can music cause anxiety?

[qwebnm]

Hey guys I've searched up online if music can cause anxiety but the answer seems to be no, in fact it can lower anxiety according to my research. I've been listening to music most of my life and usually I listen to the same songs over and over again because I'm bored. However there have been moments where I've found a new song and loved it and am in a state of trance and bliss and I've listened to the song constantly over a few days until it gets boring as well.. Recently I've noticed that all the Times I've experienced extreme anxiety I had found a new song which I loved a few days earlier. My guess is that the music causes chemical imbalances? Due to my personal experiences I strongly believe music causes me anxiety but since there is no scientific evidence to support this I feel like I'm just being silly by avoiding music

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi qwebnm,

Welcome to the forums and thanks for posting.

Unfortunately Google knows a lot of things but it doesn't know everything. Neither do I, but here goes - when music plays different parts of our brain light up in response, one of which is the limbic system - responsible for emotions and memory.

In your post you said "all the times I've experienced anxiety I've found a new song which you loved a few days earlier". I then want to challenge that by wondering- how many songs have you listened to ever? There's a lot of new experiences and new music that you now know, maybe without even realising.

I don't want to suggest that what you're feeling and experiencing isn't real as I don't doubt that for a second, but I want to help you wonder if maybe it's the repetition of all these new things that you might be linking to your anxiety. If you were to completely avoid new music, could you completely avoid the anxiety?

[V17]

Hey Qwebnm,

Welcome!

Great question; it got me thinking. I am like you in the sense of listening to music. Perhaps it may not be the actual music but a memory whilst listening to it that may trigger a response to certain songs/genres?

I don't think you are silly at all, I mean I can recall memories from the past when a particular song comes over the radio - even certain smells/scents; that bring a vivid picture into mind resulting in me feeling sad or smiling and yes, sometimes anxious.

I am learning also, that when when we avoid certain things, it is because I am in 'survival mode' lately - this is my mind reacting in the flight/fight/freeze response to perceived threats. So by avoiding stuff, I don't allow that survival mode to 'kick into gear'. So I guess, what is happening 'upstairs' is that when you are listening to music you mind is reacting to you not feeling safe, hence flight/fight/freeze. Does that make sense?

Maybe start writing down what you feeling when this happens? I'm finding writing my feelings down lately has been a great help because it allows me to clarify them [feelings].

V.

[JessF]

There are songs I can't listen to anymore because they are connected to painful times in my life. Listening to them stirs up things, just as V17 said.

That said, it could be a case of misattribution. Just because you are feeling anxious while music is on doesn't mean the music is causing it. I agree that writing things down is a good idea as it can help you make sense of and give a shape to what your body is feeling.

[qwebnm]

Thanks for the replies. So I wanted to clear up a few things. Firstly I dont think it has much to do with memory as I don't believe that I consciously associate music with my past experiences. Emotions may play a big part as I am generally not a very emotional person but while listening to music depending on the song I have experienced strong emotions of motivation sympathy etc. Furthermore I dont get bad anxiety while listening to music but get it afterwards and have noticed that I tend to get a bit restless (maybe fight or flight?) but its not too bothersome and the overall experience is still enjoyable. And does my anxiety go away when I stop music? Well I have an addiction which was largely responsible for my anxiety but i've mostly overcome that now. Last year I was very sick for a month and was mostly bed ridden for that month and had no desire for music and afterwards realised that my ocd and insomnia had reduced significantly. Also I just recently did my hsc exams and was focusing on study for 2 months and didnt listen to music and when I did the exams my anxiety and stress was much less than normal despite the very high weighting of these exams. I hope this information allows my situation to be better understood. Thanks.

[SourceShield]

Hi qwebnm!

Thank you for this conversation!

Great topic.

So - Yes, a particular genre of music can cause anxiety in a person.

Even a particular beat or tempo.

You write that you dont think its do with 'memory' - the opposite is actually true.

Its all about your memory, but as you stated, its just not conscious memory...yet!.

It could be, if youre willing to move on from this mindset that MUSIC causes anxiety.

Because, ALL MUSIC does not CAUSE anxiety.

Thats just technically impossible.

BUT -

If youre Autistic...like me!

I have HFA - High Functioning Autism.

Or at least somewhere close there on the spectrum.

This could be why you are so hyper-sensitive to 'music'.

But thats for proper tests to show.

You seem smart, so you can understand that, right?

Technically its not music...but the brain plays 'funny' tricks on us sometimes.

What youre describing seems very common to those of us on the spectrum.

It aint life threatening, or anything like that!

You are just super-sensitive to sound.

And, the fact that you need silence to focus...is common.

I get it.

So, can you understand that its not 'music', as such, but particular sounds...in this case it may be rhythmic music.

But, if it is causing you this must stress, please speak to a professional about it.

Its the anxiety and the stress that is caused, by whatever the trigger is, that we need to focus on managing.

Have you done that yet?

StayStrong!

[qwebnm]

^ you just made my anxiety a lot worse ;(

[SourceShield]

You'll be right.

Talk to your GP or whatever professional help you have about all of this.

It aint the end of the world.

Being proactive, is the best way forward.

Youre clever, youll get this sorted.

[qwebnm]

ok thanks for ur input. Anyone else wanna try to help me out based on the information i've provided?

[SourceShield]

You're welcome.

I'm completing my PhD in Creativity, and believe it not...we look at cases, as youve described, all the time.

Its more common than you may think.

But, you can accept or reject what I have written.

Thats the beautiful thing with life...choice.

If music stresses you...dont listen to it.

As soon as you feel stressed and anxious - remove the triggers, or if you cant...remove yourself from the situation.

Self-soothing techniques really do work.

Look them up!.

You write about 'emotions' coming into effect - Emotions, and how we are affected by them, is all memory based.

Again you can believe that...or not.

But, I sense your anxiety can really get the better of you.

You seem rather defensive.

I get that too.

I can be too, about what I feel is 'my' stuff.

If you do want to talk about this on a more intellectual level - all the workings of how the brain, amygdala and neo-cortex for example - Im happy to chat.

We are here for you.

You take good care of you, okay?

MuchLove