Hear music in my head...

[chimyers]

I have had insomnia for a couple years now and have tried a ton of different things with that. I was on ambien and trazadone for a while, but started to develop a dependence and was feeling more tired even though I was sleeping. Before that I exhausted all of the sleep hygiene and over the counter and herbal remedies. The problem is occasionally sleep onset but always with sleep maintenance. I had a sleep study that didn't show apnea but did show RERA's which indicate upper airway resistance. I've seen an Ear/nose/throat and an allergist and both noticed I had very swollen turbinates. I've tried antihistamines with topical nose sprays and those helped a little with the sleeping but it is still an ongoing struggle. Anyways, that is just background for my question.

Occasionally when I am trying to fall asleep I hear music in my head. Not a distinct tune or song that I know or have heard, mostly muffled sounds like bass and guitar or a band like drums and trumpets.  Basically, it just sounds like the people upstairs are playing music a little louder than I would like when trying to sleep. This only happens if I have one ear on the pillow. If I try to ignore it it gets louder. If I pick my head up off the pillow it goes away and I only hear silence. Some nights when I am sleeping really poorly I will wake up with tinnitus, really loud ringing in my ear, but this is very rare (however I don't know if the two may be related.) Does anyone know what could be causing this?  I haven't mentioned this to my doctor yet because it had seemingly gone away but I have been experiencing it again lately.

[JRM5268]

I know your post is quite old but I'm in amazement that someone else is experiencing the same thing.  Not just the same thing, but the exact same thing.  I don't hear music in the morning or throughout the day.  Just at night...  Still trying to get an answer.  I don't mind it.  I joke with my husband about it.  But I would just like it explained.  Thank you for making me feel a little less crazy.  

[DeeQuigs]

My husband has the same since years, he even sits up in bed and says someone is playing music , or did we leave the radio on? . I say jokingly its those voices in your head.  He has been diagnosed with tinnitus.

[Dr Rajput]

Hi, welcome to the forum, if one perceives something which is not there it is known as hallucination. You are hearing music which is not actually present and it suggests of auditory hallucination. But the presence of such symptoms in the night time is bit unusual.

This may be psychiatric abnormality. Also another possibility is continuous ringing in your ear known as tinnitus due to ear problems. The possibilities for tinnitus are Vascular disorders including Arterial bruits, Arteriovenous shunts, Paraganglioma, Neurologic disorders, Eustachian tube dysfunction, Otosclerosis and Vestibular schwannoma.

You need to undergo complete ear examination supported by brain MRI to rule out any organic lesions. If ENT evaluation result comes normal then have a psychiatric consultation too. Listen to relaxation music and meditation will help. Take care and regards.

[Sillygurl21]

I hope you two get to see and read this post and anyone else that has experienced this. I have had this through out my life and kept it to myself fearing that I was crazy or would be considered crazy. I finally told my Fiance a couple of years ago and he suggested I mention it to a doctor and told me I was not crazy. He then referred to me as Radio Gurl as an inside joke. Secretly I still feared I was crazy and refused to mention it to a doctor. About two years ago I started having a lot of trouble sleeping and went for a sleep study. The results came back as not sleep apnea, but they wanted a day time study, because somethings raised a concern. The doctor also asked if I ever experienced some stuff, but used medical terms so I was clueless. Any way, one thing that they asked about was hypnagogic hallucinations, which I quickly denied. I assumed hallucinations equaled crazy. I later learned a hypnagogic hallucinations is an auditory hallucination prior to following asleep and is a symptom of narcolepsy and hypersomnia, I was finally diagnosed with hypersomnia.  Basically you begin dreaming before you are fully asleep. So my suggestion would be to get a sleep study done also. As this is far from abnormal for suffers of these sleep disorders.

[pusicmroducer]

I make music.  Send me a message if you hear music in your head- I might be able to make something out of it and possibly offer pay if I get it to the right artists/show.  Maybe this will help to "release" it and turn it into smoe beautiful.

