Why do mentally ill people wear headphones?
Discussion
I'm afraid I'm not very politically correct to the point of knowing if I should be using the word disabled, autistic, retarded or quite what the correct term is, but why do a good deal of people with mental health issues seem to wear headphones?
I'm assuming that "to drown out the voices" is a bit too obvious?
I'm assuming that "to drown out the voices" is a bit too obvious?
paddyhasneeds said:
I'm afraid I'm not very politically correct to the point of knowing if I should be using the word disabled, autistic, retarded or quite what the correct term is, but why do a good deal of people with mental health issues seem to wear headphones?
I'm assuming that "to drown out the voices" is a bit too obvious?
They'd need to be plugged into something to do that I'm assuming that "to drown out the voices" is a bit too obvious?
Some don't like loud noises, or some noises may make them feel anxious.
Using music with earphones allows them to control the environment they are in, probably calms them down, helps them to just get on with stuff.
listening to music whilst completing a task can also aid concentration. Especially if the listener is familiar with the music that they are listening to, I.e a favourite album.
ETA: I just made that up, so it could be utter boll0cks, but it makes sense to me
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Using music with earphones allows them to control the environment they are in, probably calms them down, helps them to just get on with stuff.
listening to music whilst completing a task can also aid concentration. Especially if the listener is familiar with the music that they are listening to, I.e a favourite album.
ETA: I just made that up, so it could be utter boll0cks, but it makes sense to me
.I know of someone who suffers (badly at times) from depression. I have often gone to see him and found him literally sitting between two speakers with the volume way beyond comfortable listening level. His explanation is it's his way of overloading his senses and enabling him to "get back to reality" as he puts it.
Mind you, he doesn't always answer his door.....and his perception of what he considers as normal would make many people feel uncomfortable, let alone depressed.
Mind you, he doesn't always answer his door.....and his perception of what he considers as normal would make many people feel uncomfortable, let alone depressed.
Its because it allows them to exist in the local environment while at the same time being disengaged from it and thus protected within their own environment. Also a lot of autistic people are noise phobic so the ear phones again alows them to control the inputs they recieve.
It's a coping mechanism. Much in the same way that people will clutch their mobile phone while in a face to face conversation. It enables them to engage in the conversation while at the same time having a tool for disengagement if for whatever reason they feel uncomfortable. The phone provides the psylogical alternative environment in this case.
It's a coping mechanism. Much in the same way that people will clutch their mobile phone while in a face to face conversation. It enables them to engage in the conversation while at the same time having a tool for disengagement if for whatever reason they feel uncomfortable. The phone provides the psylogical alternative environment in this case.
Edited by bumblepup on Monday 11th October 19:49
bumblepup said:
Its because it allows them to exist in the local environment while at the same time being disengaged from it and thus protected within their own environment. Also a lot of autistic people are noise phobic so the ear phones again alows them to control the inputs they recieve.
It's a coping mechanism. Much in the same way that people will clutch their mobile phone while in a face to face conversation. It enables them to engage in the conversation while at the same time having a tool for disengagement if for whatever reason they feel uncomfortable. The phone provides the psylogical alternative environment in this case.
In that case it seems I got the jist of it correct! It's a coping mechanism. Much in the same way that people will clutch their mobile phone while in a face to face conversation. It enables them to engage in the conversation while at the same time having a tool for disengagement if for whatever reason they feel uncomfortable. The phone provides the psylogical alternative environment in this case.
Edited by bumblepup on Monday 11th October 19:49
There's a guy who drinks in one of our regular pubs in Newcastle and he always has headphones on, even when ordering at the bar. He also always has a faint smile on his face. I've seen him wandering about in town quite often, always with them on, always with the same faint smile. Must be good!
doodles19 said:
bumblepup said:
Its because it allows them to exist in the local environment while at the same time being disengaged from it and thus protected within their own environment. Also a lot of autistic people are noise phobic so the ear phones again alows them to control the inputs they recieve.
It's a coping mechanism. Much in the same way that people will clutch their mobile phone while in a face to face conversation. It enables them to engage in the conversation while at the same time having a tool for disengagement if for whatever reason they feel uncomfortable. The phone provides the psylogical alternative environment in this case.
In that case it seems I got the jist of it correct! It's a coping mechanism. Much in the same way that people will clutch their mobile phone while in a face to face conversation. It enables them to engage in the conversation while at the same time having a tool for disengagement if for whatever reason they feel uncomfortable. The phone provides the psylogical alternative environment in this case.
Edited by bumblepup on Monday 11th October 19:49
While I expect many will find my example challenging due to the sexual reference I hope that you can see what I am trying to say is that we don't all fit into the buckets that the Daily Mail has defined for us and that there is nothing wrong with that. I have a very good job, I manage a large amount of people across many locations throughout the world, I work and live in many different cultures and yet to walk into a Fish & Chip shop and order a battered sausage and chips is very difficult for me. The reason for what society defines as my success is also the very reason why I find society so difficult.
It’s a funny old game so celebrate the victories and ignore the defeats. How do I get a battered sausage and chips, I "manage" the person in my domestic environment to get these things for me in exactly the same way that I "manage" the people in my professional environment to deliver success to me.
And yes, I wear noise cancelling head phones when I am out and about.
M...
Edited by bumblepup on Wednesday 13th October 20:54
bumblepup said:
Its because it allows them to exist in the local environment while at the same time being disengaged from it and thus protected within their own environment.
Same reason why I cycle through Bedford town centre instead of walking then. Being on a bicycle allows me to remain disconnected from the oppressive s
ttiness around me instead of being bogged down in it on foot.And f
k me did it ever piss me off when they stuffed the town centre with nazi tts whose mission in life is to hassle people for cycling. Meant I more or less gave up buying anything there except from those few shops to which it is possible to make a stealth approach by bicycle without the nazi tts noticing.Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff