By Mitch Rice
If you love music, you’ve probably had multiple euphoric and relaxing experiences listening to it. It might calm you down after a long day or psyche you up for a night out, even when you’re feeling down.
But does music provide truly therapeutic value?
The Value of Music Therapy
Therapy is a complex and multifaceted form of treatment. Different mental and physical health problems require very different approaches – and individuals respond to some forms of therapy better than others. Accordingly, it’s hard to make a high-level judgment of whether music therapy is universally effective; for some people, it makes a huge difference. For others, it doesn’t produce much of an effect.
In a professional therapeutic setting, a music therapy specialist may guide you through a series of exercises and musical experiences. You can find a music therapist like this by searching for professionals who take your current health insurance – for example, you can search for therapists that take United Healthcare.
You can also use music on your own as a form of self-therapy, though you may miss out on some of the benefits.
Either way, there are many potential sources of value to derive from the music you experience:
- Influence on brain waves. Research demonstrates that certain types of music can affect your brain waves, gradually bringing your brain wave patterns to mimic the rhythms of the music you’re listening to. This can be valuable in a few different ways. Feeling closely aligned with the music can give you a feeling of happiness and satisfaction. Aligning with peppy, upbeat music can give you a sense of relief and optimism. And aligning with calmer, contemplative music can help you achieve a meditative state.
- Physical relaxation. The right music can also slow your breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate, producing a calming effect. If you’re struggling with anxiety, stress, or similar issues, this can be a lifesaver. Obviously, some types of music are better for physically relaxing than others, so you may not find this relaxing effect with more energetic tunes.
- Contemplation and introspection. Listening to music is a time for contemplation and introspection. If you’re focusing on the music, you won’t be engaging with others or worrying about specific tasks. Instead, you can allow your mind to drift or think about what the lyrics mean to you; this can set the stage for a breakthrough about your own state of mind.
- Stimulation of creativity. If you’re actively involved in creating the music, music therapy can become a creative exercise. Even if you don’t have any musical abilities, merely listening to music can stimulate your creativity. After engaging with music, people are more likely to engage in creative exercises, which provide even more benefits.
- Support for nonverbal communication. For people who struggle with verbal communication, music can turn into a form of self-expression. Even mindlessly jamming on a simple instrument can turn into a form of communication in its own right.
- Research into vibration-based therapy. At its core, music is simply vibrational patterns. Researchers are now looking into the possibilities for using these vibrational patterns to have positive influences on the mind and body. For example, specific forms of vibroacoustic therapy have been shown to have a positive effect on reducing the severity and frequency of symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Using Music as Your Own Form of Therapy
So what steps can you take to use music as your own form of therapy, regardless of whether or not you’re in a professional setting?
- Choose the right music for your needs. First, understand that not all music produces the same effects. It’s important to choose the right music for your needs. If you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed, choose something calming and relaxing. If you’re feeling depressed and low, choose something upbeat and optimistic.
- Focus on the music exclusively. Music works best as a form of therapy when you’re focused on it exclusively. Many of us listen to music as background noise, but the therapeutic value of music increases with the amount of attention you pay to it.
- Contemplate abstract lyrics. Music with abstract lyrics can be incredibly beneficial for introspection. Think about what the lyrics mean to you and how they might relate to your life; it might lead you to some important conclusions.
- Make your own music. Engaging with music isn’t just about listening. It’s also about participating. Even if all you can do is drum your hands on a desk, find a way to make music along with whatever you hear.
Scientists still aren’t exactly sure why music is as powerful as it is for the human experience. But we know that music therapy, in the right setting and with the right choices, can be incredibly valuable. If you’re currently struggling with depression, anxiety, stress, or other mental health issues, consider incorporating music therapy into your life.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.