[Imaginethat22]

I have the same problem almost exactly, but it's more likely to happen if I'm laying on my right ear to the pillow...then an odd rt. sided headache (or fullness) then music.  I know it's not there but it took a lot of convincing myself!

          http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/359
          
          http://priory.com/halluc.htm          ...please read sect. 3

[khert]

I had the exact same thing happen. I'm in the Navy and when I was on deployment when I put my ear (usually it happened on the left ear) to my pillow I heard music and thought it was someone in the next room or something, but when I picked my head up the music stopped. It happened quite a bit on deployment.
When I was a kid I had an incident happen (actually it happened twice). I was lying down to go to sleep and all of a sudden I heard everyone's voice that I knew (and I mean everyone) all talking at once saying things they would say. It was their voices too not mine just saying what they would say. pretty strange

[smhrn98]

I too use to hear music in my head when I would lay down at night. I was started on Topamax for headaches and the music stopped.

[Mqq]

You're hearing your own
Heartbeat. I've heard it too, try not compressing your ear onto the pillow

[tsue071989]

I have the exact same problem. Its only at night when my ears compressed to the pillow. I thought it was my neighbors and found out it wasn't. Its not an actual song but just a beat. I started having this problem a couple months ago and I also use to take topamax for migrains but had stopped bc it was no longer helping. Could that be the reason I'm hearing it?

I've never been able to sleep well whether I get 6hr or 11hrs at night, I'm always tired. The first thing I think when I wake up is "I can't wait to get home and take a nap". I feel like its puting a huge strain on life. I have a 3yr old and I just can't keep up bc I'm always tired. What can I do?

[BareBear]

i have the damnedest, weird repetitive and rhythmical stacatto-like sensations in my tired, old brain, mostly when I read, but always present - or nearly so.
Many things wrong with this abused 69 year old body: totally deaf in left ear and becoming so in right due to Meniere's Syndrome of nearly 30 year's duration; peripheral neuropathy in feet, due to excessive consumption of alcohol for 47 years; severe and constant pain due to rheumatoid arthritis, L2-L4 - or thereabouts; erectile dysfunction since 1999; tics in both feet (toe-wiggling) probably due to neuropathy, and now in synch with the stacatto-like sensations (musically-rhythmical) in my addled brain. Other than FUBAR, any idea what I have - or what I have and am not aware of having?

[wasclywabbit]

I think for the people at least that hear something when their ears are to the pillow - that should be the first clue - ignoring that part of it is like a whole nother problem - ne ways perhaps your ears like a stethoscope are picking up things - sometimes mechanics use screwdrivers (like the 3 foot ones) and put it up to an engine and the handle part to the ear to hear inside the engine - have you also noticed that when you squint into the light you see little microbes or something - ne ways it would be good to know for sure right - so start putting your ears to different materials and the ground and etc (it is the process of elimination) - it might be something not to get rid of although who knows

[adamalexander]

I experience the same thing!! I'm a musician, and alot of my best songs come to me at this time. when i can't sleep, and i hear the music, i take up my recorder or pull my guitar (i always have these handy just in case) and i would either play the music, or humm the tune into my recorder. I think it's a musical gift but ofc sleep is important as well.

[joan196907]

thank god i'm not the only one with this prob...I'm usually up at 11-2am ....urgh.....

[Nikull]

I also hear music at night, though it's a lyric-less, rock type beat. I do not need to be lying down in bed to hear it, although that's when it usually happens. Sometimes I am sitting up in bed or walking around the room, and I hear it. Once, I heard a loud chorus of people singing (no lyrics) to a violin so loudly that I could barely hear my roommate, and I was walking around my room, folding clothes and such before bedtime.

It's very strange, isn't it?
However, I do listen to music constantly. My ipod heaphons are in my ears roughly 8 of the 12 hours that I'm awake. Perhaps it's having an effect on my brain? I only hear this music (no headphones, ipod turned off) about 2-3 times a year, though... Also, I don't have a sleep disorder.

[whomenotme1952]

i hear music in my head. I call it the transistor radio in m head, and it changes stations randomly. Its mostly 60's music, when i experimented with lsd. It doesnt bother me, but i feel like i am never really alone with the music to comfort me.The problem is the same tune will repeat over and over  with occasional interruptions of other tunes. i am currently taking  wellbutrin which seems to have no affect on the music. I fear as i get older it may cause problems. I dont think their is any history of mental disorders in my family. I was diganosed as being schzoid, but i dont think this has any bearing on the problem

[Nodoze]

I first experienced hearing music, actually a song I heard on the radio 16 years ago and it was related to stress and anxiety. Whenever I heard music while trying to sleep it was usually a hyper arousal reaction because I have had sleep based anxiety for years and usually require something such as klonopin to help me sleep. I am almost sure the medication is a placebo effect for me that provides comfort of not "having to get to sleep on my own" Anyway, I know how annoying the music can be and I wish you luck in finding resolve.

