Anyone Else or Am I a Freak From Outer Space?

One of the primary issues I frequently complain to my pdoc about is music in my head. First, I'll say that I love music. I'm in love with music. So there's that. What happens, though, is that I'll get a song stuck in my mind, it speeds up, then another song comes in to overlap, then some classical composition will get tossed into the mix. Maybe more music will come, usually with the whole cacophony speeded up and turning colors along with random images. Then I start to feel paranoid...maybe that someone(s) are in the room with me (no one is, at least no one in human form).

Sometimes the whole thing keeps going, sometimes the extra music will drop off and one song will stick, playing mercilessly over until I am almost in tears (I would cry, if it would help).

With a raise in Anti-P the music slows down in general, but I still have to make the image in my mind of a STOP sign (bright red/white), sometimes even say "STOP!" aloud. Over and over, until the damn thing finally stops. Sometimes, listening to music outside of my mind can help distract my brain from the internal chaos.

Does anyone else experience the music thing - or something like it?

I have music playing in my mind constantly. I find myself saying 'stop' every now and again. I also make myself focus more on the surroundings and my actions to try to make it go away. I try not to listen to music much during the day because that seems to make it worse.

There's actually a type of seizure disorder with the automatic internal music. I forgot the name, but I remember reading about it.

You're not alone.

I have incessant music in my head. The songs never end. Even if I wake up in the middle of the night, a song is going. Sometimes one song will get stuck. If it's one I like, whatever. But when it's one I don't? SOOOOOO annoying. I try using the "stop" thing too. There are certain songs that will invariably be problematic. I hate them so much. If I start to hear one, I will cover my ears and make noises (like lalalalala, or loud breathing) to block it out. Looks stupid, but I don't care, because it's worth it to prevent it taking over for, no joke, about 2 weeks solid.

Mine don't jumble together much like what you describe. That must be quite annoying.

Very often music is in my head. Maybe its because my father was a professional musician (guitarist) and I heard him constantly practice in our home's basement. I tend to thin of songs that remind me of what's going on my life. Example of many, I'm traveling a couple miles from home. Coming back think of the song "Its a long way home" bu Supertramp.

Thank you fern, Innerzone, and mugwort

I know that even neurotypicals get "a song stuck" in their mind. I get that. It's just when it's the non-stop as we've described in this thread...Innerzone, yes! It's a 2 week non-stop, at least! Or the background music just plain never stops. It's not like a song that comes then politely leaves after a few minutes.

Mugwort, many times the initial song does tell me, consciously or unconsciously, what's going on around me or internally. If it's one song I will make a game of it, sort-of, by letting the song "tell" me what's happening.

When there are several songs or instrumental music, however, there's no point in figuring them out.

fern - right! I remember reading about a type of seizure disorder with automatic internal music going on.

Thanks, all. Once again, the similarity of symptoms (for lack of a better word) makes me wonder what, really, BD is.

I do have music play frequently in my mind and at time find myself making my own. I don’t know that it is as intense as you have described.

Could it be a level of racing thoughts or anxiety-provoked? Or some mild obsessive compulsive tendency? Or do you think the music thoughts serve as a less than healthy self medication, of sorts (like picking or teeth grinding habits)? Or are they possibly even non psychotic hallucinations? Getting to the bottom of that may be helpful in finding a way to stop them.

I wonder if in some way a medication could in some way be a contributing factor. But maybe not.

It's not freakishness. You are far far from being alone with this issue. I had a period of musical hallucinations, but they were likely a result of neurological issues. It sounds like you are saying yours aren't really hallucinations, though. Again, that isn't freakish. None of the causes I mentioned above, of music constantly in one's head, are that rare.

I get these- music that just plays in my head without my control. It's usually something I've been listening to fairly recently. I've heard this called having an "ear worm".

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Originally Posted by Soupe du jour ... I had a period of musical hallucinations, but they were likely a result of neurological issues. It sounds like you are saying yours aren't really hallucinations, though. Again, that isn't freakish. None of the causes I mentioned above, of music constantly in one's head, are that rare.

"Musical hallucinations" is exactly the term. I was reading about it last night. I don't know if mine are hallucinations, or not. Apparently, one can have both internal and external musical hallucinations.

I have a degree of OCD, definitely anxiety, but the music seems to arrive completely on its own without being attached to anything. It seems there are about 100 reasons (at least) for musical hallucinations.

I always thought it was a by-product of mania, I just don't know.

When you had that experience, did the music sound like it was coming from outside or was it inside your brain?

I don't really deal with this problem.

I have music in my head all the time, (usually 1 or 2 select songs), but nothing like described.

Hi Beth Rags. It was as if coming from outside my brain, but the reality was that it was not playing.

Not sure if you have the time or interest, but you can read more about my past musical hallucinations in my following blog posts. Mine became highly distressing over time. In the end, it still wasn't 100% known what was causing them, but it seemed as if reaching a therapeutic dose of carbamazepine ER (Tegretol XR) solved the problem.

