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Originally Posted by Resident Bipolar
"For me, singing sad songs often has a way of healing a situation. It gets the hurt out in the open into the light, out of the darkness." - Reba McEntire.
I find removing myself from the situation is the best way to to about escaping music that makes me feel unsafe, uneasy or depressed. Of course, that isn't always possible, which is why I have some ear plugs on me - just in case. What about talking to a teacher? Your school might be able to arrange something to help you get away from the situation. They may even give you permission to use an MP3 player or an iPod to listen to in the cafeteria when distressing music is played.
If you're receiving therapy, talking to your therapist about this may be a good idea, as it can be included in your sessions as a focus for coping skills.
As for Bipolar patients being more prone to the emotions induced by music, it isn't an entirely unreasonable thought. I've had some bouts of mania that have been triggered at least partly by television shows (once ending in a stint on the psych ward) so I dont believe music would be much different.
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I like the personal music player suggestion. I should note I am actually in college, but, we do still have a public cafeteria here because I live on campus like most of the students here.
I spoke with my therapist today and she suggested the same thing about an ipod. And also to keep telling myself that when the songs ends I'll feel better...so to just push through it and be uncomfortable for a few minutes and then let that feeling end instead of taking over the day.
In my own time though, I am very careful with what I listen to or watch as well.
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Originally Posted by quasicrystalline
I'm definitely affected by certain songs. Funny story ... When I was a kid, the song "When She Loved Me" in Toy Story 2 did me in all the time. I was a sensitive kid and treated my dolls like they were my children, so the thought of Jessie's owner abandoning her made me weepy. Once my school got to see Toy Story 2 as part of a special day. I was soooo nervous because all I could think about was how much that part of the movie made me cry, so 4th grader me devised a brilliant plan—I told my teacher I had to go to the bathroom a minute before that scene started. I timed it right and hauled myself to the bathroom, but once there, I simply replayed the song and scene in my head and wound up in tears anyway. Fail.
Sometimes the memories associated with the song are worse than the mood of the song itself. The song could be upbeat and happy, but if it provokes an intense memory, I can't stand it. For instance, one of my exes loved the song "Like I G6." Whenever I hear it now, I think of him and remember how much of a jerk he was. Luckily I never cared for the song in the first place. :P
I agree with Resident Bipolar's suggestions. Bring something to drown it out if possible, and do talk to the school. Bipolar II should qualify you for an IEP or at least a 504. The school would then have to provide you with whatever other supports you feel would help you succeed throughout the day. I had a friend in high school who had bad migraines. The fluorescent lighting and the noise of the cafeteria triggered them, so she was allowed to eat in a quiet place as a part of her 504, and I was allowed to come keep her company, so she wouldn't have to eat alone.
Maybe you could keep a song mood journal too. Every time you have a strong emotion or memory associated with a song, jot it down and bring it to your next appointment with your therapist. Sometimes getting something out on paper helps me immediately, and if the song is especially triggering, maybe you and your therapist could listen to it together and work through the emotions.
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I totally understand trying to avoid triggers. That is too bad about Toy Story 2 though and that you still have such a strong memory of that moment. I'm sorry that happened to you.
Yes, it can really be memories sometimes. I have a song called "Guardian Angel" that was by My Chemical Romance (I think). It was the song my first girlfriend and I picked as ours. She was insane so I don't even give it a secound thought when I hear it. When I first meant my most recent ex, she went to go play it and I immediately-without even a blink- asked her to switch the song. Mind you, this song trigger is now 5 or 6 years old.
I like the idea of keeping a mood journal. I've been keeping a lot of different journals lately. I feel like I need to buy a bunch of little journals, label them for different things, and carry them around. Maybe I will so they're organized. One for sleep/meds, one for music, one for identifying triggers, etc.
I keep a very general diary. It's usually only written in weekly though as a means to help me in therapy and to reflect on what's been said in a particular session or what I want to talk about the next session.
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Originally Posted by cartmeout
YES! Songs trigger my moods 100%. I recently read an research article stating the same thing, that Bipolar people are prone to mood changes from music. I wish I would have known this years ago. As a result, I had to delete all of those songs that evoke deep emotions in me. It was really sad and really hard because I LOVE my music. Sometimes music is the only way I can feel, especially when I'm in a depressed mood. I'd rather feel bad than numb. But anyways, I had to let my music go. Ten years of sappy love songs and big ballads. I can still barely listen to Adele without getting down - only her somewhat happy songs are what I can handle.
I also had to delete my "My Chemical Romance" albums - got figure that THOSE songs were triggering my moods. That was all before I had a diagnosis so it made my moods worse...a LOT worse. *sigh* so sad.
BUT we do what we have to do. Let's listen to Pharell's Happy.
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Do you have the article for that? I would love to read it. Anything helpful about Bipolar actually. Me buckling down on this illness is relatively new, despite being diagnosed for nearly 4 years now, so I like to read about it.
I have gone through bunches of times when I've deleted all triggering music from my iPhone and computer. The problem comes when trying to use Spotify or Pandora particularly. They just tend to love playing sad songs. So that's A LOT of skipping and why I only use those when I'm feeling completely stable.
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Originally Posted by Blitter2014
Songs are huge triggers for me.
When I am stressed there are certain songs that will induce intense feelings that will allow me to cry uncontrollably and let out all the emotions that I have bottled up, and work to help me
There are other songs that will instantly transport me back to younger years, for instance when my sons were growing up after the divorce, which will trigger such bad thoughts that I have to instantly turn them off otherwise they will overcome me.
There is for me some feel good music which I can happily bop around to, but overall I have to be very careful what I listen to. For me, they are as much triggers are photographs
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Yes, in a few instances it can be okay to listen to a song that validates how you feel. When I had a break up, that's what I did. That helped me come to terms with it more and think "okay, I am said, but I'm not the only one. It's okay to be sad and it's not going to last forever." And then there comes a point where that same exact song might turn into "turn that crap off!" lol
I agree with being careful. I am as well. I've put together whole playlists purposely full of positive songs and cleansed my music collections from anything sad/triggering.
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Originally Posted by Skywalking
I feel things and am reminded of painful things when I listen to music, it makes me feel upbeat or sad depending... I didn't think that was a bipolar thing? Just something everyone experiences?
Anyway, fight fire with fire. Have an iPod or whatever in your possession at all times with a preplanned playlist to counteract the effect.
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It's not specfically Bipolar. It's just that when you have Bipolar, you have extreme mood swings. So, for example, a song that might make someone without Bipolar (or at least someone with it in a non-symptomatic state) a bit sad, it can make someone with Bipolar feel depressed. It's the extremity that is the difference.
Yeah, I think I'm going to start doing that.