Help with Psychology

[scarlet salmon]

So during my story, a parental figure has physically and mentally tortured my main charachter since childhood.

Lets say shes gotten out of there and now hasn't seen her tormenter for a while. But things worsen and is it possible for her to hallucinate but later on get better - in a short period of time? Obviously there would be some lasting effects but can the hallucinations be temporary- like for a month or would it take longer than that to not hallucinate anymore?

And if yes, how long would that be? I'm guessing it must be different for everyone but i'd still like to know what you guys know.

[deep socket]

I mean, maybe they find someone in the future who makes them feel safe and the hallucinations stop little by little? Hallucinations is kind of a tricky thing, PTSD, depression, etcetera, it takes months, maybe years to move on from those things depending on each person

[scarlet salmon]

She does have someone who she loves and feels safe with. Yeah I just kinda want to know if it would be ridiculous for the hallucinations to just dissapear out of nowhere or like go away after such a short period, so I wanted to know what would be a "good" amount of time.

[deep socket]

Hm, maybe around a few months, going on for a year, it depends on how much she was abused or if she has PTSD or depression it may make the recovery time longer. It goes away little by little, but I'm not really sure, i read a few books about psychology but it doesn't make me a professional so.

[scarlet salmon]

Of course. Thank you for the help!

[tight lagoon]

hmm it's hard to say because it could definitely happen yes but I think for the hallucinations to be pronounced and something vivid wouldn't be realistic

maybe auditory hallucinations could work or just shadows in the corners of the eye

which happens to me honestly but yeah there's other symptoms that you could use instead

but you know I feel like something like panic or anxiety attacks, dizzy spells would also be more realistic in a sense, depends on what you're trying to plan / write of course

[scarlet salmon]

Hm maybe, I'll think about it. Thank you for the help!

[stone tendon]

I'm a licensed mental health clinician IRL. Not to brag lol just FYI. Hallucinations are not a common symptom of PTSD. However, severe cases of PTSD may involve psychotic symptoms. Mostly auditory and olfactory hallucinations but sometimes visual, as well as paranoid delusions. These hallucinations fall under the category of intrusive symptoms and are flashbacks of the trauma. Either specific memories or similar affect to the experience. Meaning maybe you hear a random voice screaming angrily vs the specific voice of your abuser.

These flashbacks may come and go relatively quickly in the moment. But they will likely return in response to certain triggers, sleeplessness, or general stress. Long-term trauma treatment will be needed. Think years TBH. But someone who is in the first 6 months to 1 year of treatment may see a benefit from grounding skills. This can decrease and 'pull someone out' so to speak during flashbacks and dissociative episodes.

Typically psychotic symptoms associated with schizophrenia resolve quickly with medication. But if the cause is trauma, things are not so simple.

[tight lagoon]

all this ^^

[scarlet salmon]

Awesome! thats so helpful, thank you!!

[glossy current]

I could help..

[inner tendon]

You could have the person kinda paranoid and thinking that random strangers are the person that tortured them? Like, someone who has similar facial features makes them panic for a bit, but the person they feel safe with can calm them down because they weren’t there when they were being tortured so it’s like a point of difference. I dunno if that makes sense lol but eh