Musical Hallucinations... Please Help

[Philippa]

That was my first thought as well Hashi. Her brain may be calling on that memory as a way to cope with the high stress in those moments...which is actually a good thing. If it were anything else I'd say be worried, but Chopin and calming musical hallucinations don't sound like anything to be worried about. The brain is a mysterious thing.

 

[Loner]

I find the anonymous post really interesting. In survival situations many people have told stories of hallucinating another person being there who offers no physical aid, but lots of encouragement, every time they want to give up, the person is there saying no, you'll die if you stay here, keep moving, get back up, keep crawling, its just a little farther, etc etc.

I've had a somewhat similar auditory hallucination in a survival situation of a person's voice who told me with impeccable timing exactly the right moment to act to save myself from severe bodily harm, something I could not have known with my conscious mind because it wasn't something I could perceive with any of my five senses.

Perhaps this is similar, the brain's coping mechanism to calm you down in trying times? Kinda backfires if you get scared of the hallucination, but maybe not past the first time.

The human brain is truly an amazing thing.

 

[SpartanMk]

Admittedly the first time it happened very scary and she was unfocused at times listening to it.

However, she still went to Uni and everything and was fine. This time round it was only frightening for the first 5mins, when she was the most emotional and it was very 'loud.' Within 10mins of us calming down, it was very quiet and she was completely normal. I was surprised at how calm and normal she was to be honest. Next morning, it was gone.

 

[Philippa]

From what you've told us, it doesn't seem to be anything to really worry about, just that it was freaky because it had never happened before and was not ordinary. It seems to have helped her in some ways though, and really sounds like her brain has made that it's coping mechanism when under lots of stress.

 

[anonymous]

Hi SpartanMk, I'm just curious do you or your girlfriend have PTSD?

I'm just asking since I don't see you mention this in any of your posts, yet you are here posting on a PTSD forum.

 

[Hashi]

In survival situations many people have told stories of hallucinating another person being there who offers no physical aid, but lots of encouragement...
I've had a somewhat similar auditory hallucination in a survival situation of a person's voice who told me with impeccable timing exactly the right moment to act to save myself from severe bodily harm.

Me too, although in my case I don't call it a hallucination. There's a fascinating book called The Third Man Factor by John Geiger which presents the different explanations that people have for this.

I also thought about this, when reading what you wrote, SpartanMK. If it's music with calming and comforting associations then it seems to me like something intending to help. Maybe it takes this form because music's important to your girlfriend?

 

[Red Feather]

I hear music all of the time, but more in my head, not really like I am hearing it with my physical ears. I would take Hashi's attitude and not make a big deal out of it. If she is having more issues and symptoms then it would be helpful to see a professional. As it sounds, you stated she was having a lot of panic attacks etc, so seeing a T is very helpful in anycase.

Also I did have one auditive flashback before, and I have heard that others with PTSD have had that before... so if she has PTSD than wouldn't that also be a possibility since it is actually music that she has heard before?

 

[Powder]

People hallucinate when sleep deprived and/or stressed. There could be any number of good explanations. No need to assume or worry about mental illness without other more distressing symptoms or issues. If she is able to work and study without problems, and if you can maintain a healthy five-year relationship, then this is a minor issue.

This may require a look at the stress load and current (if any) diagnosis of post traumatic stress or such. Not to mention, a look at any medications.

Minocycline (sp?) is an antibiotic that can cause dissociation and hallucinogenic side effects, especially in women, and especially if it's gone through half life/sat for a while. I read it is no longer supposed to be prescribed for female acne, as it was routinely, but I have seen it currently in use, so I know there are still Doctors who are not aware of this problem.

If she is on any med, even for some simple condition, she should ask her Doctor if hallucinations is a rare side effect. They shouldn't judge you "crazy" for asking. Even birth control, can cause hallucinations and black outs. It is not listed on the patient education insert, but it is a known and documented side effect. I do not think people are aware that the really concerning side effects are not listed because they are rare, and the pharm companies do NOT want you to know about them.

There is usually a simple answer for everything, but we don't have all the info yet on every food we eat or what is in what we put in our bodies. Think of all the products we use! :)

 

[Springer80]

Hi, I've had visual and somatic and auditory hallucinations before! I wouldn't worry about them. I've had the occasional voice when I've been very physically weak saying things like 'you are not awake'. Alot of this stuff is just the subconscious coming to your aid.

