve any of the human senses.</p> <p>Auditory hallucinations involve hearing things that aren’t there, such as voices or sounds. Visual hallucinations involve seeing things that aren’t there, such as lights, objects or people. Tactile hallucinations involve feeling things that aren’t there, such as a sensation of something crawling on your skin. Gustatory hallucinations involve taste and smell.</p> <p>People often confuse hallucinations and delusions. The two can be related, but they are not the same thing. Delusions are false beliefs, firmly held by a person despite evidence to the contrary. A person might believe someone is following them (a delusion), and see and hear that figure (a hallucination).</p> <p>Before the 17th century, hallucinations were commonly thought to be of <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00991/full">cultural and religious</a> significance.</p> <p>However, between the mid-1600s and 1700s, hallucinations began to be understood as medical concerns, related to both mental and physical illnesses. This medical lens of hallucination remains. Now we know which <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2702442/">parts of the brain</a> are activated when someone has a hallucination.</p> <h2>What causes hallucinations?</h2> <p>Hallucinations can be a sign of serious mental health issues. The presence or experience of hallucinations is, for example, one of the criteria used to <a href="https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Practice/DSM/APA_DSM-5-Schizophrenia.pdf">diagnose schizophrenia</a> (delusions are another).</p> <p>Hallucinations may also provide insight into mental health issues such as bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.</p> <p>However, hallucinations can also be linked to other medical conditions.</p> <p>Hallucinations can be caused by fever, as well as disease or damage impacting the brain or <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-charles-bonnet-syndrome-the-eye-condition-that-causes-hallucinations-122322">optic nerves</a>. Parkinson’s disease causes visual, auditory and tactile hallucinations <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7116251/">in up to 75% of people</a>. Epilepsy and migraine headaches are also linked to hallucinations, and can cause perceptual disturbances, sometimes for days. Substance use, particularly of <a href="https://theconversation.com/weekly-dose-ayahuasca-a-cautionary-tale-for-tourists-eager-to-try-this-shamanic-brew-73953">hallucinogenic drugs</a> such as LSD or ketamine, can also cause hallucinations.</p> <p>Hallucinations can also occur in people without any underlying medical conditions. For example, some people may experience hallucinations during times of <a href="https://academic.oup.com/schizophreniabulletin/article/46/6/1367/5939754">extreme distress or grief</a>.</p> <p>Environmental factors such as <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00303/full">sleep deprivation</a> can cause a range of perceptual disturbances, including visual and auditory hallucinations. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4354964/">Sensory deprivation</a>, such as being placed in a soundproof room, can also cause hallucinations.</p> <p>But still, the common image that hallucinations are connected only to mental health issues persists.</p> <h2>Hallucinations can be frightening, but not always</h2> <p>Hallucinations can be frightening for people, and their families. And the <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0020764016675888">stigma</a> and misconceptions surrounding hallucinations can have a significant impact on someone who experiences them.</p> <p>People who have hallucinations may be afraid or embarrassed of being considered “bizarre” or “unsafe”, and therefore may avoid seeking help.</p> <p>But hallucinations are <a href="https://www.intervoiceonline.org/voices-visions/voices-as-a-gift">not always scary or disturbing</a>. Some hallucinations can be neutral or even pleasant. People have been sharing on social media their positive and empowering experience of hallucinations. In the example below, we see one person’s positive experience of hearing voices. Yet we rarely see such depictions of hallucinations in the movies.</p> <hr /> <p><iframe id="tc-infographic-853" class="tc-infographic" style="border: none;" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/infographics/853/9f702c4fefadeb810f9d64d7b4512b39a655a262/site/index.html" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <hr /> <h2>How to support someone having hallucinations</h2> <p>If you are with someone who is having hallucinations, particularly if these are new or distressing for them, here are several ways you can support them:</p> <ul> <li> <p>ask the person if they want to talk about what they are experiencing and listen to them without judgment: “I cannot hear what you are hearing, can you tell me about it?”</p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://tuneinnotout.com/videos/r-u-ok-ask-experts-nicholas-procter/">listen</a>. Don’t argue or blame. Acknowledge that hallucinations are real to the person, even if they are seemingly unusual and not based in reality: “I cannot see what you see, but I do understand you see it.”</p> </li> <li> <p>empathise with how the person feels about their experiences. “I cannot feel or taste it, but I can imagine it would be a difficult experience. I can see how much it is concerning you.”</p> </li> <li> <p>support someone to seek care. Persistent or distressing hallucinations should always be evaluated by a qualified health professional. Establishing potential causes is important: “I cannot hear it like you, but let’s talk to a health professional about it. They can help us understand what might be happening.”</p> </li> <li> <p>encourage the person to <a href="https://www.intervoiceonline.org/national-networks#content">reach out to their peers</a> as well as to <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01612840.2023.2189953?src=recsys">hearing voices groups</a> for ongoing support.</p> </li> </ul> <p><em>We’d like to acknowledge <a href="https://www.nswmentalhealthcommission.com.au/staff-profile/tim-heffernan">Tim Heffernan</a>, Deputy Commissioner of the Mental Health Commission of New South Wales, who contributed to this article.</em></p> <p><em>If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. <!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></em></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christopher-patterson-308185">Christopher Patterson</a>, Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nicholas-procter-147517">Nicholas Procter</a>, Professor and Chair: Mental Health Nursing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/hallucinations-in-the-movies-tend-to-be-about-chaos-violence-and-mental-distress-but-they-can-be-positive-too-204547">original article</a>.</em></p>

