[Victoria'smom]

With out head phones I can not read, write, or hold a conversation. I use to need music to do school work. As of right now I have headphones on and playing from my speaker. When I do not have headphones on I can not read or write coherently. We keep music on so I am able to follow conversations, mostly. Does anyone else have this issue? I've resorted to using headphones in therapy to focus me. What is this and what other strategies are there? I would like to one day go back to school but I can't like this.

This is not just a current problem this has been an ongoing problem since childhood. My first psychiatrist wanted me tested for a learning disability but she was shooting in the dark with me.

I'm the opposite: I cannot concentrate well at all if I am playing music, especially music with lyrics. I can, however, work with nature sounds, voiceless electronica, and soothing melodies.

Personally, I think you should continue doing what works for you. It sounds like you benefit from auditory stimulation in general, so I wonder if you just immensely dislike quietness? I know you do mention that your head is "loud" quite a bit on this forum, so I wonder if you're just trying to drown that loudness out?

[Victoria'smom]

so I wonder if you just immensely dislike quietness? I know you do mention that your head is "loud" quite a bit on this forum, so I wonder if you're just trying to drown that loudness out? I'll admit I get distracted by my head but I worry about my functionality without headphones and what that means. Very few people know how often I use headphones.

[*Beth*]

Music helps me to concentrate, it blocks out the noises rude people make (like blowing their car horn right outside of my apartment). Music makes me feel better, cope better, and I don't think I would have made it through my life without music.

I see what you're saying. Thanks for clarifying.

When I look back on my school days, I did see many, many students who would study with their iPods, CD players, or cassette players. I would argue that if music was a problem for kids' concentration, then kids wouldn't use music to study with. If anything, music seemed to help them block out the environment and focus on what they needed to do. All they had was their music and one other thing to focus on (homework). So, I really do think it's a natural thing to feel that listening to music improves concentration/focus. I don't think you're really abnormal in that sense, but obviously that's my (uneducated) opinion.

Btw, if you really think about it... People are always listening to something, whether it's music, TV, YouTube, radio, video games, etc.. People get bored without auditory stimulation. So, sure, it's certainly possible you listen to music more than the average person, but in the grand scheme of things, you're just choosing to listen to music more than someone who chooses to listen to the TV or YouTube. I really, really don't think you're abnormal for always listening to things, or for relying on music for focus when there is lots of research to support the link between music and focus. I don't think it means much (or anything) that you need music to listen to things.

[Victoria'smom]

Thank-you, that makes me feel better.

[Fuzzybear]

Music sometimes helps me concentrate. Sometimes it helps to distract me from some sub optimal thoughts.....

Listening to ''old time rock and roll''

I hadn't even noticed what was playing for a while.... so far inside a sub optimal play back in my head .. or something.

[Fuzzybear]

Thinking of you and sending support. I need to find some good music right now

[Moose72]

If there is music playing I automatically tune in and have trouble taking my concentration away. I try listening to music and reading lately but the reading suffers. Then again, if Im at the mall or a restaurant I can tune out the music.