From the Psych Today article Sizmik linked to, the following are the benefits of one person who hears voices;
- Helping her assess people. Reid says her voices can accurately judge a person's character, which has been essential to starting and ending romantic relationships .
- Reducing anxiety. She often becomes nervous before speaking at conferences. Her voices force her to breathe and to relax.
- Providing entertainment. Her voices have different personalities, and Reid enjoys listening to them argue with one another. Sometimes she laughs out loud at their snide comments and running commentary on the outside world.
- Helping make decisions. Reid says they analyze her options and advise her after reaching "group decisions."
- Encouraging spirituality . The voices provide a moral compass and warn her when actions may harm her or others.
My first thoughts here are that everything this woman says her voices "do" for her are things everyone does internally whether be it a decision making thought process, self assurance or matters of conscience. Perhaps such people just have the transmit gain in their head cranked up to 11 and the mind creates a voice where most just think. Perhaps it's really all just the same thing and the diff is just a matter of degree.
It was also interesting to note from the article that the majority experienced their voices after severe trauma. Sounds like a defense mechanism the mind may create to survive/deal with the effects.
