My friend hears music in her head

[lraynor]

I am trying to find out if there is a neurological disease about brain chatter.  She wakes up each morning saying that something has played a full song in her head.  I know that sometimes we all hear a song before we go to sleep, or even while we sleep, and the subconscious will make us think that we thought of it on our own.  But she doesn't go to sleep to music or wake up to any.  And yet each morning she believes something (or someone) has song a song to her in her sleep.  I don't know if I should list this as a neurological disease or a mental health issue.  Has anyone ever experienced this?

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-RPS]

Dear Iraynor:

What is the general state of health of your friend?  Is it a recurrent specific song, is it identifable?  when does it happen?  does it happen every night?  If she wakes up in the middle of the night, does she still hear the song before she wakes up or does she have to sleep the entrire night?  Does she hear this song if she takes a nap?  

There are seizures that can make people think they hear sounds, music or voices.  But from what you have told me, there is no hint of seizures.  Otherwise, I have never heard of "brain chatter".

Sincerely,

CCf Neuro MD

[Carol55]

HI,
I had to respond to the above message about music/brain chatter.
I have had this for years.  It is definitely a form of OCD.  I have music playing in my mind, (and no, I am not psychotic)if   I'm under stress, have gone overboard on sweets, when I'm overly  tired, and most definitely if I'm premenstrual. It's like background clutter.   The sure cure for it is  the antidepressant: Zoloft .  When I took that, it took the music completely away. And I was like your friend.  I'd wake up with it.  I'd go to sleep with it. You don't actually hear it, it's just like this tune gets stuck in your sub-conscious thinking and kinda stays there!   When something came up that was
upsetting or bothering me, it'd start. It's not all the time, just mostly during times of high stress.   I quit the Zoloft due to side effects and have just learned to live with it.  It's nothing serious, just very annoying.  ONe of the SSRI's will definitely help, it just takes time to find the right one.
For the longest time I thought I was the only person around with
this goofy way of handling stress!  It took a very  patient psychiatrist to let me know this is really quite common.  Does your friend have any OCD tendencies?  You'd be surprised at how many things there are that bother people, but they are too ashamed or embarrassed to share it with others.  Hope this helps.
Tiny

[lunar]

Ok....I had to respond to this one.

There is nothing wrong with your friend, or anyone (including myself) on waking up in the morning with a song playing in your head.

I'm a dreamer! 9 times out of 10, I can pre-think of a dream before I go to bed. 9 times out of 10, I will dream it....I may not remember the entire dream, but pieces of it. This is something that I tell people to try and then write down before they go to bed what they want to try to dream about and then waking up and writing down the dream (if remembered).

The songs that play in ones head upon awakening, is only natural. There's nothing wrong with you or your mind.....your mind is a very powerful thing and it can sometimes forget to shut down when we go to bed. Waking up with a song in your head is not the problem.....the problem is, when your mind can't get that song out of it's head and your running around all dag-gone day singing that song! Arrggh!

It's cool....we are normal.

[FizzyMs]

I would like to add I also have this happening to me.  However, it seemed to appear after I had a reaction to Metrogel.  It caused some parathesia in my face and toes, and it seemed after that reaction, the music never stops!  It does drive me nuts sometimes, and Lunar, I'm glad to hear that you think it's normal.  However, after reading a comment above, I might even ask my Dr. to try the Zoloft.  It can be very disconcerting, and really did appear right after the adverse neurological reaction to the Metrogel.

[catnip]

Between the ages of about 7-12 or so, I woke up almost every morning with the most beautiful music in my head.  It was like a full orchestra, with many instruments and many beautiful harmonies.  I don't know when or why it actually stopped, but I think of it as a gift from God, "Music of the Spheres", as I believe I've seen in the Bible somewhere (I'd have to spend time to look it up).  I know that after that age, at about 14, a problem of sexual molestation started, and perhaps I was too disturbed to hear the lovely music anymore.

[moorpheus]

My goodness!  I'd be more concerned about you, as it always concerns me when I hear there are people there who do NOT have music in their heads.  Pity.  How deprived those people are.
But for millions of us, music in our heads is the norm and a joy.

I have always had music in my head as do almost all the people I hang out with (who are either musicians or aficianoados).  It is a form of creativity and right-brain activity.  

I have a virtual radio on all the time.  When I am engaged in an activity or conversation, the volume goes down. When I sleep, when I awaken, music is there -- sometimes more than others, e.g., when I am working with a particular musical piece it tends to get wrapped up in my head and I awaken with it in a louder volume and more vigor.  

The rest of the time -- heck, almost everything reminds me of a song, and if I am driving or bored, I get to sing along with the music in my head.  Now, if only I could harmonize with myself.

So, don't be concerned.  Just understand that she has a gift that you don't have.  However, if that music gets so loud that it obliterates her ability to communicate, or if the music seems to her to come from outside her head (like a hallucination) then, I might be a tad concerned.  

But now.  Enjoy!!