[cornelis]

How do you tell the illusions from the real thing, in the case of yourself, and in the case of a loved one?

You get some yourself?

[Virginia-American]

I know a fellow who was seriously considering joning an Orthodox monastery (he's Catholic) partially because he hated the side effects of the anti-psychotics so much, and partially because he liked the voice he was "hearing"; his "symptom" is hearing the BVM speak to him.

He's switched drugs now, is doing OK.

I assume that since the medication stops it, he's not "really" hearing the BVM.

No, I've never had any such experience.