Regarding periods here is an interesting line of enquiry....high stress causes adrenal gland irregualrities leading to hormonal dysfunction and a side effect of this via the automatic nervous system is a change in blood pressure, if she has had to rest alot it's possible or has erratic eating habits due to dissocation then its possible she's low on iron, magnesium or vitamin d etc. Therefore periods might make her feel suffiiciently weak that it has a temporary adverse effect on her senses. Of course suggesting these things to somebody whose in distress is tricky. Comforting the emotion regardless of whether it comes from a 'rational' cause or not is the most important thing. I am speaking from personal experience. Emotions being dismissed led me to feel even more disregarded, ptsd diagnoses and gps is a struggle and I held out against the possibility of physical symptomatology until it became quite serious. In fact 'rational' doesn't come into it really, she's experiencing it, the cause is irrelevant.

I'd look up dissociation too rather than schizophrenia, a lot of things get lumped in with that term that shouldn't be.

By the way, it's speaks volumes that the both of you can talk about this freely with each other.
Good Luck.

 

[SpartanMk]

I really appreciate all the advice here. Good question about PTSD... Not that I know of. I posted here because when I was looking for answers on google, a lot of the stuff I found that came close came from this forum.

 

[Artfulone]

I have encountered musical hallucinations (if that's what they were), in the 90's. In general I was quite happy to have them most of the time. For me then it was a coping mechanism and probably a side effect of watching Ally McBeal series on TV which I thoroughly enjoyed. I had ego states (fragmented parts of my consciousness) that were trying to help me as I kept denying I had PTSD and dissociation. In my case, it could have been these parts trying to help me through my depression as it was becoming dysthemic and my symptoms increased (I have probably had an ego state disorder/ severe dissociative disorder and I actually got helper parts/ mechanisms similar to those in multiple personality/ DID). Although it sounds from this post that other people have experienced similar things so it's was probably just the stress triggers reacting to form a sub consciously soothing coping mechanism.

There is a condition called Musical Hallucinosis but the diagnosis is confined to elderly deaf persons. It is however similar and little is understood about it at this stage. I would guess that as the understanding of both trauma related symptoms, musical hallucinosis and brain science increase we will understand more about how and why these things occur. As long as they are not too intrusive I would just see if they pass but I wouldn't rush towards over medicalising anything like this as there are many medical professionals who don't have sufficient understanding of stress reactions and human coping mechanisms, therefore would happily diagnose people with schizophrenia or other psychotic conditions when this is is not the case. Your girlfriend is 22 so you are unlikely to have seen Ally McBeal hallucinating Barry White songs and dances as part of her creative response to the stress of working in a busy lawyers firm. It may be worth seeking some you tube clips if you are seeking to bring some humour and acceptance to this symptomatology.

I hope this helps. Best wishes.

 

[Springer80]

There is a condition called Musical Hallucinosis but the diagnosis is confined to elderly deaf persons. II would guess that as the understanding of both trauma related symptoms, musical hallucinosis and brain science increase we will understand more about how and why these things occur.

I wouldn't rush towards over medicalising anything like this as there are many medical professionals who don't have sufficient understanding of stress reactions and human coping mechanisms, therefore would happily diagnose people with schizophrenia or other psychotic conditions when this is is not the case.

Your girlfriend is 22 so you are unlikely to have seen Ally McBeal hallucinating Barry White songs and dances.

Hi Artfulone A.K.A. The First The Last My Everything!!!;) :D

In reverse order and thus firsly.....Whadda you mean SpartanMK's girlfriend doesn't hallucinate Barry White??!!!!:eek: , we all do that don't we? He's the answer to all life brings!!!!:inlove: (oooo I feel a little booty shake coming on! and you know that would be an excellent thread for an alternative dance therapy section, you first Artfulone :giggle:)

Secondly, I totally agree with your over medicalising line. For most of them, they look in a book and flip to the corresponding medication page. And there ends their line of enquiry. So getting put on SERIOUS medication can be a circular road of new problems that do bugger all about the original problem. Also if it's stress related then hopefully its transient, so by the time you fight your way off the meds it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

And finally, that famous neuroscientist VS Ramachandran is doing amazing work with how the brain is wired and how it re-grows after trauma. Maybe something about where our music processing sits and ageing means a wall deteriorates and the oldies get to hear swing music all day. Makes me want to be more selcective about what I listen too now. You'll be okay Artfulone you'll have Barry Whites Greatest Hits smoothing out the retirement days!!! :)

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