OCD and music in my head
Monkey721 posted:
I've had OCD since I was a teenager. Mostly a checker (I was in therapy for 4 years and most of my checking symptoms are gone 
) but I also get bad thoughts (i.e. people getting hurt or even worse), counting (I count letters in words forward and backwards and if I don't like the amount of letters in the words I either add letters to words or just add another 2 or 3 letter word, depending on how many letters are in each word- very confusing, I know) and the most bothersome symptom I have in music constantly going around in my head. I know it's common to get tunes stuck in your head but I don't get any relief from this symptom. It's not even a specific song. And if I don;t like the song I can go to another song but I try every single day to try and stop the music, to try and concentrate on the sound of a fan to see if that would help, but nothing. I have trouble falling asleep at night because of how distracting the music is. A few years ago I was on medication and several different meds, no relief from my symptoms, 20 lbs and a mental breakdown later (from being weaned off a medication too fast) here I am. I do not want to go on medication again because of the side effects and because they just didn't help me (I was on Anafranil, Risperedal, Paxil CR and I think 1 or 2 different meds). On occasion I also experience depression. I don't know what to do anymore. I need help getting rid of the music.
) but I also get bad thoughts (i.e. people getting hurt or even worse), counting (I count letters in words forward and backwards and if I don't like the amount of letters in the words I either add letters to words or just add another 2 or 3 letter word, depending on how many letters are in each word- very confusing, I know) and the most bothersome symptom I have in music constantly going around in my head. I know it's common to get tunes stuck in your head but I don't get any relief from this symptom. It's not even a specific song. And if I don;t like the song I can go to another song but I try every single day to try and stop the music, to try and concentrate on the sound of a fan to see if that would help, but nothing. I have trouble falling asleep at night because of how distracting the music is. A few years ago I was on medication and several different meds, no relief from my symptoms, 20 lbs and a mental breakdown later (from being weaned off a medication too fast) here I am. I do not want to go on medication again because of the side effects and because they just didn't help me (I was on Anafranil, Risperedal, Paxil CR and I think 1 or 2 different meds). On occasion I also experience depression. I don't know what to do anymore. I need help getting rid of the music.9 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:OCD and music in my headI've had OCD since I was a teenager. Mostly a checker (I was in therapy for 4 years and most of my checking symptoms are gone <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/grin.gif" align="top" border="0"> ) but I also get bad thoughts (i.e. people getting hurt or even worse), counting (I count letters in words forward and backwards and if I don't like the amount of letters in the words I either add letters to words or just add another 2 or 3 letter word, depending on how many letters are in each word- very confusing, I know) and the most bothersome symptom I have in music constantly going around in my head. I know it's common to get tunes stuck in your head but I don't get any relief from this symptom. It's not even a specific song. And if I don;t like the song I can go to another song but I try every single day to try and stop the music, to try and concentrate on the sound of a fan to see if that would help, but nothing. I have trouble falling asleep at night because of how distracting the music is. A few years ago I was on medication and several different meds, no relief from my symptoms, 20 lbs and a mental breakdown later (from being weaned off a medication too fast) here I am. I do not want to go on medication again because of the side effects and because they just didn't help me (I was on Anafranil, Risperedal, Paxil CR and I think 1 or 2 different meds). On occasion I also experience depression. I don't know what to do anymore. I need help getting rid of the music.
Blarney13 responded:
I've had the same symptom with music, except that I get the same song stuck in my head for days and days. Was your medication prescribed by a psychiatrist or an internist? I have found that it does make a huge difference if you find the right doctor. I have been on Luvox (fluvoxamine) and now have switched to Zoloft for family planning reasons. I can tell you that these drugs work great for me. I have relief from all of the "broken record" symptoms. Also the dose for OCD is generally much lower than for depression, so you might have fewer side effects.
Report This| Share this:OCD and music in my headI've had the same symptom with music, except that I get the same song stuck in my head for days and days. Was your medication prescribed by a psychiatrist or an internist? I have found that it does make a huge difference if you find the right doctor. I have been on Luvox (fluvoxamine) and now have switched to Zoloft for family planning reasons. I can tell you that these drugs work great for me. I have relief from all of the "broken record" symptoms. Also the dose for OCD is generally much lower than for depression, so you might have fewer side effects.
cutestkitty1 responded:
My daughter had the same thing but with smells, if she smelt chili for example, she would smell chili for days, at home, at school, stores.... her Dr. put her on 10mg of Lexapro, she doesn't get smells stuck in her head any more.
