Sound Echoing In Mind At All Times, What Does It Mean

[Stanley Shi-Yume]

Maybe it doesn't mean anything. But I always hear sound or music. Usually something I don't hold in mind on purpose, but something I've recently heard. Like bad hold music.

Also, I can use this for very short memory. Like to rehear a string of numbers or phrase someone said so I can type it or write it.

Will I ever hear only silence? I don't know if I am experiencing a dissociative thing here.

 

[crazy8]

Wow, interesting... That happens to me most of the time too. I also use it to remember things, to help me focus on what people are saying, or structure my thoughts.

I had never thought of this as a form of dissociation before, although I just recently learned what dissociation is...

I'm very curious as to what others think about this...

 

[EverOnly358]

Dreams,

I'm wondering about something similar. This is going to sound really stupid. Our bird died a few days ago. She was always going tweet-[one second break]-tweet-[one second break]-tweet-[one second break]-[repeat] to get attention, and one of us would come over and play with her. Add to that the fact that the phone ringing is a trigger for me, it really, really upsets me, and sends me into a panic. For the past few days, I keep thinking I hear [one phone ring]-[one second break]-[one phone ring]-[one second break]-[one phone ring]-[one second break]-[repeat] for hours at a time. It is messing with my head. But I know what it is. I really miss my bird. She was awesome. We don't know why she died, it was very sudden and there's nothing we can point to as a problem. I know, she's just a bird, but she was my bird. And I associate phones ringing with terrible bad news coming outta the blue. So... my brain is telling me... you're really upset, D. Deal with being upset, or I'll just keep reminding you over and over until you do.

Or maybe I'm totally off base. I heard once, if you get a song stuck in your head... the best thing you can do is listen to the song with your full attention from start to finish. The whole song. And then the song should stop bothering you. But hey, this is a PTSD forum, and I don't just think you have a bad song stuck in your head. Maybe it's reminding you of some trauma. I don't know, I'm only guessing. The littlest things can be reminders. Stupid things for me... screws on a door set me off. Bridges. Certain smells.

I really believe being able to listen and relisten in your head to sounds, music, words... that's something that can come from hypervigiliance.

Your brain may be trying to tell you something. Something related to PTSD. If you ever figure out how to hear only silence, please let me know!

D

 

[Orglethorp]

I heard once, if you get a song stuck in your head... the best thing you can do is listen to the song with your full attention from start to finish. The whole song. And then the song should stop bothering you.

Yeah, I've heard that too, but it has never worked. I have to either a) embrace is, b) put it on repeat until I'm sick of it, or c) replace it with something else stuck in my head.

I get sounds and phrases stuck, too, though. I use it to remember things too. When I do hear "silence," I can't just accept it. I start listening closely for something. Absolutely anything.

I also find that I hear sounds that aren't there when there's any form of white noise in the background. I prefer listening to music through headphones when I'm trying to concentrate on something, because it's easier to tune out than actual white noise or silence. I hear muffled voices whenever I use a hair dryer. Every once in a while I'll hear my name or a word, but mostly it's just the sound of muffled voices. When a tap is running, I'll often hear a phone ringing. Sometimes those sounds are real, but usually not.

 

[franciemarnie]

I don't know if you are dissociating. I know it is not uncommon to have songs in your head.

Noise really stresses me out. Big time, especially city noise. If I have a song in my head too long, I will put my IPod on and change the tune so to speak.

The only thing that makes my mind quiet is if I am in the midst of silent nature, like the country or the forest.

Also listening to downloaded binaural beats can quiet my head.

@D123 - I am so sorry about your bird. Bless you for giving it a wonderful life. By the way, the sound of the phone sends me into a panic too. Has since I was 16.

 

[SuperAnxietyGirl]

I've been having simular problems. I assumed it was flashbacks or dissociation. I'd be doing something, anyrhing, and suddenly I'd hear words or a commercial run thorough my head while seeing a video game I played like eight years. Completely random, but always leaving me feeling weak and confused. They didn't last long though.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I don't experience the exact same, but a few thoughts....

