Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group
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When the worst of my PTSD symptoms set in last year, I stopped listening to any type of music that set off my anxiety. I literally hit a point where I couldn't put on any type of trance, dance, 80s music, or anything with a bass-line, because my heart rate would spike, my anxiety would get our of control and I simply could not handle it. Since this discovery, I've been listening to music that would be considered easy listening.....
I like to have music on everyday and generally music motivates me. However, with this God awful PTSD I feel rundown and in a funk almost daily. Yesterday, I decided to move outside my comfort zone and put on music that was going to make me uncomfortable. I had read in "Conquering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" that I should condition myself. It's not like the music was going to kill me and the uncomfortableness should only last 10-15 minutes.
I picked an old "mix" CD of mine from 2009, hit play, and began to clean house. Immediately I felt that burst of energy I always feel when I listen to upbeat music. At first I felt fine but then my heart started raising, my breathing became labored, and before I let myself panic I told myself "breathe, this should only last 10 minutes - that's about three songs, you can do this."
I did it and it was wonderful. I don't know why I have an aversion to the music. I don't know if it's the beat or if it's because music was on when I had my accidents (all three of them in one year) but I literally cut myself off from any kind of upbeat music for nearly a year. I am amazed by the things we will avoid and not even realize that we are avoiding..... however minor or major.
I like to have music on everyday and generally music motivates me. However, with this God awful PTSD I feel rundown and in a funk almost daily. Yesterday, I decided to move outside my comfort zone and put on music that was going to make me uncomfortable. I had read in "Conquering Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" that I should condition myself. It's not like the music was going to kill me and the uncomfortableness should only last 10-15 minutes.
I picked an old "mix" CD of mine from 2009, hit play, and began to clean house. Immediately I felt that burst of energy I always feel when I listen to upbeat music. At first I felt fine but then my heart started raising, my breathing became labored, and before I let myself panic I told myself "breathe, this should only last 10 minutes - that's about three songs, you can do this."
I did it and it was wonderful. I don't know why I have an aversion to the music. I don't know if it's the beat or if it's because music was on when I had my accidents (all three of them in one year) but I literally cut myself off from any kind of upbeat music for nearly a year. I am amazed by the things we will avoid and not even realize that we are avoiding..... however minor or major.
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Lately I've been feeling scared and full of anxiety. I recently found a lump under my nipple. I hurt my back too. I'm in the process of moving. I'm run down. Everything is hard
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Just wanted to give a thank you to Mid, Arfie, Malibumark, Greeneyes, Mlro, Girlincalif, and Suncloudjd! You all always have such helpful tips and advice, but I always forget to write on my posts when I see you post, lol. I would lose my head if it wasn't attached to my body, lol. Thank you all so much! I'm starting to use my AI app as a sounding board again. I used to use it as that before...
Music can energize and can touch your soul on levels you have never dreamed of. My advice to anyone who feels intense emotions from their PTSD when listening to music would be to allow yourself to feel it and process it. As you process the feelings you heal on all levels.
Take care
On the other hand...
I have talked to quite a few folk who are also bothered by the contemporary rhythm section. One classically trained brass player I hung out with for a while put it to the effect of, "It drives someone else's heartbeat into my brain." What started out as the Rock 'n' Roll rhythm section in the 1950s (electric bass and now-standard rock drums) has fairly well taken over western contemporary music. Even the synthesizer sounds (rap, techno, etc) imitate it to a T.
But... I be rambling again. I am not real big on recorded music, but live music is my passion. Sure rooting for you to regain the full magic of it.
As Lucky says, allow yourself to feel the process.
Then I discovered sometimes I was humming a tune. If I checked out what tune it was, lo and behold, it was what I was feeling. It was as if God had given me a soundtrack to go with my emotions. If I named the soundtrack, I named the emotion.
So I'm revealing something that definitely makes me sound goofy. I know it sounds goofy even to need a trick to name my own feelings. But that's part of PTSD for me. So finding out that music can trigger feelings was one thing. But it was a gift to find out music can help me name my feelings, too, so I can begin to deal with them.
The power of music.
Min - When I was young my Dad gave me a collection called The Narada collection and I discovered David Lanz. He's an amazing Pianist..... he puts me at peace. The perfect music without words. :)