She also has OCD with color organization, it's helped that 'some' what, but I still see a little mild OCD with that yet.
The Dr. that I see told me OCD is common with anxiety, I get more OCD like when my anxiety is high, I think I do it to distract myself from the physical symptoms, if I'm sitting in the living room & notice a picture isn't straight I get fixated on it, & I clean constantly. When my anxiety is low, I couldn't care less if ALL the pictures aren't straight.
Both my daughter have had troubles with horrible anxiety for years now. My other 3 kids are fine. I don't know why her & me.
The Dr. that I see told me OCD is common with anxiety, I get more OCD like when my anxiety is high, I think I do it to distract myself from the physical symptoms, if I'm sitting in the living room & notice a picture isn't straight I get fixated on it, & I clean constantly. When my anxiety is low, I couldn't care less if ALL the pictures aren't straight.
Both my daughter have had troubles with horrible anxiety for years now. My other 3 kids are fine. I don't know why her & me.
Report This| Share this:OCD and music in my headMy daughter had the same thing but with smells, if she smelt chili for example, she would smell chili for days, at home, at school, stores.... her Dr. put her on 10mg of Lexapro, she doesn't get smells stuck in her head any more.
She also has OCD with color organization, it's helped that 'some' what, but I still see a little mild OCD with that yet. <br><br>The Dr. that I see told me OCD is common with anxiety, I get more OCD like when my anxiety is high, I think I do it to distract myself from the physical symptoms, if I'm sitting in the living room & notice a picture isn't straight I get fixated on it, & I clean constantly. When my anxiety is low, I couldn't care less if ALL the pictures aren't straight. <br><br>Both my daughter have had troubles with horrible anxiety for years now. My other 3 kids are fine. I don't know why her & me.
MultiTasker responded:
Thank you for posting this.
This also bothers me and I don't know how to get rid of it. It might be one or two lines from a song.
Sometimes I listen to see if the words are somehow relevant to something going on, but it just seems like an unwanted distraction. And it can be a distraction from things I don't even want to be distracted from.
It isn't fun but the the other day it was funny. I do no drink beer, nor do I believe in heaven. But for some odd reason, the lines to the silly song were replaying in my head. "In heaven there is no beer, that's why we drink it here." It came out of nowhere and stuck around.
Sometimes I do try to think about the song's meaning or what the song means to me or how that song connects to my life, to see if there is some relevance to why it's there. Sometimes I can make a connection. Other times I can't.
I will be curious to see what others have to say and I hope you find relief here.
This also bothers me and I don't know how to get rid of it. It might be one or two lines from a song.
Sometimes I listen to see if the words are somehow relevant to something going on, but it just seems like an unwanted distraction. And it can be a distraction from things I don't even want to be distracted from.
It isn't fun but the the other day it was funny. I do no drink beer, nor do I believe in heaven. But for some odd reason, the lines to the silly song were replaying in my head. "In heaven there is no beer, that's why we drink it here." It came out of nowhere and stuck around.
Sometimes I do try to think about the song's meaning or what the song means to me or how that song connects to my life, to see if there is some relevance to why it's there. Sometimes I can make a connection. Other times I can't.
I will be curious to see what others have to say and I hope you find relief here.
Report This| Share this:OCD and music in my headThank you for posting this. <br><br>This also bothers me and I don't know how to get rid of it. It might be one or two lines from a song. <br><br>Sometimes I listen to see if the words are somehow relevant to something going on, but it just seems like an unwanted distraction. And it can be a distraction from things I don't even want to be distracted from. <br><br>It isn't fun but the the other day it was funny. I do no drink beer, nor do I believe in heaven. But for some odd reason, the lines to the silly song were replaying in my head. "In heaven there is no beer, that's why we drink it here." It came out of nowhere and stuck around. <br><br>Sometimes I do try to think about the song's meaning or what the song means to me or how that song connects to my life, to see if there is some relevance to why it's there. Sometimes I can make a connection. Other times I can't. <br><br>I will be curious to see what others have to say and I hope you find relief here.
Monkey721 responded:
Oh, yeah, Luvox was also one of the meds I was on. The meds were prescribed by a psychiatrist. I went off of them because they weren't working and because my husband and I wanted to try for another baby (who is now 2 
). I really don't have faith in medication right now, which is why I don't want to go on any. Plus, I have rheumatoid arthritis and I am on several meds for that right now, so I don't want to be taking 10 pills a day!!
