Hearing a repetitive sound in your head? And it’s on purpose.

[Melanie717]

It’s not just randomly happening, my mind knows it will bother me. So it purposely and intentionally makes me hear it.
Could be a part of a song, a commercial clip, a doorbell, anything.
And as long as I don’t want it to be there, it will keep coming back.
Sadly, the only time it starts to go away is when I grow bored with it.
Why would a mind do this in the first place?
(I know it’s in the OCD group) but still.
Total annoyance. Like a game.

 

[Shree]

If a repetitive sound in your head is linked to a mental condition, it could indicate auditory hallucinations (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder), OCD (intrusive musical thoughts), or tinnitus-related anxiety. A mental health professional can help differentiate between benign and clinical causes, offering coping strategies or treatment if needed.

 

[Melanie717]

If a repetitive sound in your head is linked to a mental condition, it could indicate auditory hallucinations (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder), OCD (intrusive musical thoughts), or tinnitus-related anxiety. A mental health professional can help differentiate between benign and clinical causes, offering coping strategies or treatment if needed.

Oh it’s OCD for sure, because it’s intrusive and my mind uses it to annoy me.
Now, if this were happening all by itself, yes, hallucinations. But it’s more of a repetitive thing.
I experience hypnagogic hallucinations which are benign, right before falling asleep. I expect these, and they don’t bother me much because I know it’s just the mind trying to shut down. Happens to 30% of the population. Thank goodness

 

[Ravenfreak]

My brain does this from time to time too and it drives me insane. If I'm listening to music it helps, have you tried doing this? Or does it make the repetitive song just overlap with the music?

 

[Melanie717]

My brain does this from time to time too and it drives me insane. If I'm listening to music it helps, have you tried doing this? Or does it make the repetitive song just overlap with the music?

Both. But can also serve as a distraction.
The songs can be random, so sometimes another song can “distract” me from the ones replaying.
The worst is a single image, repetitive word, sound, and as long as it bothers me, it sticks around. If I find it boring, it goes away. So stupid!

 

[Deep]

It’s not just randomly happening, my mind knows it will bother me. So it purposely and intentionally makes me hear it.
Could be a part of a song, a commercial clip, a doorbell, anything.
And as long as I don’t want it to be there, it will keep coming back.
Sadly, the only time it starts to go away is when I grow bored with it.
Why would a mind do this in the first place?
(I know it’s in the OCD group) but still.
Total annoyance. Like a game.

Have you found any techniques that help reduce these intrusive sounds, or does distraction work best for you?

 

[Melanie717]

Have you found any techniques that help reduce these intrusive sounds, or does distraction work best for you?

Just allowing them to be there, acknowledging that everyone gets these from time to time, and the only thing bringing importance to them, is me.

 

[Heatman]

Personally, I don't have any problem with it as long as it's not a sound that's too sharp that I'm constantly having to deal with it. If it's a song I love, that's even better.

 

[Kitty]

I can imagine how frustrating it is to deal with those constant thoughts. Our minds can be tough to handle, especially when it comes to OCD. It’s really annoying when things we don’t want keep coming back. Finding ways to cope or distract yourself could help a lot.