Emily’s voices: a memoir

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to challenge some of the stigma that surrounds voice-hearing. This excerpt of creative writing comes from a self-published memoir, that tells a young woman's story of her struggle with hearing voices, and her journey through the mental health system.

Design/methodology/approach

Writing provides a useful filter for Emily to reflect on what it was like to receive various diagnoses, treatments and therapies when she was hearing voices.

Findings

Emily learns to accept that she hears voices. This is a journey that takes all of her new-found strength and resolve.

Originality/value

This memoir describes voices (auditory verbal hallucinations) that need to be more widely understood.

Citation

Austin, R. (2024), "Emily’s voices: a memoir", Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. 28 No. 6, pp. 1463-1471. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-05-2024-0069