1. Before The Earworm

THERE YOU ARE, just minding your own business.

You might be walking down the street. You might be trying to sleep. You might be at your desk, just doing your thing.

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2. The First Assault

Suddenly… it STRIKES.

The earworm.

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It could be this

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Or this

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Or even, horrifyingly, THIS.

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In many ways, it doesn’t matter. The point is that it’s THERE.

3. The Growing

At first, you kind of enjoy it.

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Then, gradually, it starts to become frustrating

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Like, really frustrating.

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To the point where you can’t think of anything else, and you feel like you’re losing your mind.

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4. The Fightback

You try anything to get rid of it.

Even singing other songs that you hate.

YouTube/Ian Locke

Nothing works.

5. The False Lull

There’s that moment when you realise that it’s gone

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And then that makes you think of it again. And suddenly…

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Then you’re headed for:

6. The Pit of Despair

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7. The Aftermath

It will go. Eventually. And then, finally, you’ll have peace.

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Until…

YouTube/Ian Locke

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH.

8. The Forever

Repeat stages 1-7, for the rest of your life.

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Thanks to Rick O’Shea for inspiring this piece.

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