A recent study has found that folks who drink a lot of coffee have a much higher chance of having hallucinations – visual and auditory – than those who do not.  The study, found that people who drink seven or more cups of instant coffee a day are three times more likely to experience hallucinations of seeing things or people or ghosts that are not there and of hearing disembodied voices.  See the news article here. The researchers point out that these caffeine hallucinations should not be considered a sign of mental illness and that they are possibly but not definitely caused by an increase in cortisol brought on by increased caffeine intake.  They also note that three percent of the population here voices regularly anyway.

Do note that the study does not show actually show a causal link between the caffeine intake and the hallucinations.  Rather, the study shows an associative link.  That is they found a correlation but it may not be that the caffeine causes the hallucinations but could also be that persons who are prone to hallucinations may take in caffeine as a coping mechanism.  However, the link is definitely there.  Further study has to be done as to the why and the wherefore.

All the best,
Brian

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Brian David Phillips, PhD, CH [brian@briandavidphillips.com]
Hypnotist, Hypnotherapist, Intuitionist, Trance Wizard
President, Society of Experiential Trance
Associate Professor, NCCU, Taipei, Taiwan