Learn English – the name of the disease when a person can see animals or humans that are not present

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I'm looking for answers other than Schizophrenia or Charles Bonnet syndrome.

explanatory note:

Growing up as a child, I could see certain different cats in my window that would even move around everyday very often. Always just one. If I looked away or blinked for a second it would disappear. When starring they usually stayed in appearance for at most 20 seconds and then vanish. I think it had something to do with my serious lack of sleep and love for my two real pet cats. I honestly don't believe I had a disease

Best Answer

You’re describing visual hallucinations. These are often part of a syndrome termed psychosis but can also occur in other situations (e.g. alcohol withdrawal, intoxication with a variety of substances, delirium due to a medical condition).*

Schizophrenia is the name of a particular psychiatric disease characterized by psychosis. Hallucinations themselves are a symptom, not a disease.

Hallucination:

The perception of an object or event (in any of the 5 senses) in the absence of an external stimulus.

Psychosis:

Psychosis occurs when a person loses contact with reality. The person may:

  • Have false beliefs about what is taking place, or who one is (delusions).
  • See or hear things that are not there (hallucinations).

*In response to the updated question: Occasionally in healthy people (and more often in those with narcolepsy), visual hallucinations occur at the border between wake and sleep, then termed hypagogic or hypnopompic hallucinations. This is a type of parasomnia and is most common in young people who are sleep deprived.