Is there a spiritual cure for unwanted inner dialog and endless songs playing in my head?

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Robert_Sock

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For the past few months I have had what seem to be nonstopable songs playing in my head that I consider intrusive. The inner dialog appears easier to get rid of than the songs.

Overall, though, I feel spirited. I spend much time in prayer.

Any ideas? Hearing inner songs that are beyond my control is remarkable if you really think about it.
 
Robert_Sock said:
For the past few months I have had what seem to be nonstopable songs playing in my head that I consider intrusive. The inner dialog appears easier to get rid of than the songs.

Overall, though, I feel spirited. I spend much time in prayer.

Any ideas? Hearing inner songs that are beyond my control is remarkable if you really think about it.
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Hi Robert -
No cure … just the down in the trenches, work-of-the-work of the spiritual life. When “movies are playing in our mind” the only solution is to “change the channel.” Over, and over and over … done with interior gentleness and never brute force.

For the theology on this, please spend some time with St. John of the Cross’ Ascent of Mount Carmel Book 3, Chapters 1-15. Some of the recent contemplative threads might also be helpful from the practical side of things. I’m thinking, in particular, of Michael Mayo’s thread on “Emptying the mind” and Mystical Seekers thread on “The Cloud of Unknowing.”

Brother Lawrence’s Practice of the Presence of God is ideal too. Read no more than one letter at a time lectio style. Meditate on it in small, measured doses. And start trying to put it into action. Soon, in time, I’m sure you’ll start to see it’s effects.

Hope this helps,
Dave 🙂
 
DBT said:
Hi Robert -
No cure … just the down in the trenches, work-of-the-work of the spiritual life. When “movies are playing in our mind” the only solution is to “change the channel.” Over, and over and over … done with interior gentleness and never brute force.

For the theology on this, please spend some time with St. John of the Cross’ Ascent of Mount Carmel Book 3, Chapters 1-15. Some of the recent contemplative threads might also be helpful from the practical side of things. I’m thinking, in particular, of Michael Mayo’s thread on “Emptying the mind” and Mystical Seekers thread on “The Cloud of Unknowing.”

Brother Lawrence’s Practice of the Presence of God is ideal too. Read no more than one letter at a time lectio style. Meditate on it in small, measured doses. And start trying to put it into action. Soon, in time, I’m sure you’ll start to see it’s effects.

Hope this helps,
Dave 🙂
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Yes, I have been following all the threads and they are very enlightening. It’s such a subtle, but important, battle.

Thanks!
 
I posted this link many times before on other threads with a focus similar to this one. The “Our Carmelite Promises” talks #7 and #8 specifically address the “movies in our mind” and how to change our interior monologue into an interior dialogue. Also addressed are the spiritual trials we sometimes endure trying to put these contemplative teachings into practice …

meditationsfromcarmel.com/content/formation-talks

Dave 🙂
 
Any ideas? Hearing inner songs that are beyond my control is remarkable if you really think about it.
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It depends on how willing you are to take action to change your environment.

Specifically, you have to take a few actions. First, you have to limit media intake. That means avoiding TV, radio, headphone music, even the Internet. Go cold turkey for a month.

Once you have limited your media intake, you have to replace this sensory deprivation with better alternatives, such as daily Mass and Gregorian chant. In about a month, you will wake up singing beautiful hymns to yourself versus secular music.

The whole key is two-fold: Reduce and eliminate your intake of electronic media, and increase your intake of better alternatives. The more drastic you take each action, the faster your results.
 
Pray to Mary and St Michael the Archangel for protection, and remember to focus *on God *in your prayer and meditation.
 
StGerardMajella said:
It depends on how willing you are to take action to change your environment.

Specifically, you have to take a few actions. First, you have to limit media intake. That means avoiding TV, radio, headphone music, even the Internet. Go cold turkey for a month.

Once you have limited your media intake, you have to replace this sensory deprivation with better alternatives, such as daily Mass and Gregorian chant. In about a month, you will wake up singing beautiful hymns to yourself versus secular music.

