Bi-Polar and Music

Does anyone else have any luck with listening to music to help calm them when they are having a bad day? Also is it just me or is isolation a side effect of being Bi-Polar? I am finding that I am more and more isolating myself from everything and even though it isn't a good thing I don't know how to change this pattern.. I don't know if it is just me or do others feel the same way.

Music can definitely inform a mood. Things can get you really hyped up leading to hypomania, really calm kind of logical music like Bach or Indian Classical music can help you level out, I have not found any music that actually makes me depressed.

Having bipolar I find to be isolating because A. no one knows what you are dealing with except the people on here (in my experience) and B. I just want to be alone. Which of course is isolating. Sometimes I want to be alone so bad that I'll skip almost anything just to have time to myself and I'll just tell the person or organization I had like a medial emergency or something. Crazy but true.

:-/

Anyhow, hope you are well!
MT

I often find myself listening to music that fits the mood I am in, as opposed to music to calm me down or perk me up. I also tend to isolate myself and I think that's why I choose music to fit the mood I am in... it makes me feel as if somebody understands; as if, even when I want to be left alone, I am not completely alone. Seems a bit contradictory now that I think about it...

Actually, when I listen to music, I dream a lot! Although it helps to change my mood.

I think it does help to stable my mood. Although it might put me in a dream, where I can do anything I wish to do! Usually, invoke anger, pleasure, heroism.

definitely isolation and music - what a nice day

When I'm depressed music is bothersome, but when I'm up I love it!

I love music all the time.

I love music .... don't know why but it's something I can focus on and helps block other things out.. I just get into... and I listen to a broad spectrum depending on my mood... 60s though today... pink floyd to Matisyahu. .. do enjoy early 90s alternative type music... anything with a good beat these days.. and some real psychedelic music from back before my time... Johnny cash... even eminem.. lol.. I find myself living through the lyrics when I'm in that song in the moment... probably sounds silly but it's almost therapeutic for me..

Isolation is extremely bad... I'm learning a lot of this has to do with my deeper problems..

Any album by the band Of Montreal reallllly stirs up my hypo mania. Love it.

I love having playlists for my moods but I try to make sure when I am depressed that the songs get too grim.

I often match music to my mood -- for sure. And there are definiately soundtracks to my manic status....that's for sure....

and I have times I'd love to isolate and just listen to music and say to hell to the rest of the world....but alas....I need to interact with my wife now and then.

"Hurt" and "Something I Can Never Have" by Nine Inch Nails are depression triggers for me. Can't really listen to them much, only on very rare occasions.

Otherwise I listened to Pretty Hate Machine (NIN) over and over for at least a month this summer.

Fear Factory or Sepultura when I'm agitated. It's cathartic. Sometimes I need classical when I'm like that. Like Philip Glass' Metamorphosis.

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 by Liszt when I'm up. Can listen to that on repeat, and have. I love that piece.

Heart it Races by Architecture in Hellsinki makes me feel . . . well, like I'm racing. I love this song.

Saba, by Mephiskapheles -- definitely listen to this on good days.

But yeah, generally I'll listen to music that matches my mood. I listen to a lot of music. If I feel really anxious, I'll put on certain classical music. Or the Dead Kennedys. They tend to put things into perspective for me when I'm anxious.

I used to get stoned, lay on my bed, and listen to music by myself. It was one of my favorite things to do. But I don't smoke weed anymore.

I isolate more when depressed or agitated. When I feel good, I'm all over the place.

I am obsessed with music. I listen to it all day. I have playlists and custom Pandora stations, with all my favorite EDM. Music is my main anti-depressant, along with exercise and meds. I am also a musician. Music is my life.

Did you know Johnny cash wrote that song and nin played it with their style.. I really like that song.. both versions

It was written by Trent Reznor. It was covered by Johnny Cash.

I like a variety of music, but what I love the most is very loud and fast rock. I probably look like a silly, middle aged lady, rocking out in my sedan. But I love it. Most of the time, I can't tolerate soothing or slow music -- only as background music when I'm trying to get work done. I have wondered if this is a bipolar thing. Obviously not. Oh, I like some alternative, too, and of course the New Wave channel on my satellite radio. More age appropriate, at least. Still, has to have a fast tempo or I'm changing channels.

bliss

My only saving grace is music. I was diagnosed with rapid cycle bipolar in my teens, almost 10 years ago. Music is the only thing that I have found that helps me, medicines included.

*Begging for help in this crazy world...*

Psytrance is my medicine.

Before I was diagnosed with bipolar I actually had two playlists I regularly updated. One was called "UP" and it had all the crazy fast loud songs that I listened to when I was hypomanic all whilst running all around my house. Then I had"down" which was filled with depressing music. I would just hole myself up in my room with that and completely shut everything out.

Looking back I'm always shocked that I didn't realize I was bipolar sooner. I guess I thought that was part of being a teenager and everyone had mood swings like that.

Now I just like music because it helps me focus on important tasks like work, driving, homework, and other things of that nature. It's almost like I need another stimuli or my own racing thoughts are too distracting. Does anyone else feel that way or am I just weird?

I love music. Brings me up & brings me down. Funny I was looking up
lyrics for something else. Found this:



By Mary Lambert called secrets, but it's about her Bipolar Disorder

Upbeat, not a downer. Really could relate. I enjoyed it. Hope others do too.

TGIF

I'm not sure if it's good or bad that I'm was driving and thinking about this forum.

Anyway, in my car last night I realized What I wrote about music I like left lots of things out. I do, sometimes, like slower, calmer music. Apparently when driving home from work. Last night it was Kate Bush.

FFDP helps me fight traffic on the way to work though.

I like lots of things. Light Baroque -- not the funeral sounding organ stuff. Renaissance and Early Music. Songs I can sing (when I feel like singing, which is not when depressed), including gooey pop and sometimes country. Always love alt country.

Probably no one wants that much detail, but I'm a little hypo and talking and typing too much. Sorry.

I'm listening to many kinds of music, from classical (not so often though - must change that) to post-metal. I just love psychedelic rock, early electronic/experimental/krautrock, prog-rock, jazz (fusion as well), early heavy metal and hard rock and, last but not least, '80s thrash and death metal, for the raging beast in me :P But lately I've been hooked on post-punk, particullary Joy Division, and the New Wave music of the eighties. I don't think I am chosing music based on my mood, but rather my moods are influenced by the music I want to listen in a day. But that doesn't happen always, though, I'll often remain the same no matter what I'm playing. But what I found interesting is that when I'm feeling really low and I put some Joy Division, known to have played really gloomy music, my mood changes for the better. Probably because I can relate to their music, which gives me the feeling that I'm in good company, or something like that. I'm still low, but not low enough to think of foolish things. Music definitely helps.

Posted on this before.. I think everyone should listen to it.. I found it humorous and could relate some. "I'm passive aggressive. . I'm scared 9 the dark and the dentist" hehe good song

Defying Gravity by Idina Menzel .... My go to music no matter what mood I am in.