Caring

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Doctored images depict Kate Middleton as victim of abuse

<p dir="ltr">Artist AleXsandro Palombo has made waves for his latest work, a series of doctored images that depict powerful women like Kate Middleton and US Vice President Kamala Harris with bruises on their faces, implying they are the victims of physical abuse.</p> <p dir="ltr">The images have appeared as posters on buildings and bus stops in Italy and Spain, and other women included in the series include Queen Letizia of Spain and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.</p> <p dir="ltr">The text on the images reads, “She reported him. But nobody believed her – but she was left alone. But she was not protected – but he was not stopped. But she was killed anyway.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CWskBjvsP-A/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CWskBjvsP-A/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by aleXsandro Palombo (@alexsandropalombo)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Palombo said his intention was to “draw attention to the poor responses from politics regarding the problem of gender-based violence and highlights the ineffectiveness of the support and protection system to the victims."</p> <p dir="ltr">He wrote on Instagram, “Why should a woman report the violence if after the report she is not protected by the institutions and ends up being killed anyway? How can a woman victim of abuse and violence still have faith in the institutions?</p> <p dir="ltr">“I only see the Politics inviting women to report but without taking the responsibility of giving protection and support to the victims. A State that does not protect but leaves women alone in the hands of their tormentor becomes a silent accomplice.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There are many associations of volunteers who, with very little means, try to support the victims, but it is to the politics, institutions and the State to assume this responsibility.”</p> <p dir="ltr">According to<span> </span><em>The Sun,<span> </span></em>Kensington Palace did not authorise the usage of Kate Middleton’s image.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Legal

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5 movies that best depict life in older age

<p>There is nothing better than putting your feet up on a Saturday afternoon and watching a good movie. With so many films, it can be difficult to choose a movie that best suits you. To help out, we’ve put together a list of 5 movies that best reflect life after 50. From the humorous and hilarious, to the meaningful and challenging moments that come in this season of life, these movies are sure to entertain you. </p> <p><strong>The Notebook (2004)</strong> <br />This tale of love and loss based on Nicholas Sparks’ novel is a favourite for people of all ages. Told from the perspective of a war veteran, we soon realise that he is telling his ailing wife the story of how they met. This tale of young romance and a love that surpasses time, circumstance and health will resonate with you. </p> <p><strong>Meet The Fockers (2004)</strong><br />Everyone loves a good laugh, and this comedy starring Robert DeNiro as the eccentric father-in-law of Ben Stiller’s character, will have you in hysterics. Depicting the highs and lows that occur when two very different families combine, this film is filled with heart-warming and hilarious moments. </p> <p><strong>It’s Complicated (2009)</strong><br />Love does’t always run smoothly, and Meryl Streep’s performance as a divorcee who continually has flings with her ex is a hilarious crack-up. </p> <p><strong>Christmas With The Kranks (2004)</strong> <br />Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis reveal what life with an empty nest is like when they decide to ‘skip’ Christmas and go on a second honeymoon. Everything goes pear-shaped when their adult daughter decides to come home for the holidays, and we see them find the balance between enjoying retirement on their terms and caring for their daughter. </p> <p><strong>The Bucket List (2007)</strong> <br />Our retirement is the prime time of our life, so what happens when we throw caution to the wind and decide to live out our dreams? Starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, this poignant story of two friends as they travel and fulfil their life's ambitions is sure to inspire you. </p> <p>So, shut the curtains, turn the lights off, fire up the popcorn, kick back and enjoy!</p> <p>What’s your favourite movie? Leave a comment below. </p> <p><em>Written by Jessica Morris. Republished with permission of <span><a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/entertainment/5-movies-that-best-depict-life-after-50.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a></span></em></p>

