Numerous reports highlight the link between music and mental wellness. Experts attest that when people listen to their favorite playlists, doing so can lift their spirits. No doubt, tuning into a beloved album is a good mood booster. The “Music on Our Minds” research calls attention to its many positive effects on emotional wellness, improving focus, mitigating stress, and curbing anxiety.
Even psychology students challenged by professors to study this topic are pleased with the outcomes showing that music therapy is proven to uplift individuals, including patients suffering from depression. Even students that sought out help from cheap custom essay learned that music is an excellent intervention for depression and anxiety because it is cost-efficient, non-invasive, and readily accessible to one and all. Keep reading to learn more about the connection between music and mental health.
Serves as a Distraction and Lowers Stress Levels
Music has the power to provide a distraction from symptoms of mental illness. Listening to favorite ditties can lessen the impact of anxiety attacks. For example, a study discovered that college students who listen to classical tunes daily lowered their anxiety levels. By the same token, researchers learned that those who consistently listen to songs recover much faster from a stressful experience.
Many experts have attested that music can normalize heart rate, especially when it spikes due to stress. It can also lower cortisol (the stress hormone) and stabilize blood pressure. Those who need a reprieve from their daily challenges can pick uplifting sounds with inspiring themes. After all, the different melodies and lyrics can transport people elsewhere, allowing individuals to get a temporary break from their issues.
Makes It Easier to Open Up About Troubles and Concerns
Sometimes, people can’t find the right words to express themselves or feel uncomfortable discussing their issues. In this instance, lyrical songs can help individuals convey their struggles. The different stanzas could help people understand what they’re going through and provide much-needed clarity.
Moreover, listening to music can help individuals attain a different perspective. Sometimes a composer’s lyrics help the listeners learn lessons and achieve a different frame of mind. To help out those with problems, it would help to:
- Search for lyrics using a mobile device
- Play the song in the background
- Highlight words or sentences that resonate and stand out
- Listen to the selection again, paying close attention to the highlights
- Analyze how those words made an impact and how they’re relatable
- Write down thoughts and feelings in a journal
- Listen for the last time with new appreciation with a more profound sentiment of how impactful the song is
Manages Feelings and Difficult Emotions
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Those having a tough time will benefit from listening to happy music. Those in a bad mood are also recommended to listen to the classical genre. These tunes don’t have any lyrics. Hence, people can easily project their personal struggles onto what they hear.
Moreover, even listening to sad sounds that align with the mood can help people have a good cry and unleash their emotions. For instance, those who have recently had a breakup find it cathartic to listen to sad love songs. They can revel in their solitude and feel security because they realize they aren’t alone. Individuals can recover much faster when they are free to express themselves instead of bottling up their feelings.
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Helps Define Identity and Personhood For Young People
For many people, especially teens and young adults, music is a crucial ingredient for helping them establish their identities. And this is pivotal because those who feel free to be themselves have higher self-esteem, feel more confident, and are happier and more satisfied with their lives. Listening to other ditties can help this young age group define who they are or what they wish to be in life. Adults like parents and teachers must keep an open mind regarding the young one’s favorites, even those with questionable lyrics.
Instead of outright banning a particular composition, approach it with curiosity and consider it an opportunity to make conversation. When adults show interest in what teens and young adults listen to, it exemplifies that the adult is interested in the young person’s life. It also shows that adults are receptive to their issues and struggles, with music paving the way for meaningful discussions about vital issues that may have been difficult to discuss.
Strengthens Friendships and Builds Community
Music can draw people together, and this phenomenon has happened since time immemorial. From the ancient Greeks listening to the harp and people in Europe watching operas in the Baroque period to modern fans catching Taylor Swift’s concert, music has connected people who share a common interest. Building this community is vital because of the following reasons:
- It fosters a sense of belonging
- Provides support, especially in trying times
- Offers a sense of purpose
- An essential component of self-care
When individuals feel alone and don’t fit in, this can be very isolating and bad for mental health. Fortunately, making music through playing an instrument in a school band, singing in a choir, or simply hanging out with friends and listening to favorite jams are all activities that connect a person with a community that shares common interests. Having a sense of belonging outside of oneself can improve mental wellness.
Boosts the Brain and Builds Neural Connections
Finally, music can boost the brain and strengthen neural connections. It can improve the relationship between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. This is especially beneficial for people learning to play an instrument. However, even those listening to music can activate their brain, allowing the various regions to communicate. To illustrate, Alzheimer’s patients or those with other forms of dementia who listen to a curated playlist seem to come alive or even remember past incidents when they hear songs that have impacted their lives.
Final Thoughts
Music is compelling, no doubt about it. That’s why many mental health professionals utilize it for therapy to improve the quality of lives of patients, whether they suffer from mood disorders, dementia, or even something complex like schizophrenia. Scientific research has long attested that music can improve emotional wellness and provide mental clarity, so individuals are encouraged to envelop their lives in music.
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