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Music and Epilepsy
Wed, 07/21/2010 - 13:27This may be an off the wall question, but does anyone with E. has strong emotional reactions (or seem to be VIVIDLY transported to the past) when listening music. It seems like some songs that I listen to (like songs I used to listen to a lot in my younger days) seem to have this VERY STRONG emotional affect on me and I instantly start feeling all the old emotions I used to have when I was younger listening to the same music. I have asked my non-E. friends and they think I am crazy... I know that music is therapeutic and all that stuff, however, why such strong emotional reactions?
Comments
Re: Music and Epilepsy
Submitted by mel239 on Thu, 2010-07-22 - 08:20
I have left TLE-dialeptic seizures,but music does the same thing.Some Christmas songs I start crying and other songs transport me to such a funny state.I actually told someone it felt like this was the last time I would ever hear this song and I knew that and was trying to grasp every tone and memory from it.I play song collections from years ago and they all do that to me,but its funny that newer songs on the radio dont.I too have shortterm memory issues and false memories.I swear I paid the cable bill but it got shut off yesterday and I dont know where the money is-LOL-cuz I dont have it!
Re: Music and Epilepsy
Submitted by Jk606 on Thu, 2010-07-22 - 10:02
That's exactly what I was trying to explain....I feel transported to a funny state its not really a memory but a different feeling comes over! New music doesn't do that to me either. I also sometimes have false memories and my meds make my short term memory even worse! I am a constant list and calender person, I have to write everything down so I don't forget. I hope your cable gets figured out, a while ago I forgot to pay my electric bill and they sent no notices and my electric was cut. I was in the hospital at the time (observation after a tonic clonic) and my poor roomate had to take care of getting the electric back on, I felt soo bad!
Re: Music and Epilepsy
Submitted by dbrownpilot on Wed, 2010-07-21 - 16:28
I think it's a very legitimate question. I have stronger emotions and memories in a lot of situations. I'm not a neurologist, so I can only geuss at the reasons. I have short term memory problems, so perhaps my long term memories exhibit more strenghth. I also think the stress of epilepsy creates strong emotional reactions to a lot of situations. I also wonder if the parts of my brain affected create a stronger response to music specifically. If you ask a neurologist they can give you a better scientific reason, but I can assure you personally that your experience is not unique. So enjoy the music and the memories!