"Why Do I Keep Hearing Music in My Head? And What Can I Do to Quiet It Down?"

Have you ever had a song or just a snippet of one looping in your head nonstop?

Maybe it plays when you're trying to focus or keeps going even when everything around you is quiet. This experience is more common than you might think. It often shows up when your mind is overstimulated, you're not sleeping well, or your nervous system is out of balance. In some cases, it can be linked to stress, fatigue, or even diet.

Here at EastWest Acupuncture, we see this kind of symptom as your body’s and mind’s way of saying it needs a reset. 

From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, hearing music in the head especially upon waking is often related to a deficiency in the Shaoyang and Taiyin meridians. These meridians play an important role in regulating the body’s balance between interior and exterior, movement and stillness, and waking and sleeping states.

When these meridians are in a state of deficiency, it can create a kind of internal imbalance where the natural rhythm of the body and mind is disrupted. This may lead to deficiency heat, which lightly agitates the system and causes the mind to remain partially active—even in moments of rest—such as when waking from sleep.

In this state, the Shen (spirit or mental clarity) is not fully settled. Rather than waking feeling calm and quiet, the mind may seem already "turned on," replaying sounds, music, or mental chatter. This reflects a deeper need to nourish and stabilize the internal pathways that help guide the Shen to rest and restore.

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Three Simple Tips to Help Quiet the Music in Your Head

1. Create a Calming Evening Routine

If your mind tends to race at night, it can carry leftover noise into your quiet moments. Help your brain slow down by:

• Turning off screens at least one hour before bed

• Avoiding stimulating conversations or tasks late in the evening

• Drinking a warm cup of herbal tea like chamomile or jujube

These small habits can reduce mental overactivity and help you fall into deeper, more restful sleep.

2. Clear the Clutter from Your System

When the body is overloaded whether from diet, stress, or too much stimulation your mind can become more reactive. Try the following to support a clearer mental state:

• Eat lighter, simpler meals and avoid greasy or heavily processed foods

• Reduce caffeine and alcohol, especially in the afternoon and evening

• Take a short walk after dinner to help your system unwind

This helps your body reset, which often leads to a calmer, quieter mind.

3. Support Your Energy Levels

If your brain feels foggy, tired, or unfocused, your system may be running low on energy. This can make your mind more likely to “fill the space” with noise like music or repetitive thoughts. Support yourself by:

• Eating nourishing foods like sweet potatoes, walnuts, black sesame, and goji berries

• Prioritizing consistent sleep and downtime

• Moving your body gently each day with walking, yoga, or stretching

Restoring your body’s energy can make a big difference in how your mind feels and functions.

Give us a call or book online to have one of our providers help you incorporate Traditional Chinese Medicine into your life!