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Music Therapy: The Power of Music to Promote Psychological Health
By Curtis Dean
You can agree that
music
is an effective means used by many, if not all, to lift one’s spirits and mood. If you are the type of person who gets influenced by music, such as being pumped up with party songs or shedding a tear from a soulful performance, then you are well-connected into music. Did you know that apart from these emotional responses, music has a deeper connection and influence on your psychological health? Some would even say that music has a positive effect on physical health.
For years, music is used by many cultures as an instrument to please positive spirits. In a simpler and universal way, this means to attract positivity and drive away negative thoughts and emotions. As time and studies passed, music was discovered to be an effective instrument in psychological health. Thus, music therapy came to life.
What music therapy can do:
Music therapy is a type of procedure that promotes emotional and psychological health. This is used to help patients who need to cope with
stress
,
anxiety
and even
depression
. Music therapy is used to boost the mental health of a person, how the brain is wired and worked.
* Making music can reduce burnout and improve mood:
Working on a tedious project or continuous, repetitive task can be a source of burnout and lack of interest. This is common in a workplace environment, but it also happens at home or anywhere. Music is a great and effective way to prevent and alleviate the feeling of burnout and generally improve your mood. Developing the skill of playing musical instruments is an effective way to reduce feelings of burnout because it allows you to divert your attention and focus into playing.
* It encourages coordination and communication:
Playing musical instruments and listening to music often is one way to develop your ability to communicate yourself and your emotions. Different genres can draw out different emotional responses from us and this will allow you to connect with yourself better. Music also encourages coordination with how to apply the rhythm of the music to your tasks. For instance, upbeat music is a great choice when working out or going for a run. The fast-paced music can generate a rhythm for your body to stay active during the entire work out session.
* Listening to music can relieve depression and increase self-esteem:
There have been many studies and it has been repeatedly proven how music can improve the mood of a person. This is especially true and effective when a person is going through stress, anxiety or depression. Music therapy is used in clinics for kids, teens, and adults who battle cases of depression. Listening to music can help activate the positive responses of the brain and diverts the focus of the individual.
On the other hand, music can increase your self-esteem and confidence. Listening to empowering and motivational songs can have an effect on your brain and lead you to be more confident in the things you do.
* Music therapy significantly reduces emotional distress and boosts the quality of life:
Stress and anxiety are common causes of emotional distress that can sometimes lead to depression and stress disorders. Music therapy is done to help a person learn to control how to alleviate these negative emotional responses through the help of relaxation and calmness from music. At the same time, making music a regular part of your life can help turn negative vibes around to positive energies.
* Music helps to interact socially with others:
Music is a tool that has been used for thousands of years to help humans interact socially. Time may have passed and tastes in music may have changed, but the fact remains that social gatherings are just better when there’s background music to accompany the interactions. It can help you explore and understand other cultures from around the world. On a more personal level, music can help a person build friendships and mutual understanding when you hang out with people who also have the same tastes in music.
* Music can help manage pain:
While music has been known to affect an individual emotionally and psychologically, studies come to light that music can also be an effective pain management means. Studies conducted on patients who underwent surgery showed that those who listen to music before, during and after surgery experienced less pain and healed quickly as compared to those who did not listen to music. This is a remarkable breakthrough in the field of science and medicine.
The music alone can completely turn your mood. Music is a powerful means to control your mood, emotions, and responses, which means you have the power to control them by choosing the kinds of music you listen to. Studies also show that playing your own music can have a better positive response from your brain because it gives you the illusion of control in the moments when you play. You can learn to play musical instruments by taking
music lessons
.
Music is such a powerful tool that is easy to reach for anyone of us. Let music be a part of your daily life and see your life change for the good.