To ask if anyone else constantly has music running in their head?

[Mypremiumwhat]

I have music running constantly in my head all the time for as long as I can remember. It's normally there in the background like a low barely noticeable hum, but sometimes it becomes louder and more fucking annoying apparent. It's there regardless of what I'm doing, whether I'm watching tv, having a conversation, working, and the only time I can't (mentally) hear it is when I'm meditating or actually listening to music in real life.

Song changes are triggered by things I see, or words/phrases that I read or hear, and the music can be anything from songs I love, to songs I hate, to annoying jingles, to random instrumental music. One particular tune that gets stuck in my head regularly is the song that a toy telephone belonging to a girl I babysat 20 years ago used to play

I don't suffer from anxiety or any other mental health condition, and have no history of adhd or anything like that. But still the music persists. It doesn't bother me too much on a day-to-day basis but sometimes the songs turn into earworms and become infuriating. I never really paid much attention to it before, but read someone asking a similar question on another forum a while back and realised that it actually doesn't happen to everyone, and I've been very conscious of it since.

Is there any way of stopping it??

[NiceGerbil]

It never annoys me at all. Never has!

It's full stereo full orchestral/ surround sound in my head.

When I actually hear music that fits me I can feel it in my body fingers like it's in the air, tangible and I can feel it and touch it

We really need more words to describe how different people's brains work!

I have aphantasia but I feel no loss

[georgarina]

I have PTSD and this happens when I'm very stressed, either a song in a loop or a phrase - just feels like my mind's on overdrive and using it as a distraction. But not when I'm relaxed.

[mamakoukla]

Shostakovich Jazz Waltz no2 has been haunting me lately. But yes, there’s always something ticking along… or ticking along just below the surface. Reading about aphantasia on this thread - I am at the polar opposite of that. Ridiculously detailed imagery and memories and I can tweak imagery, sound etc. I just put it all down to living in my head a bit more and my brains need to be entertained

[Heleavesreviews]

"@Heleavesreviews I have long admired their work and was grateful for your reminder of it. This is almost certainly their second best effort after 'Toxic. That reduces me to tears every time I watch."

I accidently found an imitator's work at first so as a service to mumsnet-kind I'm putting in a link to the true shittyflute masterpiece here:

love some of the comments too.

[Heleavesreviews]

@yesitsbess I think my favourite comment is "Imagine if this was the only proof that humanity had existed".

[Yesitsbess]

@Heleavesreviews

You are a true public servant. Everyone needs to witness the glory of Toxic Shittyflute.

Also thanks to everyone telling us their current players, it has turned my inner jukebox into some kind of monstrous Jive Bunny Megamix...

[partofyoupoursoutofme]

Constant for me too! It becomes very intense in times of stress and anxiety, I sometimes feel like I'm shouting the songs at myself. Generally it's fine and just a soundtrack though.

[FunnyWonder]

That shittyflute Toxic😂😂

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

Can I just come back and say FUCK YOU OP?!?!?!

I left this thread because it turned the volume up on my ear worm.

But now the thread title has been running though my head, running through my head for days!!

All the things she said
Running through my head

Here... you have some of it

Grrr - and yes, lighthearted, just in case someone decides to take offence

[Heleavesreviews]

ACTUALLY TOTAL ECLIPSE IS STILL THE GREATEST SHITTYFLUTE

It's the build up.

[ginghamtablecloths]

Quite often. I love music and try to consciously choose tracks which I enjoy. I often re-run conversations (not too many of those at the moment) and things I'd like to say too. My brain is rarely still and I try not to get agitated about it.

[Yesitsbess]

@Heleavesreviews

I cannot link to it from this device, however I see your shitty flute and raise you "zadoc the priest classical shreds" on the tube that is U.

TOP THAT!

[EddieVeddersfoxymop]

Yes, always. I'm a huge music fan and play several instruments. Always got a song going on, or working out a tricky bit of whatever song I'm learning.

[Heleavesreviews]

... some say that if you did link to it from this device the universe would end....

[Febo24]

Yes. And I just need to see a word or hear an associated sound and off I go.

[weegiemum]

I always have music going in my head, to the extent that my dh asks "What's the music in weegieland today?". I'm always singing something in my head. If it gets really annoying (and it does) I play loud music I like and that usually helps.

[BlowDryRat]

I used to have this quite badly, e.g. I couldn't concentrate on what I was doing, it was stopping me from getting to sleep etc. It started as a disassociation tactic when I was married to an abusive man and comes back every now and again if I'm particularly stressed. I've found that regular exercise listening to music helps, as does prayer/meditation and counselling.

[Cassilis]

I have association loops but not with music. For example the word ‘wedding’ makes me cringe as it reminds me of people who were upset with me for invites (wedding was 7 years ago and I doubt those people care). Is that similar?

[Cassilis]

*no invites

[sadpapercourtesan]

I have this, and over the past 6 months or so it has ramped up to the point it's seriously upsetting me, keeping me awake, it drives me mad. It's not usually music for me, it's the same tones, octaves apart, running through my head over and over again. Sometimes it's short snatches of songs which I can't get rid of, but the octave thing is CONSTANT otherwise. I have no idea what it is or how to get rid of it

I have CPTSD (diagnosed) and almost certainly autism (not diagnosed because my GP told me there was no diagnostic pathway for adults in Devon, but there isn't much doubt)

[Bridgespot]

Constant. It's constant. Currently flipping between "Can't Stand the Rain", "Wonderwall" and the Call My Agent theme track. Actually, maybe it isn't constant, but if it isn't there, I don't notice, if you see what I mean. Between that and the internal monologue it's a wonder any other thought ever gets a look in.

[Faircastle]

@sadpapercourtesan
That must be horrible for you. Is it always the same note e.g. an A in different octaves?
Does distraction get rid of it temporarily e.g. listening to music or keeping yourself busy doing something?

[Youngatheart00]

I also have a permanent earworm, although luckily it does vary. I find if I’m stressed or drink too much I get a particular ‘loop’ of a song going round and round in my head.

If anyone fancies a new one....how about the Trol lol lol man?

[Faircastle]

I'm now feeling as though I've got off relatively lightly with a brain that plays hymn tunes FM*.

*Currently playing Thornbury (Thy hand, O Lord, has guided):
" 🎶 One CHURCH, one faith, one Lord (dum dum dum dum dum) 🎶"

I'm starting to wonder if I was an organist in a past life.