I haven't had that problem. I have changed what I listen to because the music I like is overwhelming (Screamo and punk-pop) so now I've taken to Country and Blues, though I still occassionally listen to my fave bands. I listen to this music all day and it plays while I sleep so I really haven't had any issues with it--it acually helps me to block out all the people and noises around me.
I could see how it would be overwhelming though! My doctor actually advised me against it but music is a bit of a self-therapy for me so I couldn't do it.

Holly,

I do understand what your talking about. I love music and...sounds like we listen to some of the same bands :-)

Like MichiMonster, I was also advised not to listen to music. Funny because I did play the piano at the hospital more than once.

When I questioned my doc about that he told me it may overwhelm me.

Well...I went home and cranked the music to find out for myself. As long as I'm just listening to music and doing nothing else I was fine even in the beginning. If I added 1 thing...it was a bit more than I could handle.

I have found I can adjust by the volume if it bothers me or not. The lower volume the more I can do. I know the old saying...if it's too loud...you must be getting old. TBI made me old!

Perhaps you just need to fine tune the workout, walk home and volume. After a good workout perhaps you need a little more relaxing music and perhaps it's a simple volume lowering that will take care of this for you.

Music soothes the soul...

Yes, as sporty says, doing something "with" the music seems to trigger it for me as well. If i just close my eyes and become 'one' with the music, then it's a very different experience. I also learned a few things on a friends piano, and when i 'felt' the music coming from me, it changed it completely. I was no longer hyper self conscious. in fact, i just began playing the same piece over and over and in every different way i could imagine. Her son came in (who is an accomplished player) and commented on the musicality of my playing. Music bypasses the brain in many ways. "feeling" it with your body seems to have a very soothing effect.

I love listening to music but I consider this an 'activity' and it will fatigue me. That would be in itself a morning activity for me and I probably wouldn't be able to do much in the afternoon as a consequence. A bit like, when I'm doing crochet - I love it and feel relaxed but then my brain crashes and I can't remember how to hold the needle - that means it's time to stop.

Hi holly, It seems for me my eyes and therefore my brain can only handle one task at a time or I get big time fatigue, although I have soft music on now, I'm reclining as I type so if I am at rest soft music is ok without words. If I was processing words to a song and exercising, that for me would be multi-tasking and would be overstimulation. Do you think it might be both exercise and music with words that your brain is trying to get used to? I hope you can find a good balance that isn't so overloading!! Hugs

Thank you all for your comments. I don't have trouble listening to music while I'm doing things at home; in fact I have to have something playing while I organize things or clean .

One other thing I realized after posting is the fact I have hyper aucusis- really sensitive hearing. Mark says I can hear someone on the other side of the island sneeze. This may play a part as I turn up my music to be louder than what's playing over the intercom at the gym.

cheesecake, I found your idea about multi tasking - exercise while trying to pay attention to the words of the music interesting. I do pay attention to what's playing so I can say 'By the time Billy Joel sings this song, I'm done with the treadmill".

Thanks again for your comments. It gives me something to think about - I appreciate them .