"Earworms": Not always a joke.

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slinger
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"Earworms": Not always a joke.

Unread post by slinger »

A takeaway worker who was “obsessed” with a condition that meant he kept getting songs stuck in his head took his own life, an inquest has concluded.

Anthony Wayne Walters, 55, had previously spoken of how he suffered from “last song syndrome” – also known as “earworms” – leaving him depressed and unable to sleep.

He had left a note to his father David Walters at the home they shared in Glynneath, Wales, saying how he had a song going round in his head all the time that “has killed him”.

Mr Walters phoned his friend David Williams on 26 January and told him he intended to end his life as he had been “depressed for a long time and could not sleep”.

Mr Williams informed South Wales Police and then officers received a call from Mr Walters himself saying he was at a viaduct in Glynneath.

Police later found Mr Walters at the bottom of the viaduct, where he was pronounced dead at the scene.

An inquest at Swansea Guildhall heard he had left notes of proof of ownership for his car, information concerning bills, and notes apologising for his actions.

Mr Walters had become “obsessed” about last song syndrome, repeatedly searching for it online, and had said: “I would rather be dead than go through this.”

Around 90% of people experience “earworms” – songs that play in our heads on a continuous loop – at least once a week, according to Dr Kelly Jakubowski from the Department of Music at Durham University.

These songs eventually fade away from our brains but the condition can be more debilitating for people with conditions like obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Earworms are considered unwelcome intrusions and they can be more stressful and provoke typical OCD symptoms, according to the British Journal of General Practice.

It was revealed at the inquest that Mr Walters had a long history of mental health disorder, and was diagnosed with obsessional neurosis and insomnia.

Acting senior coroner Colin Phillips returned a suicide conclusion.

For confidential emotional support, contact The Samaritans at any time by calling 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org.

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Re: "Earworms": Not always a joke.

Unread post by terrybooth »

Oliver Sacks ("The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat", "Awakenings") devotes some space to this in https://www.oliversacks.com/books-by-ol ... icophilia/ down to non-stop musical hallucinations.
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slinger (Wed Aug 05, 2020 9:08 pm)
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Re: "Earworms": Not always a joke.

Unread post by Fretless »

In a somewhat connected way, during the process of learning new Classical pieces with my choir, at a certain point the music starts to go into a 'repeat loop' inside my head. This is occasionally annoying but it usually means that the piece is 'in' and I can perform it without any problems from then on.

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Re: "Earworms": Not always a joke.

Unread post by Fretless »

Don't ask me why but I woke up today with 'Don't interrupt the sorrow' by Joni Mitchell playing in my head and it's continued the whole morning.up to now.

Haven't listened to 'Hissing of Summer Lawns' for months so no idea where it has come from.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6Wsdkll5-s

Just to annoy you all - here is a well-known Dutch 'oorwurm' (earworm) from Frans Bauer 'Heb je even voor mij'.
Listen and weep ... :doh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR-hWde2YsY

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Re: "Earworms": Not always a joke.

Unread post by slinger »

Fretless wrote: Thu Aug 06, 2020 9:34 am ...

Just to annoy you all - here is a well-known Dutch 'oorwurm' (earworm) from Frans Bauer 'Heb je even voor mij'.
Listen and weep ... :doh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xR-hWde2YsY
Video not available in my country. I think I'm probably happy about that. :lol:
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Re: "Earworms": Not always a joke.

Unread post by Fretless »

You don't know what you're missing ..... :guiness;
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slinger (Thu Aug 06, 2020 3:57 pm)

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