[needhelp134]

so what are you doing about it should i go see a doctor this thing has i think always been there its just getting worst iam getting older now 46 i am getting scared  i dont want to lose my job or family i used pain kilers for a wile  but i am now kleen just on suboxone to get better dont know if thay is doing it to me just need to know how to stop this or get a better hold on this thing any info would help mine is just like yours hearing the same song over and over agian and its just one part of the song  

[CoolCarl1492]

When I am sleeping at night I will sometimes have a song playing thru my head also. It's like there is a rock station in my mind that plays music while I am asleep, but often it is the same song over and over - usually a song that I heard earlier in the day or recently. I wish my mind could just be quiet and inactive while I am sleeping. Has anyone heard actual songs while sleeping ( in their mind ? ) or am I the only human on earth with this going on ? :)

[thierry1]

Dear All, it just started to me as well. I hear music when I go to sleep, I am a bit afraid, but I want to know the answer. If anyone of You has the answer yet or started to use this ability please write me a few words. Thanks, Susana

[Kimmie721]

Wow!  Like everyone else on here, I'm glad I'm not the only one :)  I remember once, when I was younger, asking someone to put their ear to my ear to see if they could hear it too. I usually notice it only at night when I am trying to sleep, but think that may be because It's the only time it's really actually quiet (no tv, radio, people etc).  Like the original post and many since, what I hear is a faint song that doesn't seem to change.  Not quite loud enough to make out what it is, but loud enough to tell the style/genre, which seems to be random.  It doesn't happen often, seems to come and go at irregular intervals (ie several nights in a row, then not for a long time) It is very much as though a neighbor is playing music a little loud, but (again) as most of you described, when I lift my head it's usually gone.  Recently I heard the music while reading and listening to the hum of the air purifier.  Which throws the ear compression theory out the window (at least for me).  I even opened the door to check (convinced it had to be outside my head) but the night air was completely silent, and when I sat back down it resumed.  It often sounds rock-ish guitar, bass, drums, vocals too quiet to understand the words.  But have had it sound jazz, brass and even choir.  
I have spent a great deal of time around music, sung in bands, choirs, and written music.  Funny thing is the music "in my head" when I write is completely different, i hear that in my normal internal voice, and this really sounds external to me.  

[Sillycat01]

I also have similar experiences.  I live a normal life.  I do use ear plugs at night due to my husbands snoring.  I hear instruments, not necessarily a song I know,  more like violins,  trumpets, pianos, very faint. So I take the earplugs out to see if I hear still, and I do, just not as loud.  It is all in my head.  Thinking to myself maybe one of my fillings in my mouth can pick up radio waives.  Thought I was going looney.  This has gone on for years.  I do take Ambien to help me sleep, once asleep I guess it's gone.  I have asked my husband if he hears music, he says no  Just weird.

[specialmom]

I don't think fillings pick up radio waves.  What about adding white noise to your sleeping environment like a fan?

[bustinguppeople]

