Stressed? Try Music Therapy
Music is proven to be a great tool in relieving stress and bettering mental health. Music can be used to improve cognitive, motor, emotional, communicative, social, sensory, and educational domains by using both active and receptive music experiences.
Music is scientifically proven to better your Well-being
A lot of people believe that music can lift the spirits. But science has now shown it has a physical effect on our bodies, too. As we listen, music works on the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for controlling blood pressure and heartbeat, as well as the limbic system, which is responsible for feelings and emotions. A review of 23 studies by Bradt and Dileo (in 2009) involving almost 1,500 people found music helped to reduce blood pressure, heart rate and anxiety in heart disease patients.
Music can benefit psychological well-being, too. Research from the University of Missouri published in The Journal Of Positive Psychology found for the first time, that upbeat music can have a very positive effect on our well-being.
Evidence suggests that music therapy is beneficial for all individuals, both physically and mentally. The benefits of music therapy include improved heart rate, reduced anxiety, stimulation of the brain, and improved learning.
How Music Therapists Relieve Stress
Music therapists use their techniques to help their patients in many areas, ranging from stress relief before and after surgeries to neuropathologies such as Alzheimer's disease. One study found that children who listened to music while having an IV inserted into their arms showed less distress and felt less pain than the children who did not listen to music while having an IV inserted. Studies on patients diagnosed with mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia have shown visible improvement in their mental health after music therapy.
There are two types of music therapy: Receptive and Active
Receptive music therapy involves listening to music, usually a song that is calm or relaxing
Active music therapy is using engagement in musical activities, such as music-making or playing a musical instrument
Feeling stressed? Let’s try Music therapy! Here are some tips:
Try using a portion of your day to listen to some music. Put everything aside for a few minutes and engage yourself in a meditation session while listening to calm, soothing music. Even have a cup of tea.
Emerge yourself in a musical hobby, whether it be learning a musical instrument or recording your own melodies.
Whenever you’re overwhelmed by something (work, school, life), pause for a minute and dance it out! Press play on your favorite song and dance your stress away! Even make it a karaoke sesh!
Looking for music to listen to? Check out our Youtube channel for recordings of many classical pieces.
References
Music Makes You Feel Better by Psychologies
https://www.psychologies.co.uk/music-makes-you-feel-better#:~:text=Music%20can%20make%20us%20feel,can%20improve%20our%20health%2C%20too.&text=Whether%20you're%20performing%20it,happiness%20of%20those%20around%20you.)&text=Music%20can%20lift%20the%20spirits,effect%20on%20our%20bodies%2C%20too.