Something strange - feelings

[Knight]

This isn't sex related. (sorry)

This may come off as completely nuts but I will try to explain as best as I can and maybe someone has an answer or an explanation.

Sometimes when I listen to certain types of music/songs (i.e techno-ish, rock, electric guitar, computer created) I feel weird. An example of this type of sound would be the music in the "Beast Wars/Beasties" series (if anyone knows it). I get like this tingling-ish sensation/energy/wave that starts from my spine or base of my neck and travels through my spine and into my legs or travels up around my scalp, into my cheeks and under my eyes. The sensation differs in intensity and spread depending on my state of mind or how often I have heard the music. This is a good feeling and I like it, it's like the music is hitting a certain nerve in me and sets this off.

What is this? Has anyone else experienced this with music? Is this an adrenaline rush? I don't think I have had an adrenaline rush before or enough times in order to be able to tell.

Sometimes when I watch something, like a scene from a movie or a cartoon and something "moving" happens (but action genre related) I get like this welling up of emotion/energy from inside. This feeling promotes physiological changes/actions of wanting to cry - that feeling of tearing up or the funniness in the throat, but yet I don't feel sad and it's not even a sad scene. What is this?

I know this all may sound very obscure - it's hard describing what you feel, but if anyone has the faintest idea of what I am talking about, can you explain whats going on? Am I the only one that has experienced this? Am I just weird? ... on second thought don't answer that.

[Malfestus]

I dont know exactly what its called but I know what your talking about. You are feeling endorphins that are released as a mental reaction to the music. Its kinda like feeling love when you first hug or kiss the person you KNOW its gona be, or happyness after did something well. In both those occasions you feel tingly inside, a rush of energy goes up though your spine as you almost feel lightheaded in a good way.

This happens for many reasons, mainly its just a reaction that you personaly have because the way the music makes you feel. Basicly the music is just releasing emotion. Kinda like the moving part in the cartoon, it releases the emotion of joy. Joy in large quanities can bring forth tears and that feeling in the back of your throat, kinda like a happy cry after one of the most amazing moments of your life, like winning an accademy award (even though they fake it).

This is totaly normal your no freak because everyone does the same thing. No, they dont do the same thing to the same music, cartoon, or people as you, but they all feel emotion caused by something material.

I for one am strange when it comes to music. When I listen to dream theater for example, I get a pictoral image in my head of being lvl 26 in the barrens on my tauren warrior while being on ventrillo talking to my GF at the time. Every time I listen to that particular song I get this image in my head, and in turn, react to it emotionaly. Same goes for almost any music I obsess over.

The same thing happens when a very serious relationship ends. I would drive on a particular road, and would remember an exact moment from the relationship, thus emotionaly reacting to that spot in the road.

See, your not too strage, everyone does it, its just objective.

[sera300]

Movies? Perhaps it's hormones? Music can motivate us, literally it can move you.

[Malfestus]

If you really want to know, your brain is mostly releasing chemicals that cause your body to react a certian way. Dopamine is the one with the most effect emotionaly, it is also what causes any twitches too. Mainly, in this case, dopamine is what is triggering the emotional reaction. Serotonin is another big cause of your feeling as it effects your mood, if you feel sad, its serotonin, although if your body feels happy its also serotonin, i assume your feeling acute joy. A little acetylcholine is probably released also, as it effects your muscle action, but also links the emotion you are feeling to the thing that caused it, and links THAT to your memory.

The brain is crazy how it works.

[Knight]

Thanks for explaining, it's good to feel like your not the only one.

The mind certainly is a crazy thing.

[curious_woman]

Originally Posted by Malfestus

I get a pictoral image in my head of being lvl 26 in the barrens on my tauren warrior

Tauren ftw.

[demonbuttercup]

Originally Posted by curious_woman

Tauren ftw.

Is that a WOW reference? lol
I play City of Heroes myself

[Malfestus]

LOL yes its a wow reference. I got stuck playing wow after falling 3 stories onto concrete. I was on anti-seisure meds for 3 months, so i was stuck at my computer.... what else could i do... But the tauren was just a char for when my real server was down. I played a dwarf warrior and was MT/leader of me guild... no wonder i burnt out after Grull's...

[Knight]

how about other peoples' experience with music?

[Malfestus]

Im a mood listener and its weird. 90% of the music i listen to is for a particular peice of my life then i move on to the next (excluding music i cant get enough of like Dream Theater). For example:

A few years ago I started going out with my first love. She and I lasted for 3.5 years though high school and past. We had an awesome relationship and expierenced some awesome things together. Durring the relationship i hit hard on two bands, Marilyn Manson and the Bloodhound Gang. We would listen to them hardcore. Our relationship ended and I went into a depression and started doing stupid things, at this time I was listening to Theater of Tragedy, Matisyahu, and KMFDM. After a bit of time I fell 3 stories onto concrete and was on anti-seisure meds for 3 months (i wasnt myself and could hardly remember the 3 months because they lower brain activity greatly). Durring this time I can remember picture like memories, really quick snapshots of something I was doing, a place where I was at, but nothing detailed other than the snapshot. I remember listening to Dream Theater's song "Change of Seasons" while lvling a char on WOW while in barrens going after bronze and tin veins to up my BSing. Ever sense then I have been into Dream Theater and Opeth.

So this timeline of music turns into memories linked to the music. When I listen to Bloodhound Gang, I graphicly remember driving to graduation with my GF (at the time) in the passenger seat. When I listen to Theater of Tragedy I remember raiding on WoW in BWL (for too many hours at a time have you). When I listen to Change of Seasons I remember the exact moment I explained earlier. When I "remember" i basicly see exactly what I remember seeing at that time with great detail. Its kinda wierd.


So basicly the music im heavy on will link with my memories and every time I listen to music its like opening a photo album. Its interesting, cool sometimes, but many times it doesnt make me want to listen to spacific songs that I would love otherwise... Music.... Lulz.