Music can be very powerful, as most people can attest to, especially those of us who have SPD. On top of all the typical benefits music has for people, we tend to receive some added bonuses that other's just don't seem to get. For us, music can take complete hold of us in ways other people don't often experience.

It can be that thing that keeps us going, that gets us moving, that calms us down. For many children, particularly autistic children, it has been incredibly beneficial as a method of reaching them and getting them to respond. Music therapy is a recommendable option for people with these auditory processing issues that can lead to an enhanced appreciation for the music around us.

Now, that being said, each one of us has a very different style of music that we love to listen to. For us, it's not always about tastes, but can also be about the effects the music has on our nervous system. Music can actually become a form of self-stimulating (or 'stiming') behaviors. We can use it to get ourselves moving and focused, as well as to calm us down and relax us. Of course, there is also the type of music that we hate, that drives our senses wild and alerts us whenever we hear, but for now let's keep the focus on what we love.

So, SPD International, what type of music do you stim to?
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For me, I tend to lean towards music that gets me going. My system really loves a fast beat with a deep base. I have often considered myself to be fairly ecleptic, but I tend to prefer 80s new wave.

Here's a few of my favorite bands, and some particular favorites from each:

Depeche Mode
Enjoy the Silence (video is quiet!)

U2
Wave of Sorrow (Birdland) - can't believe this sat in the studio unreleased for 20 years! (87-07)

Tears for Fears
Mad World - long before it got its piano cover in 2001, this was a new wave dark dance song, written by two guys who I believe had SPD

New Order
Ceremony
Vanishing Point - not well known, but awesome house song

Alan Parson's Project
Sirius/Eye In the Sky - intro 'Sirius' part is simply epic

Jan Hammer/Miami Vice
Crockett's Theme

There are plenty of others, but hopefully that should give you an idea of the kind of music I tend to listen to. So, what do music gets your engine back on the tracks?

I love music, so much. Music helps me concentrate, helps me calm down, it keeps me from having meltdowns at the end of a day or during a really high stress period, everything. I listen to almost anything, but lately electronica has been my taste of choice.

Heavy dubstep and Drum n Bass can "center" me, and keep me grounded when I'm teetering on the edge of a breakdown. Pendulum, The Prodigy, etc. The heavy beats and patterns can help drown out everything around me, and I start to feel a bit better after a little while.

To focus or calm down, I like to listen to a lot of trance or chill music, like some of Jon Hopkins' stuff. I just have to be careful because I like to blare the music really loud, but sometimes an unexpected high metallic sound will be introduced and that will just kill me. Most of the time it's very soothing though.

If I'm really hyper or energetic, then really heavy drum n bass will get me going nuts. I'll turn it up all the way and I'll run around like a maniac, often throwing myself on things or just rolling around. Generally that's when I'm getting a big urge for some of my 'seeking' behaviors though.

I'll add links when I get home, gotta go thru my favorites list. <3

(10-19-2010, 11:42 AM)Dan Wrote: For us, music can take complete hold of us in ways other people don't often experience.

This is so completely true. My family laughs and says music "tames the savage beast!" referring to my daughter's tantrums or when I am really agitated.

I have often tried to explain what music does to me. It is almost as if I can feel the tune. Techno/Electronic/Heavy Metal with the heavy beats, rhythms and loud chords help a lot. But if I have already gone into meltdown, celtic, enya, and such is what is required.

Most of the music I listen to is loud and aggressive.

I listen to a lot of gangsta rap, black metal, opera..... I listen to a lot of prog rock as well, that's my relaxation music, in fact.

I find that I have to set a volume limit on my iPod, otherwise I would probably go deaf within the next five years. Heh.

I have to be careful with music, because it moves me so much that I often can't concentrate on anything else. Of course, that's probably something you can all relate to. The thing is, I can feel not only pulse in my body but also the tones, so anything that covers a broad spectrum of notes from low to high is highly stimulating. Really good piano or choral music can take me away from anything, especially if it goes from loud to soft a good bit. Sometimes, orchestral music or music with too deep bass or too high treble is too much, so I really have to be in the mood to rock out to listen to it, but when I am in the mood, I love old hard rock/heavy metal, AC/DC, Guns n Roses, Black Sabbath. But I also love things that I can sing/play along with, so Indigo Girls can really get me going. And I also sing opera (less lately), so singing along with Renee Fleming or any of the older great divas, Sutherland, or any of the old blues singers, like Nina Simone (personal fave), or Janis Joplin. And probably just because I know all the words from when I was a kid, most Beatles songs. And sometimes, if I'm really tense and having a hard time, like if I'm driving, I'll just sing children's lullabies to myself, songs that have lots of monotonous words and don't cover a large range, just to soothe and take just enough concentration to take the edge off. Things like Hush, little baby, don't say a word, Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird.

(10-20-2010, 11:26 AM)mawkinberd Wrote: I have to be careful with music, because it moves me so much that I often can't concentrate on anything else. Of course, that's probably something you can all relate to. The thing is, I can feel not only pulse in my body but also the tones, so anything that covers a broad spectrum of notes from low to high is highly stimulating. Really good piano or choral music can take me away from anything, especially if it goes from loud to soft a good bit. Sometimes, orchestral music or music with too deep bass or too high treble is too much, so I really have to be in the mood to rock out to listen to it, but when I am in the mood, I love old hard rock/heavy metal, AC/DC, Guns n Roses, Black Sabbath. But I also love things that I can sing/play along with, so Indigo Girls can really get me going. And I also sing opera (less lately), so singing along with Renee Fleming or any of the older great divas, Sutherland, or any of the old blues singers, like Nina Simone (personal fave), or Janis Joplin. And probably just because I know all the words from when I was a kid, most Beatles songs. And sometimes, if I'm really tense and having a hard time, like if I'm driving, I'll just sing children's lullabies to myself, songs that have lots of monotonous words and don't cover a large range, just to soothe and take just enough concentration to take the edge off. Things like Hush, little baby, don't say a word, Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird.

I thought I was the only one who's done that to calm down o: I love singing to Nursery rhymes and stuff. x3

I've always done that. And it makes sense, really. Those were often for soothing babies; makes sense they'd soothe adults, too.

Heavy Metal and Opera make the world go round...

I use Hebrew chants I learned as a child to help figure out how to walk when I am in a lot of pain. They are simplistic chants and some are repetitious.

I love singers with deep on-key voices. Off-key or distorted voices tend to make me angry. Synthentic voices are a major problem for me.

The song "Mad World", mentioned above by Dan, has always spoken to me.

What do you all think of the Soundgarden song "Black Hole Sun"?

My body and mind love Metallica songs so much that even if I was experiencing full body paralysis, they help to bring me up because I have to MOVE.

Thanks everyone!

Love Black Hole Sun, ect.

wish

Here we go, the list of music that I listen to for different things. <3

When I'm specifically craving some deep thuds (especially physically, but when I can't get outside to satisfy it) I listen to a lot of dubstep or drum n bass, with the music on loud and reverberating through my head and body. <3

Fluzter'z - Crazy
John Crank- Anna
Amduscia - Dios Vuelto Miseria
Pendulum - Watercolour

If I want something soft or bouncy, then this is my preferred choice:

DJ Cotts - Upfront Happy Hardcore Mix
As the Rush Comes-Motorcycle (Armin Van Buuren's Mix)

Whereas if I want something to concentrate to, something really soft and quiet, I listen to a lot of music like this <3

Blank & Jones - Relax
Jon Hopkins- Private Universe