I do have white noise in my head at all times. There is nothing wrong with my hearing or my ears (I've had it all tested.) I went through neurofeedback sessions and the sound disappeared for the first time in my life. I couldn't even start to explain how wonderful it was! I stopped my sessions and the noise came back. I am starting neurofeedback again on Thursday (surprise to many including myself as I've posted about my struggles with it before.) I am hoping this symptom goes away again. Only those with constant noise in their heads can truly appreciate total silence.

You may be on to it being somewhere on the dissociative spectrum. When I was hospitalized, most of the other patients had DID (I do not). One woman was there because she had a breakdown after all of the noises in her head suddenly went silent (she had DID.) I'm not trying to scare you or anything, but maybe it is part of dissociation in some way? I know next to nothing about DID so this is just speculation of course. Maybe instead of just checking out, your mind is filled with something else to keep you feeling "safe"? Well, in that we dissociate to feel safe and protected, perhaps the sound/music does the same thing?

 

[SuperAnxietyGirl]

Solara, strange, I can't handle true silence. When it's there I usually get ringing in my ears. If it's silent in my house, I always have the tv on or music.

 

[EverOnly358]

@Orglethorp, The song thing does work for me... but I've also done that thing were I pick a song I've listened to four thousand times, and start listening to the memory of that song in my head... after 20 seconds of that... the other song goes away. Yeah, to everything else you said, me too! I have to have a fan going... I need that white noise. Music doesn't always work for me. Because I obsessively listen to everything. So I can't tune out the words from songs, the lyrics, the poetry of it, and my mind frantically makes connections. While I'm also trying to do something like reading a book or writing. It's exhausting.

@franciemarnie, You're so sweet for saying that about my bird. So thank you. I'm gonna have to look into binaural beats. I actually don't know what that is. Oh, and the phone ringing... thanks for that, too. Because most people just don't understand why I want them to e-mail me instead of calling me. I just can't explain, y'know? People who don't have PTSD don't always understand. And that's okay... I mean... I'm glad they're not going through this stuff. If it was easier for them to understand, it would probably be because they were suffering, too, and I don't want that. (Does that make any sense at all?)

@Solara, interesting thoughts. Because music can be really helpful. Changing the mood of your thoughts, y'know? I have playlists that spin me up, calm me down, make me think, distract me. So, does the brain bring up songs in your mind to help, to comfort, as a wacky form of dissociation? Or are they alarms reminding you of specific unresolved trauma? Maybe both, at different times? I don't know. It's interesting though.

@SuperAnxietyGirl, I never experience true silence, ever. If there's not white noise or music or TV or something... I hear every creak of the house, or the wind outside, or the cars driving by on the street. My brain is always checking for danger. So, you're not the only one.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

strange, I can't handle true silence. When it's there I usually get ringing in my ears. If it's silent in my house, I always have the tv on or music.

I guess I mean I truly appreciate the silence in my head. I've experienced external silence while still having the noise in my head, and I've experienced silence in my head while still hearing external noise.

I can't stand external silence either. The TV in my room is always on when I am in there, well, almost always on, and I always have a fan on. If I don't sleep with the fan on, I wake up agitated. I forgot to turn it on last night and my sleep was horrible! I had nightmares all night long (I hardly ever have nightmares.)

 

[EverOnly358]

@Solara, Yup, me too. TV or music a lot. But I have to have the fan on always. For me... it's about the white noise and having the breeze... because otherwise I listen to every tiny sound and feel like I can't breathe when sleeping. PTSD sucks. I'm so sorry you didn't sleep well last night. so sorry about the nightmares! Do what I do... never turn the fan off. Yes, it's bad for the environment, but it keeps me sane(r). ;)

 

[PTSDtry2B...]

I have had PTSD for over ten years and during this time have experienced a slight ringing in my ear. I just had to go to the emergancy room because a quetip that got stick in my ear which cause the problem to increase. I have learned to just try to ignore and eventually I forget about the ringing and it somehow goes away by itself...but it always does return. However, I never hear whole selections of Music or Song which I wish would be the case! LOL