What is a hallucination?
Q: What is a hallucination?
A: A hallucination is seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling or feeling things that do not really exist.
Q: Do people have to be awake and conscious to have hallucinations?
A: Yes, usually people have to be awake and conscious to have hallucinations.
Q: How are hallucinations different from dreams?
A: When people dream they are not awake, but hallucinations happen when people are awake and conscious.
Q: What are illusions?
A: Illusions are based on real perceptions, which are distorted or interpreted in a wrong way.
Q: What can cause hallucinations?
A: Certain drugs, such as illegal drugs, and certain mental illnesses can cause hallucinations. In some cases, withdrawal of a drug can also cause hallucinations.
Q: Can lack of sleep cause hallucinations?
A: Yes, lack of sleep can also cause hallucinations.
Q: Are hallucinations before going to sleep or just after waking up considered normal?
A: Yes, hallucinations just before going to sleep or just after waking up are considered normal.
