Anyone catch this news about healthy people hearing voices? Dutch researchers began the study in the 1990s and found that a small percentage (4%) of people hear voices and don’t feel the need to seek mental health services. Finally, some reason. Have to give it to the Dutch for researching the unusual.

I typically don’t mention that I heard voices as a child. It only happens rarely now. My thought has always been as long as the voices are not telling you to hurt yourself or anyone else then everything is fine. It seems to run in my family though. None of us has sought help for it or thought anything of it.

Of the people interviewed for the study, many found it to be a positive experience. I think this just shows how little we know about how the brain works and what is “normal.” I think “normal” is boring. I think our mental health professionals are a little too eager to define “normal” and correct with drugs what they consider “abnormal.”