The whole key is two-fold: Reduce and eliminate your intake of electronic media, and increase your intake of better alternatives. The more drastic you take each action, the faster your results.
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I live in almost complete silence and solitude. I have plenty of religious music that I could listen to to drown out the inner ruckus, but I’m trying to do it in silence. Again, I love Contemplative Prayer and I believe I’m getting a lot out of it as is, but I think I can do better.
 
I second what dbt and stgerardmajella have both posted. Each Thursday I try to unplug as much as possible. Some days are better than others with that. Blessings to all.
 
DaddyGirl said:
Do you mean…songs that you recognize, as if a radio or CD is playing? With music and lyrics?
Or is it some unknown tune to you?
And is it the same song/s over and over or do they vary?.
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Usually that I know, but sometimes my mind improvises. I do have some control to change the song, so I’ll often listen to a religious song to have it play non-stop instead of secular music.
DaddyGirl said:
What do you mean by “inner dialogue”?.
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Talking to myself through my inner thoughts?
DaddyGirl said:
And this is 24 hours a day?.
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Sometimes my mind is perfectly clear, but not in the past few months, and I do not recall hearing anything while asleep.
DaddyGirl said:
I see the other poster suggests “spiritual” work…but…first things first; you should get your hearing checked by a doctor…
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I do have tinnitus which consists of ringing and humming noises.
 
DBT said:
I posted this link many times before on other threads with a focus similar to this one. The “Our Carmelite Promises” talks #7 and #8 specifically address the “movies in our mind” and how to change our interior monologue into an interior dialogue. Also addressed are the spiritual trials we sometimes endure trying to put these contemplative teachings into practice …

meditationsfromcarmel.com/content/formation-talks

Dave 🙂
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Thanks for the link. I have it bookmarked.
 
I know you asked for a spiritual cure but I can’t help but mention that when I get the incessant ear worms I start taking my tryptophane or 5 HTP nutritional supplement and it quiets the noise. Apparently, when my serotonin levels are low from stressful times and poor nutrition, my anxiety levels start creeping up, as does the repetitive jukebox in my head, and a regular dose of 5HTP helps calm things down and turn down " the radio".

I agree that it’s good to fast from media as much as possible but “ear worms”, no matter what the melody, can be quite repetitive and irritating, worse than tinnitus at times since the music replays for only four measures and then repeats again and again and again, especially when I’m trying to sleep or be still.

This antidote might not appeal to spiritual purists but I feed nutritional supplements to my dogs, cats, vegetables, and roses; why not me? It quiets my mind and improves my prayer life.
 
This can be caused by a number of things, some of them medical. Get it checked out.

If you’ve been having headaches, blurred vision or mood changes, get it checked out today.
 
Auntie_A said:
I know you asked for a spiritual cure but I can’t help but mention that when I get the incessant ear worms I start taking my tryptophane or 5 HTP nutritional supplement and it quiets the noise. Apparently, when my serotonin levels are low from stressful times and poor nutrition, my anxiety levels start creeping up, as does the repetitive jukebox in my head, and a regular dose of 5HTP helps calm things down and turn down " the radio".

I agree that it’s good to fast from media as much as possible but “ear worms”, no matter what the melody, can be quite repetitive and irritating, worse than tinnitus at times since the music replays for only four measures and then repeats again and again and again, especially when I’m trying to sleep or be still.

This antidote might not appeal to spiritual purists but I feed nutritional supplements to my dogs, cats, vegetables, and roses; why not me? It quiets my mind and improves my prayer life.
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Thanks for that advice!
 
I mentioned before that I have Tinnitus involving humming and a ringing. Anyway, I can control my inner state somewhat by focusing all my attention on the hum, within a state of loving God. It appears that my listening to that hum is key to inner escape.
 
I get songs stuck in my head- even dream about them- when my brain is subconsciously trying to learn the words. I have found that if I learn the words, the constant earworm stops.
 
Robert_Sock said:
Yes, I’m into Contemplative Prayer which I actually enjoy! I just know that the mind should be quieted during this type of prayer.
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Even when you can’t quiet the mind, you can be detached from the thoughts that float by.
 
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