Hello and thanks for writing in. I understand that the strange experiences of seeing non existent things / people must be causing you a lot of distress. Now, it is important to differentiate whether you are seeing them in front of your eyes (like you see normal things) or whether you are seeing them as mental images. If it is the first case, then you are experiencing hallucinations, which can be due to a psychotic illness or illegal drugs or sometimes due to neurological problems. If it is the second case, then these could be due to stress-related disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, etc. A detailed history and psychological assessment is required to arrive at the correct diagnosis. So, I would advise you to consult a psychiatrist and have a detailed psychological assessment in order to confirm the diagnosis and start appropriate treatment. I would also suggest that you avoid alcohol, drugs or caffeine as these can worsen your symptoms. You can also try to practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing, yoga, meditation, etc.as these can definitely help you to relax and calm your mind. Best wishes, Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar Consultant Psychiatrist