ALL MY LIFE I HAVE BEEN "HEARING MUSIC" I HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH BI POLAR WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF SCHIZO..YOU KNOW I HAVE HALLUCINATIONS AND WOULD HEAR A LOT OF "TALKING" OR "MUSIC"  MY MUSIC WAS USUALLY A RADIO STATION YOU KNOW IN THE MORNING IT WOULD BE A MALE AND FEMALE AND THEY WERE SO HAPPY COULDNT REALLY MAKE OUT WHAT THEY WERE SAYIN AND THE MUSIC WOULD BE A COMBO OF 2 DIFFER SONGS PLAYIN AT THE SAME TIME AND I COULD ALMOST MAKE OUT ONE OF THE SONGS BUT NEVER HAVE.  I HAVE BEEN ON ALOT OF MEDS OVER THE YRS AND THE VOICES AND MUSIC HAVE STOPPED WITH THE PROZAC BUT I HAVE JUST STARTED TAKING TOPAMAX AND SURPIZED AT HOW MANY I HAVE READ ARE TAKING IT ASWELL.. I DONT KNOW IF ANYONE SUFFERS FROM WHAT I DO BUT IN RECENT YRS I HAVE BEEN ON GEODON (ANTI PYCHOTIC) STOPPED THE MUSIC AND VISIONS BUT DOES SLOW HEARTRATE PROZAC TRAZADONE TO SLEEP (CANT SHUT MY BRAIN DOWN) AND ALSO VERY TENSE ALL THE TIME SO I HAVE MUSCLE SPASMS SO OF COURSE VALIUM IN SMALL DOSES AND NOW I AM ON TOPAMAX WHICH I WAS ALSO T0LD THAT SOMETIMES USED TO HELP WITH  WEIGHTLOSS BEING ON DRUGS LIKE SERAQUEL AND SOME OTHERS I HAVE GAINED A LOT OF WEIGHT AND CAN' T SEEM TO LOSE IT  THE TOPAMAX HASNT REALLY HELPED BUT  BEING OF THE GEODON AND ON THE TOPAMAX I DO NOT HEAR OR SEE THINGS STILL MAYBE THE DOCS ARE RIGHT ON THAT ONE

[Orrita]

I hear radio news when I just wake up. ( no all the time) and yesterday I heared music when I was trying to sleep. Both cases when there is a back out noice like the bathroom fan or the noice  my hubby's snoring matching does at night.

[rt737]

This happened to me this morning.  With my right side down on the pillow, I heard an actual local radio station playing and I could make out every word the dj was saying as the station actually changed songs.  It was a local rock station. As soon as a lifted my head, it went away. But came back as I started to fall back asleep. Also a couple weeks ago as I was falling asleep, I kept hearing like a crowd of people talking all at the same time just like another person on here said. It sounded like about 10 people were outside carrying on, laughing and talking.  I am on ambien and elavil for my migraines but they are both a small dose.  Next time it happens I want to turn on the radio just to see if that song is playing. It's so weird.

[ddss]

I find its beautiful sensation to have this music playing before i doze off at night. I can't see images clearly in my memory or dreams but my brain can reproduce complex classical music and play it back to me while i'm fully conscious and sleepy. The music sounds as real as if i was listening to it being played. At first I thought that i was somehow composing the music subconsciously until one day i heard the radio announcer start talking at the end of the song. haha. my mind was just on playback. It does give credence to the idea that the brain remembers everything it has ever heard, its just the recall thats the problem. I was amazed at the complexity of the music. I could never hope to remember all the sounds if i was to write it down. I don't agree that we need to see a doctor if we hear music. Its a blessing and a real surprise when it happens. Unless you "see dead people or something" enjoy it!

[redranger444]

I've been hearing this same thing for 7yrs. ,since May 2 or 3,2006.....I was 46yrs. old and am now 53...I consider myself a normal person....My Father was a High School Teacher and My Mother was a Registered Nurse,so I grew up in a middle class lifestyle....It started out that I was talking on 11 meter band of radio to a contact that I believe was in Australia, it was on propagation ,so,his signal came and gone,in and out on radio......I turned the radio off and the person   was still talking to Me,better than on the radio(I'm thinking satellite,now)?He say's,"I can read what Your thinking". I'm thinking you got to be shittin' Me?So, It was like saturday morning,I was hungry I walk in to a burrito stand and buy SOMETHING? I come outside and ask this person(male) "What did I buy"?He say's ,"Breakfast Burrito". I say to Myself,"He must be hacked into the cash register,I used a credit card"......It must be NSA.....I've been researching this for 7yrs. ,right? This guy is kind of a smart *** atitude, that I'm reading.....I find out his name....It's James Thayer..... I look it up on the computer .....He wrote a Thesis on "Quantum Immortality".....I started reading it.....it was good!....I've found a lot of things related to what I'm hearing......"They" have found out how good My abilities are and "they" are not going to leave Me alone, now.....I have to get a camera so My wife can record this sound that comes from My head, sometimes its music she say's, sometime like last night she said it sounded like what a UFO would sound like? Its a longer story.....