When the Mind Sounds Like Static: Finding Your Frequency Again

I’ve always loved driving, especially the long stretch from California to Oregon. There’s something meditative about it: the rhythm of the road, the steady hum beneath the tires, the quiet company of my own thoughts. Sometimes I’ll let a podcast or audiobook fill the silence, other times I just drive in peace, nosoundtrack needed.

But last weekend was different. The silence didn’t feel peaceful; it felt uneasy. Every time I tried to find a station, all I got was static, loud, relentless static. It filled the car, and then it started to fill my mind. Sixteen hours of scanning, searching, and coming up empty. Somewhere between the mountains and the border, I realized that this static wasn’t just on the radio; it was in my head.