What Is Thought Broadcasting?

Thought broadcasting is a condition in which people believe that others can hear their thoughts. Some people believe that their thoughts are being broadcasted by the television, radio, or the internet and in some cases might avoid interacting with these mediums. 

A person might be experiencing thought broadcasting if they've wondered, "Can people hear my thoughts?" Thought broadcasting is usually a symptom of a psychotic disorder like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Symptoms of Thought Broadcasting

Thought broadcasting is primarily characterized by an unshakeable feeling that people around you can hear your innermost thoughts. In most cases, people who experience this phenomenon are in a constant state of distress because they think that people can hear their thoughts.

For example, imagine you are waiting in line for a coffee and a person cuts the line. You might think to yourself that this was impolite and perhaps call the person a rude word in your mind.

A person dealing with thought broadcasting will be plagued with the thought that everyone on the line had heard the rude word they had only thought about. They might even become so overwhelmed by this belief and leave the coffee shop.

Others might feel like their thoughts are silently escaping them and as a result, might be heard by the people around them. Some people with this condition might even think that people around them can somehow read or participate in their thoughts.

Other people with this condition have also reported trying to communicate their thoughts or sending telepathic prompts to other people with their minds. When they get no response it might sometimes cause feelings of frustration, anger, and sadness. 

People with thought broadcasting also tend to become socially withdrawn for fear of being ostracized by the people around them because of their thoughts. They may isolate themselves to prevent others from hearing these thoughts. 

Diagnosis of Thought Broadcasting

Thought broadcasting is usually indicative of an underlying psychotic condition. It may be difficult to diagnose as people who experience thought broadcasting often have a difficult time talking about it. They often fear that they might be ridiculed or mocked because of the condition. 

As it is one of the symptoms of medical conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, thought broadcasting might occur with other common symptoms of these conditions, such as:

• Hallucinations
• Paranoia or other delusions
• Disorganized thinking

Causes of Thought Broadcasting

There are a few reasons a person might feel like other people hear their thoughts. Thought broadcasting is typically a symptom of a psychotic disorder like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. 

Schizophrenia 

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that alters a person’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Distorted Sense of Reality

People with schizophrenia have an altered perception of reality. A person with this condition will find it difficult to distinguish between what is real and what isn’t real.

Symptoms of schizophrenia could either be positive or negative:

• Positive: When a person experiences a feeling or behavior they don’t typically experience such as hallucinations and delusions.
• Negative: When a person with the condition, loses a feeling or ability they once had such an absence of motivation or emotion.

Schizophrenia is characterized by delusions, or fixed false beliefs, and thought broadcasting is one of these delusions. People who experience this symptom of the condition believe that their thoughts are being broadcast to the public by forces that are outside of their control

Bipolar Disorder 

Bipolar disorder is a condition that causes extreme changes in your mood. A person with this condition will experience a range of moods from manic to depressed.

Delusions can be part of mania or severe depression in bipolar disorder. A delusion is a belief in the reality of a thing despite evidence to the contrary. Thought broadcasting is classified as a delusion.

Consequences of Thought Broadcasting 

Thought broadcasting can be a debilitating symptom that affects people living with it in many ways. Some ripple effects people with this condition often experience in addition to symptoms of thought broadcasting include:

• Avoiding social interactions because you think people can hear your thoughts 
• Communicating less because you think people can already read your thoughts
• Anxious distress
• Being unable to function properly in public spaces

People who constantly wonder, "Can people hear my thoughts?" may feel uncomfortable and suspicious around other people. This can seriously limit their social interactions and create a great deal of anxiety.

Treatment for Thought Broadcasting

A combination of psychotherapy and medication has proven to be the most effective course of treatment for thought broadcasting.

Medication

Antipsychotic medications are the primary treatment for thought broadcasting. They may include some of the relatively newer second-generation atypical psychotics like Ablify and Clozaril, or older typical antipsychotics like Haldol. These agents are used to treat the underlying psychiatric conditions that cause thought broadcasting.  

Psychotherapy

At its worst, thought broadcasting could be a debilitating condition that interferes with a person’s regular functioning. Psychotherapy aims to help a person living with thought broadcasting to understand their symptoms, become better able to reality test them, manage stress, and form healthy habits that can help them manage their symptoms.

Coping With Thought Broadcasting

Certain behaviors can potentially worsen thought broadcasting, including alcohol and substance use. Maintaining healthy habits and avoiding alcohol can help you manage the condition better. Thought broadcasting can be incredibly difficult to live with and cause other complications in addition to the condition responsible for the psychosis symptom.

People who are living with thought broadcasting are often reluctant to disclose what they are experiencing. If you live with a person who is showing symptoms of this condition, try to have an open conversation with them. Let them know you understand and that you are there for them and advise them to seek medical help.