Music | ADHD Information

Music is definatly my choice, I have listened to it to the point of distraction for my poor parents! Never a quiet moment. At work, I have the same thing. Hardly anyone has noticed becuause i'm always hidden behind my music or radio.

 

sometimes though, If i'm having a really bad day of it, i have to listen to classical music only or music without words because I listen to the words of the music, whcih puts me off task. hah!

Working out with music is one of the main reasons I was able to turn myself into a professional soccer player. I would put on the most intesnse, inspirational music and led it drive me during my workouts.

Having that sensitivity can be a gift if harnessed. I don't play professionally anymore, but I throw on music now to clean my apartment!

So I thought I'd just post something low key and not angsty-

We all know that our brains require a bit more stimulation than most in order to feel "OK"- Thus ADD- some do it with drugs, some with video games, some with sexual addictions, etc.  I admit, I've fallen into all of those at various times.  I have to say though that my lifelong "drug of choice" so to speak is MUSIC! 

As a kid, I always either had music on or would be singing.  I would listen to my Dad's records for hours with those huge headphones, lost in it.  I love jazz now especially- its so complicated and beautiful and, well, STIMULATING!  Which is to a certain extent what all of our brains crave.  In terms of ways to manage, its also fairly healthy in comparison. 

My five year old son, who I suspect has inherited his dad's ADD, immediately turns on his little 5$ yard sale radio any time he has a mundane task to do, like getting dresssed or cleaning his room.  So much like me its scary.

Anyone else find that music scratches that itch?  Just thought I'd share.

 

Peace

 

Hi, I'm new here. Music is totally my drug of choice. I tell people that I am a totally non- addictive perosnality, but thats not really true. Music is my addiction. I would not have made it though college if it had not been for my Tchaikovsky, Bela Fleck, Dave Matthews etc. I wrote kick- butt research papers on Russion History with Tchaikovsky blaring in the background. I would have not been able to study for the LSAT if it had not been for Mozart, Bach and the Frida Soundtrack. My co-workers know to wait for me to take my Ipod earbuds off before they speak to me. My mother never could understand how I could read a book or study with music blaring. It was the only way that I could focus!!! I have music for every mood. I have found however, and maybe it has something to with ADD, but all of my music tends to be extreme. It is either super mellow, super angy, super happy or super emotional. There are no in-betweens or I totally get bored. Yep, me too.  Whether it's getting inspired for the workday or unwinding at the end of the day, just me at home with music blasting does wonders; or when I get stuck at the office and find I cant concentrate or write, I lose myself in a couple tunes and I'm ready to dive back in....  Not just listening, but also singling out loud or internally works too, especially to shift my mood out of a funk.  It was my "secret weapon" back in college when I played tennis: when my opponent was improving his playing while my focus was waning I knew I was going to lose unless I picked up the pace and changed my game.  The only way I could do this was singing a rousing song to myself as I played--it worked like a charm in charging me up and refocusing me.

[QUOTE=addentist]Anyone else find that music scratches that itch?  Just thought I'd share. Peace [/QUOTE]

I will be blasting hyper-spastic music where Dave Grohl or whomever is "screaming his.... off" until I'm dead.  I've accepted this.  Regardless of how idiotic I'll look.

Luvmykids0239596.344375I'm the same.. I always do my homework or read with music playing.  I  can't stand silence.. I don't understand how people study in libraries..      silence makes me uncomfortable and restless..   music has always helped me focus..  my mom is the same..  she is very classically ADD and whenever she cleans the house she blares the trance and techno..   


I LOVE music. Funny thing is if its not energetic or upbeat, i tend to get bored. lol so I dont really have a favorite band or artist per say. I do like "love is gone" by david guetta. anybody have any music thats upbeat, that they like?

Music really helps me focus... BUT I had this weird realization about music and its connection to my ADD last week.  I always enjoyed music, but wasn't totally into tons of bands and groups when I was a kid, but I did like to listen to songs.   For a long time, I couldn't get myself to buy anything but soundtracks and I didn't know why. If I liked a song from a particular group it came out of a movie... or it was ::hides:: a showtune.  Then last week it hit me!  It's because I needed VISUALS to get my attention.  So when I'm listening to the song it gives me a visual or at least connects me to it...story-wise...I'm story crazy.  So..it's like songs bored me if it was only an auditory thing. Weird.  I'm not so much like that any more, but still I kinda am.

 

 

Music is definitely one of my two "drugs of choice" (the other being FOOD, unfortunately).  I grew up playing classical flute and anything from the Romantic Era would just rev me up.  I can only listen to certain types of music while working, though.  Has to be simple or I start listening to it and lose focus... 

Although I like a very large cross-section of music, right now I have been getting into electronic dance music - especially trance.  I find that it wakes me up and helps me focus.  I drive all day for work (sales rep) and blast it in the car!  Have to use the cruise control though or I will get so worked up I end up going 90!!  Not good!

It is usually trance or Dave Matthews blasting in my car.  My moods change so who know what else I may latch onto!

I can relate to karma since everything I like tends to be an extreme as well. 

well you can take any hobby in the world and apply it to ADHD... you might have posted about ostrich poaching or investment banking!

i was a music major in college, and i'm currently an aspiring comedy/humor music musician / singer-songwriter.  As it applies to everything, of course ADHD applies to music... I write a zillion hillarious songs that crack people up; I've gotten my songs down to such a formula; I just press the "generate really good song idea" button that's half ADD-fueled and half-mania fueled, and I can jump into it and often finish it in two hours to a few days.

I've found I'm ADD in my instruments and genres too.  Over my life I've done normal piano, new age piano, keyboards (rock, electronic, classical-music), guitar  (electric/acoustic/classical): fingerstyle, folk/rock, comedy, classical; recorder, and always wanted to learn flute, bass, drums, violin!

Music is essential. I drug myself every day on the way to work, music blaring, singing at the top of my lungs. I found that if for some reason I couldn't do this, phone call, passenger... whatever I could definitely feel the effects. Singing raises endorphin levels in the brain, natural feel good stuff. I use music to enhance, or change my mood. I couldn't live without it.