Recorded music makes me cry!

Question

This has been driving me crazy.  Every time I listen to music on the headphones, I start sobbing.  It's usually something with somebody singing, rather than instrumental music.  Really annoying, because it means that I have to pick my music carefully so I won't be embarrassed.

And I do mean sobbing - my stomach muscles start to bob, and my breath catches like I'm working up to a good cry.  My eyes well up with tears, and I have to really fight to keep them in my eyes.

Probably another form of emotional lability, but it's definitely triggered by certain types of music.

jensequitur · Answer

It's definitely a physical response to a certain kind of sound.  I don't get this with swing music, which is what I listen to most of the time when I'm at work - Django Reinhart or French hot club jazz, or maybe a little bluegrass music.

This particular song starts with a woman singing a capella, and my eyes start watering.  Then the mandolin kicks in, and I get a little 'hic!' in my stomach, like I'm about to start bawling.  Then the guitar and the rest of the band get into it, and I have to fight really hard not to cry.

Perhaps it's multi-instrumental music with chords that bothers me, or people singing in harmony.  There's just something about that particular waveform that causes me to cry.

Maybe it has something to do with the hyperacusis.  Some kinds of high-pitched sound really bother me.  

Thanks, guys!

Guitar_grrrl · Answer

Gosh, I've had that since I was a teen!  I really wonder how long I've had MS.  I cry with music, especially with Christmas music, or certain instruments would set me off (double reeds - oboe, English horn and bassoon), or a really gorgeous operatic mezzo soprano (but not other voice ranges).  Kids' voices singing do it to me too.  Or I'd hear some sad news and actually SMILE!  I then would be so embarrassed I'd leave the room, incredulous I'd behaved that way.

Wow.  Stuff to ponder...
Guitar_grrrl

doublevision1 · Answer

maybe a stupid question, but what are you feeling when the waterworks turn on? do you feel deep sadness, grief, loneliness, etc. all those typical feelings that accompany tears? does your mind turn to sad thoughts? or is it more of a physical response?

essdipity · Answer

Emotional lability and menstrual super-hormones. Ah, the dynamic duo.

At least you understand what's happening, and that takes it somewhat out of bizarro world.

Try to look at it this way---you have tapped into your brain with great precision. Not just the seat of emotions, and not just music, but music with evocative lyrics. In a perfect world, this would be lighting up like crazy, and maybe beeping too. You know your brain is functioning for sure, and even in overtime. Hang in there. This too will pass.

ess

jensequitur · Answer

Ah, the original tearjerkers!  Yeah, those always made me cry, but in a different way.  This is so weird - it's completely involuntary.  

>  Good thing you are also not lactating, too. 

I think so too!  However, I am in that  time of the month.

jensequitur · Answer

It's been going on for four years or so - I didn't realize it was an MS symptom until it got worse.  

I've been trying to learn this song called 'Two Sisters' and the only recording I can find on Youtube is from Clannad.  It's quite pretty, but as soon as the song starts up my eyes start watering.  Then the mandolin kicks in and my stomach starts trembling, as if it's working up to a sob.  

Well, I just listened to it again, and managed to get all the way through the song with only a couple of sobs and moist eyes.  Maybe it's a function of time of day, I dunno.

Quixotic1 · Answer

Jen, you are right.  That is the quintessential "pseudo-bulbar" effect of emotional lability where the emotions that we express are out of proportion to the situation.

Unless you are listening to "Teen Angel" and "Where, Oh Where, Can My Baby Be?"  ;-))

Good thing you are also not lactating, too.

Quix