Having some issues......

[Tom]

Songs stuck in the head sound like the internal dialogue, but worse. They have their own patterns to help sustain them. When I have a song stuck in my head, the first thing I do is to give it my full attention. Sometimes running it from start to finish gets rid of the problem. Usually I have to intentionally change the words, change the speed, change the tune, or otherwise make random changes to it. After enough changes have been made the song loses its momentum. You can also work with techniques which help with the more general problem of the internal dialogue. Physical relaxation, concentration on the breath, and mantras can all help. Soetimes it is best to actively resist the thoughts and other times it is best to be aware of them and let them go on their own. Alternating the two approaches works better than either alone.

Sleep. I know that problem. Suggesting that you get enough sleep that your body will not need to take advantage of any relaxation to catch up will not work. #3 on your list. I have the same problem. All I can say is that large doses of stimulants do not work. They got my heart going faster and they made my muscles tense. They did not keep me from going to sleep. When 1,400 mg of caffeine and 100 mg of ephedrine combined does not do the job, it is better to try another approach than to keep increasing the dosages.

Time is not as bad as it sounds. There are things that you can do to cause further progress in the middle of other activities. Affirmations, reality testing, mantras, breathing exercises, and running currents of energy all help without drawing attention.

[James S]

If you have a really annoying tune stuck in your head, think of the theme song to "Gilligan's Island". This is guaranteed to remove the most stubborn of tunes. Although in this case the cure could very well be worse than the cause!

James.

[ralphm]

How about lisening to instumental music for a while before trying? Ever try focusing in on the silences between the music? Also Focusing on your breath takes the focus off of the music without trying to repress the music.

[Patty]

Or for that matter, do your meditation with headphones and a binaural beat tape. That should dominate the music.

Like the Monroe series tapes. Pricey though.

Patty

[Squeek]

James, one problem...I don't know that song http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile_cool.gif" border=0>

ralph and patty...i usually try this in bed...and i have a mini radio next to me.  Can I tune that to a non-channel and get teh same result?

~~~!
Marge: Homer no..You'll kill us all!
Homer: Or die trying!
!~~~

[Patty]

White noise is supposed to be helpful because it can cut out background distractions. I don't know if it would stop the songs in your head or not, but it sure seems worth a try.

I have found that when a song is stuck in my head, it is because I am having trouble 'finishing' it in my head. I get stuck in a loop in the song - and if I can consciously jump tot he end of the song, sometimes that helps my head-radio to turn off.

Patty

[kifyre]

Sleep is a tough one, at least for me. Most people are carrying around hours of sleep debt. (This is a real phenomenon, see "The Promise of Sleep" by William Dement, I think.)  If you get an extra hour of sleep for a few weeks it might not be a problem anymore.

On the other hand, when I'm very sleep deprived and I nap I get all sorts of obe-ish effects as I drift in and out of sleep.

Good luck!

Mark

[Squeek]

TY for the advice   I will heed to it and tell you the results tomorrw

~~~!
Marge: Homer no..You'll kill us all!
Homer: Or die trying!
!~~~

[Tisha]

Hi there!

Try this very effective (thousands of years of effective) technique from the Far East:  Use your own voice!  I, for one, had a hard time picking this one up, because the sound of my own voice used to intimidate me.  I'm SO over that now!

You could "ohm."  or, you could find a mantra.  It doesn't have to sound official or even far-eastern . . . it doesn't even have to mean anything. It could be Bla Bla Bla Bla Bla.

I was in a study group that chose "Frozen Peas" for its mantra - - - - and it worked!!  OK, we had visions of frozen peas in little sqare boxes at first.  But we kept it up, and up . . . . and up . . . and up  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and eventually the term became meaningless and - surprise! - - all distractions were gone.

One more thing:  Five minutes doesn't cut it . . . . with any technique if you are trying to meditate.  Give any technique at least 30 minutes before you decide it does or does not work for you.

let us know if it works


Tisha

"As Above, So Below"

[Squeek]

Will Do

~~~!
Marge: Homer no..You'll kill us all!
Homer: Or die trying!
!~~~

[Squeek]

Read what i wrote in the ROPE topic in OBE discussions...that's what happened last night

~~~!
Marge: Homer no..You'll kill us all!
Homer: Or die trying!
!~~~

[Squeek]

OK here they all are

1) - Music.  I have major problems with this.  I probably have over 10,000 songs in my head...so even if I lose one from it, another takes its place....

2) Sleep.  I fall asleep.  Seriously, like as im doing the ROPE method, I just fall asleep.  This is probably because I'm not listening to music, but if I do then that holds be back...argh

3) Time.  It's always hectic in my house, so I can never seem to get any free time except at night, and that's when I fall asleep....Also, our family is constantly on vacations...How can i get free time here???  Any help provided would be great.

~Squeek

~~~!
Marge: Homer no..You'll kill us all!
Homer: Or die trying!
!~~~