Hearing Voices

Natasha Merrick has been hearing voices in her head for a long time.  She thinks of some of the voices as 'good' and others as 'bad.'

About 20 years ago, she was diagnosed with a form of schizophrenia. Over the years, she's tried all sorts of treatments: medicines, hospitalization, therapy. But a couple of years ago, Natasha asked her 'good voices' to come her aid.  

I said, 'Can you help me get rid of these bad voices?' And they said yes.- Natasha Merrick

The voices told her to get more sleep, to get some exercise. They counselled her to stand up to the bad voices. Slowly, Natasha started to feel better.

Natasha Merrick is part of something called the Hearing Voices movement. Its mission is to help people cope with the voices they hear in a way that's positive and useful.

Marcie Good's documentary tells Natasha Merrick's story. She also talks to one of the leading experts on hearing voices, professor Tanya Luhrmann, a psychological anthropologist.