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Inspired by the life experience of holistic therapist Nina Chesworth, John Avery's immersive soundscape ‘Press Pause’ meanders through the five senses that become most important when sight is completely lost. You can listen the soundscape below.
Press Pause was developed by Nina Chesworth, John Avery and the NIHR Moorfields BRC for the 2022 Bloomsbury Festival. Due to the sometimes disturbing nature of the visual hallucinations described in the soundscape, we recommend an age suitability of 14 and over.
About the soundscape
In the mode of ‘Slow Radio’, sound designer and musician John Avery has created a soundscape that will simply slow you down. Fusing voice, music and recorded sound, John’s distinctive approach has been inspired by the life experience and practice of holistic therapist Nina Chesworth, who lost her sight completely in 2018.
You are invited to cut through the noise and take an opportunity to press pause.
About Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS)
People who lose more than 60% of their sight may begin to have visual hallucinations, which can range from the beautiful to the bizarre, and even the disturbing. These hallucinations are the symptoms of a condition called Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS). They are caused entirely by severe sight loss, and are not the result of a mental health condition or dementia.
The hallucinations associated with CBS are silent, and generally appear in two forms:
• Simple, repeated patterns or shapes, such as grids
• Complex hallucinations of people, objects and landscapes
Although the hallucinations can be vivid, disturbing or frightening, those affected by CBS are usually aware that what they are seeing is not real.
There is no cure for CBS, but everyone with the condition experiences it differently. For most, the hallucinations will get less frequent over time, while others may experience them throughout their lives.
To find out more about CBS, visit the website of Esme’s Umbrella, a CBS support charity: charlesbonnetsyndrome.uk
Nina Chesworth's experience of CBS
Nina began to experience CBS after losing her sight in 2018; the condition has been part of her daily life ever since. Using her specialist holistic knowledge, Nina has devised a programme rooted in mindfulness, stillness and breathing techniques to help manage these disturbing visual phenomena.
Nina’s ‘Five Senses Therapy’ practice is intimately bound up in her physical and psychological journey through sight loss, a journey that includes dealing with the intrusive visual hallucinations associated with CBS.
Bloomsbury Radio interview on Charles Bonnet Syndrome
In a discussion about the history, causes and effects of Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS), Bloomsbury Radio talked to Nina Chesworth and Judith Potts, who set up the CBS support charity Esme’s Umbrella. You can listen to the podcast here.
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