My main story about my musical hallucinations is at:

A Story of Musical Hallucinations (When music mostly died for me) – Bird Flight

And a reference in this post:

Trauma from years of severe bipolar disorder episodes – Bird Flight

Also:

MC, Day 3: Surprise song playing in my head – Bird Flight

If of interest:

Interesting similarities/links between bipolar disorder & other conditions – Bird Flight

And:

Psychiatric Avalanche Effect – Unraveling the mystery of my past brain quirks – Bird Flight

Once when I was inpatient, I was in my room at night and heard a marching band. Clear as day, "outside my head". I looked out my window, but it was dark and I couldn't see a marching band. I went and told the person at the desk on the ward and they just told me to go back to sleep, basically. Like that was par for the course there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soupe du jour Hi Beth Rags. It was as if coming from outside my brain, but the reality was that it was not playing. Not sure if you have the time or interest, but you can read more about my past musical hallucinations in my following blog posts. Mine became highly distressing over time. In the end, it still wasn't 100% known what was causing them, but it seemed as if reaching a therapeutic dose of carbamazepine ER (Tegretol XR) solved the problem. My main story about my musical hallucinations is at: A Story of Musical Hallucinations (When music mostly died for me) – Bird Flight And a reference in this post: Trauma from years of severe bipolar disorder episodes – Bird Flight Also: MC, Day 3: Surprise song playing in my head – Bird Flight If of interest: Interesting similarities/links between bipolar disorder & other conditions – Bird Flight And: Psychiatric Avalanche Effect – Unraveling the mystery of my past brain quirks – Bird Flight

Thank you, I certainly will read them!
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Read the posts. Intriguing information! It's apparent to most of us who have BD that it's connected to (or is) some type of seizure disorder. Surely neurologists and psychiatrists know that, because they prescribe anti-seizure meds for BD.

What I wonder is if any further studies are being done on the connections you've listed (BD, seizure episodes, migraines, etc., etc.)? If so, I never hear anything about it. And MD's seem stuck in the same old treatments, for the most part.

So thanks for the post links, Soupe.

btw, until age 40 I danced ballet...until I gained so much weight from Seroquel.

It either happens to ALL people and we are normal or we are freaks because this occurs to me as well.

I don’t have bipolar, but I think it happens to many people to some degree or other, although for most it’s not going to be problematic, just irritating. Maybe with certain mental health conditions it’s going to be amplified in some way?
I love the Les Mis soundtrack but I get obsessed with the songs after listening to it, to the point of exhaustion from replaying them in my head sometimes, so I don’t listen to it often. This is the only soundtrack I have this issue with! Listening to it once in a while is ok, but I won’t play it in the car any more - I tend to keep the same CD in for weeks at a time before switching it for another one.

I think it happens on another level for some people. Like I go to bed with it. I wake up with it. It's there while I'm talking to other people. It plays in the background when I think. Sometimes it is more than one song at once. Most of the time it has nothing to do with anything I've heard playing. The intensity definitely turns up when I'm unwell.

I have more than one pal who believes listening to music can produce mania or psychosis?

Quote:

Originally Posted by fern46 I think it happens on another level for some people. Like I go to bed with it. I wake up with it. It's there while I'm talking to other people. It plays in the background when I think. Sometimes it is more than one song at once. Most of the time it has nothing to do with anything I've heard playing. The intensity definitely turns up when I'm unwell.

Exactly. I would describe what I'm experiencing the same way.


If I'm especially tired the music and sounds will have images with it. Nothing related to the music, but it's like I'm awake, dreaming.


The whole thing is definitely more than an "earworm". It's pervasive, non-stop. Sometimes the music even gets into my dreams when I'm asleep.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bpcyclist I have more than one pal who believes listening to music can produce mania or psychosis?

100%! I agree.

Listening to music causes a dopamine release in the brain. More than one antipsychotic targets dopamine specifically. Listening to activating music has been a factor in my psychosis both times. If I had to guess, I'm a dopamine junkie.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fern46 Listening to music causes a dopamine release in the brain. More than one antipsychotic targets dopamine specifically. Listening to activating music has been a factor in my psychosis both times. If I had to guess, I'm a dopamine junkie.

A very good point - listening to music causes dopamine release. And me, too, the same experiences with activating music/mania/psychosis.

Here's a weird twist. So for a week or even more - I've had the music going on. This evening, I put some "real" music on and felt instantly UP...very much like a hypomanic WAY up. Listened to the music for about 90 minutes, turned it off. Was feeling VERY high.

Half an hour later I found myself with a splitting headache that would be a migraine, had I not immediately taken 900mg. of Advil. The music inside my mind, however, has stopped. I now feel centered and ready to peacefully sleep (except for the now-mild headache).

What were we saying about BD/Migraines/Seizure-type activity, and all that brain stuff? I'm actually thinking, more and more, that BD is a type of seizure disorder.

Thanks for sharing this!