Movies

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Beautiful photo series depicts how dogs age

<p>Anyone who remembers what it was like growing up with a dog knows what a special experience it is, but sadly in our youth we can’t fully comprehend the beauty of our ageing dogs. Now that we’re older, we have a whole new perspective on life and the charm of ageing, even when it comes to our furry friends.</p> <p>Photographer <a href="http://www.amandajones.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Amanda Jones</span></strong></a> has spent the last two decades doing just this – capturing the way our pooches grow old and proving that even in animals, age is just a number.</p> <p>Take a look at these gorgeous pups and tell us in the comments below about your own four-legged family member and why they’re so special to you.</p> <p><em>Images: Dog Years / Amanda Jones</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/05/special-bond-between-senior-dogs-and-their-owners/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Images capture special bond between senior dogs and their owners</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/08/why-pets-give-you-the-side-eye/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Why pets give you the side eye</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/07/why-do-dogs-tilt-their-head/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Why do dogs tilt their head?</strong></em></span></a></p>

Family & Pets

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Rare photos depict life on the North Korea subway

<p>Getting from point A to point B can be quite an experience on a busy day, but when you’re living in North Korea commuting is another experience entirely.</p> <p>Tasmania-based photographer Elliott Davies has made a series of photographs that charts his experience travelling through the North Korean underground system.</p> <p>Buried 110 metres below the ground, this underground is supposed the deepest in the world and each station decorated with paintings, statues and propaganda.</p> <p>While North Korea probably isn’t the first place on most of our holiday lists, this video does provide an interesting look at life above the 38th parallel.</p> <p>What did you think of these photographs, and how do you feel it compares to your experience of public transport in our country?</p> <p>Please let us know in the comments below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/05/10-breathtaking-restored-images-of-iconic-world-landmarks/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>10 breathtaking restored images of iconic world landmarks</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/05/earth-horizon-international-space-station-video/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Earth’s horizon from the International Space Station</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/05/incredible-photos-reveal-world-hidden-beauty/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">10 incredible photos reveal the world’s hidden beauty</span></strong></em></a></p>

International Travel

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10 captivating photos from 1896 depict working class life in New York City

<p>In 1896, New York photographer Alice Austen took a series of images.</p> <p>The photos were meant to capture a sense of the working people there, from city employees, policemen, postmen, firefighters, street sweepers, cab drivers.</p> <p>Everyone who was making efforts to keep the city habitable and functioning.</p> <p>To view the images, scroll through the gallery above. </p> <p><em><strong>No matter where you’re travelling to, making sure you know how to access your cash while away – and in the most affordable way – is very important. Easy to use and with countless benefits, the Over60 Cash Passport allows you to securely access your cash in the same way you use an ATM or credit card­. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://oversixty.cashpassport.com.au">To apply for a card today, click here.</a></span></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Tailor your cover to your needs and save money by not paying for things you don’t need. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://elevate.agatravelinsurance.com.au/oversixty?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=content&amp;utm_content=link1&amp;utm_campaign=travel-insurance">Click here to read more about Over60 Travel Insurance</a></span>.</strong></em></p> <p><em><strong>For more information about Over60 Travel Insurance, call 1800 622 966.</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/travel/international-travel/2016/01/odd-and-amazing-toilets-from-around-the-world/">12 odd (but amazing) toilets from around the world</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/travel/international-travel/2016/01/how-i-drove-a-motorhome-around-the-world/">When I retired I drove a motorhome around the world</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/travel/international-travel/2015/12/largest-flower-garden-in-the-world/">14 images from the world’s largest flower garden</a></strong></em></span></p>

International Travel