Music - does anyone else *avoid* it?
 

Does anyone else on these boards avoid listening to music? Do you avoid it all the time or just occasionally? Are there types of music you are able to listen to more than others? What instruments (including voice) do you like or avoid?

I ask this because I have gradually stopped listening to any and all music. I had musical training, sang and played in groups, and used to love being awash in a musical environment.

I am wondering if anyone else here with epilepsy has a similar aversion.

*Very* seldom I have gotten a craving for music (really, it is like a craving!) which has included Renaissance choral music, techno, and harmonic overtones singing. Once the craving subsides, then I must have my silence back.

Hi Oraina,
What you are describing is also known as an audio sz. where different sounds can trigger sz. Just like you I love music and I enjoy listening to it but it's never triggered sz. for me. If certain sounds like music are triggering sz. for you this tells me that the RTL (right temporal lobe) of you brain may be causing the sz. because it's the RTL that controls a persons music and emotions. When you see your neuro you might want to have them check your RTL to see if that's the area where the sz. are starting. I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue

Thanks again Sue! You're great at replying.

I wouldn't say music causes me to have seizures; it does cause me general discomfort so I avoid it. Your comment about the right temporal lobe as the seat of both emotions and music is quite interesting though. I certainly have a mood disorder besides the epilepsy, so that whole connection fits quite well.

Thanks again Sue! You're great at replying.

Your comment about the right temporal lobe as the seat of both emotions and music is quite interesting. I certainly have a mood disorder as well as the epilepsy, so that whole connection fits quite well.

Note: A web search turned up an interesting and appropriate article, "Sigmund Freud's Dislike of Music: A Study in Epileptology."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...00053-0057.pdf

Hi Oriana,
Thanks for sharing the web page I greatly appreciate it. Correct me if I'm wrong but I have a feeling that you may like to write or possibly read poetry or short stories. I found out through my Epileptologist that people who like music and have Right temporal lobe epilepsy enjoy music as well as reading and writing poems and short stories. I enjoy both and I got into writing poetry when I was about 12 yrs. old. A few yrs. ago I found out that Elton John, Beethoven and Bach all have or had epilepsy sometime in their life. I find this very interesting since I love music and love to write. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

My Friend
 

My friend I hate to do it but our friendship just can't last, the times we've shared together have faded to the past. I told you it would happen our friendship was bound to end, although I know you care I don't consider you a friend.
Please don't try to argue but try and understand that time can change two
people as the tide changes the sand. Yes, our friendship has been lovely but you see it had to end. For I look at you in a different way, I've fallen in love with you...
My Friend


I wrote this back in 1978 when I was in 9th grade. I have a bundle of poems. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue P.S. That's the RTL at work!

Sue, that's extremely mature and expressive language for a 12 year old. You have a gift. *smile* Beyond that, I admire your positive spirit here.

I did truly love reading, writing, music, painting - in fact, all the expressive arts. I used to write poetry and made the coffee house circuit giving poetry readings back in the day. By now, bad brain chemistry has diminished or destroyed most of those pleasures, except for writing, and, on occasion, reading. I cringe at most music nowadays.

I have yet to discover from my neurologist where my epilepsy resides, i.e. which lobe and which section. So far, no professional has caught and recorded any seizure activity. Although I realize now that I've had seizures for years, those were infrequent and over time I came to think of them as normal. It's only since November 2009 that they escalated to blackouts and turned frequent and alarming.

I understand that many famous, creative individuals have had brain damage of one type or another, including Albert Einstein. It's fascinating to learn from you that Elton John, Bach and Beethoven belong in that category.

Oriana-
I too avoid certain types of music because for me not only does it cause discomfort (physically) but after surgery it now causes my cp's. The music I have found to be the most irritating seems to be high pitched, squealing, guitars, etc. I listen to a lot of heavy metal, pop, hip hop and even classical. For me almost all have musical ranges that can induces seizures if in the right range and volume category.
I have a profound love for music and still listen to it daily, I just find myself monitoring it closely and when it gets to a problematic area, I simply turn the volume way down till its over.
Unfortunately I can no longer attend concerts or night clubs both for the music and the lighting.

I've been avoiding music to a degree for some time now. I had hyperacusis starting when I was eight till a few months ago(i'm 16 now), and when I finally started to get rid of it, I started getting symptoms for musicogenic epilepsy >.<

Unfortunately many of my favorite songs are the ones to trigger my seizures, but I don't avoid music at large. I just try to avoid the ones that triggers my seizures, unless I feel like having one. I'm kind of scared of my sz's, but that doesn'tmean they're unpleasant, so when I need a stress reliever, thet's what I turn to. It is literally like a drug; I never tried it, but I'm fairly sure it's what getting high feels like. Unfortunately, there's also the abstinence... If I get a seizure, I almost lose my grip of reality some time after unless I get my daily dose of epileptic attacks. But, no. I don't avoid it. I listen to music all the time. Just... not the kind that gives me seizures xD

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