). I really don't have faith in medication right now, which is why I don't want to go on any. Plus, I have rheumatoid arthritis and I am on several meds for that right now, so I don't want to be taking 10 pills a day!!Report This| Share this:OCD and music in my headOh, yeah, Luvox was also one of the meds I was on. The meds were prescribed by a psychiatrist. I went off of them because they weren't working and because my husband and I wanted to try for another baby (who is now 2 <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/smile.gif" align="top" border="0"> ). I really don't have faith in medication right now, which is why I don't want to go on any. Plus, I have rheumatoid arthritis and I am on several meds for that right now, so I don't want to be taking 10 pills a day!!
Claire89 responded:
Wow that sounds so tormenting. I don't know how to stop that. I think it is very good news that your checking was treated by psychotherapy and the symptoms are gone. Doesn't that give you some idea that perhaps the music-in-the-head might also be treated by therapy - the same therapist you saw before? Why not go back to that person and get help. It might be that you will find that the rest of your life will be plagued by these behaviors and you'll have to go for therapy now and again to stop them. Make use of that good resource.
- Claire
- Claire
Report This| Share this:OCD and music in my headWow that sounds so tormenting. I don't know how to stop that. I think it is very good news that your checking was treated by psychotherapy and the symptoms are gone. Doesn't that give you some idea that perhaps the music-in-the-head might also be treated by therapy - the same therapist you saw before? Why not go back to that person and get help. It might be that you will find that the rest of your life will be plagued by these behaviors and you'll have to go for therapy now and again to stop them. Make use of that good resource. <br><br>- Claire
Monkey721 responded:
I would love to go back to the therapist I was seeing but she no longer works at the agency I went to. I tried seeing another therapist but we just didn't click and I didn't feel comfortable with her.
Report This| Share this:OCD and music in my headI would love to go back to the therapist I was seeing but she no longer works at the agency I went to. I tried seeing another therapist but we just didn't click and I didn't feel comfortable with her.
Claire89 responded:
So what is keeping you from seeing your good therapist where she is now? You can do that.
- Claire
- Claire
Report This| Share this:OCD and music in my headSo what is keeping you from seeing your good therapist where she is now? You can do that. <br><br>- Claire
Monkey721 responded:
She doesn't work at an agency to do therapy anymore. I'm not exactly what she does now, but I think it has something to do with children and substance abuse.
Report This| Share this:OCD and music in my headShe doesn't work at an agency to do therapy anymore. I'm not exactly what she does now, but I think it has something to do with children and substance abuse.
Claire89 responded:
The reason I brought up finding her is that people can work for an agency doing psychotherapy and then decide that they would rather have a private practice doing psychotherapy. So if you liked working with her, I would find her, call her and see if she could work with you. The success of therapy depends a great deal on the good rapport between patient and therapist.
- Claire
- Claire
Report This| Share this:OCD and music in my headThe reason I brought up finding her is that people can work for an agency doing psychotherapy and then decide that they would rather have a private practice doing psychotherapy. So if you liked working with her, I would find her, call her and see if she could work with you. The success of therapy depends a great deal on the good rapport between patient and therapist. <br><br>- Claire
Featuring Experts
Reid Wilson, PhD is an international expert in the treatment of anxiety disorders, with books translated into nine languages. He is author of Don...More
Helpful Tips
Dr. Farrell's WebMD TV videos
Dr. Farrell has a series of 12 videos that cover everything from your need for sleep, inheriting anxiety disorders, positive self-talk and ... More
Was this Helpful?
67
of
83 found this helpful
Helpful Resources
Related News
Related Drug Reviews
- Drug Name User Reviews
Report Problems to the
Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Other Anxiety & Panic Disorders Information
More Related Communities
The opinions expressed in WebMD User-generated content areas like communities, reviews, ratings, or blogs are solely those of the User, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. User-generated content areas are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. Some of these opinions may contain information about treatments or uses of drug products that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment.
Do not consider WebMD User-generated content as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your care plan or treatment. WebMD understands that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource, but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
About WebMD Advertise With Us Terms of Use Privacy Policy Sponsor Policy Site Map Careers Contact Us
First Aid WebMD Magazine WebMD Health Record WebMD Mobile Newsletters Dictionary Physician Directory
©2005-2013 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.