Positive Effects of Music on Mental health
Music is in every part of our lives. Whether it is our spiritual songs, children learning alphabets through song, birds chirping, in a dining place, a mall, or an elevator, we hear the essence of music everywhere. Listening to music is considered entertaining, but it also makes you healthier. Music has worked as a therapy for many people as it relaxes one's mind, gives energy and helps to deal with pain. There are many psychological benefits as well. When people want to escape into a different reality, they use music as their medium as it affects on listener's emotions. According to the research, music helps in processing trauma, grief, etc., and dealing with mental health conditions like depression, schizophrenia, and many more. Music is a way of communication. There is no realm of music. It can't be considered the ultimate treatment for physical or mental diseases, but it certainly helps in recovery. Let's understand how music therapy works.
What is Music Therapy?
Music is a proper arrangement to express ideas and emotions through a melody and harmony. Music is a very powerful tool. It boosts our mood and somehow magically changes it.
For centuries, it has been seen that music has played an important role in moving on from one emotion and coping through ups and downs.
Music therapy is clinically researched based on music used to help people enhance their overall mood and well-being. Music therapists are trained with methods to support and work with their clients for their good mental health. It is a creative way to approach healing and develop positive coping strategies. Throughout the decades' humans have utilised music in different ways like making a career out of it, pursuing music as a hobby, expressing emotions, etc.
Interesting fact around 2009, archaeologists found a flute carved in Southern German caves, telling us that people have been playing music since ancient years. However, we can't be sure when people started listening to music. Playing an instrument helps people to express emotional expression in exploring therapeutic themes. For example, by playing the violin, one can express the emotion of romance and sadness.
Let's dive into the power music can have in helping us improve our mental, emotional, or physical health.
It improves focus and memory
music therapy
After conducting numerous surveys, it has been proved that listening to music at a tempo of 60 beats per minute helps the brain to process the information and helps to understand more clearly. The maximum number of students prefer to listen to music while studying. For some people, it helps them to concentrate, and for some, it is a distraction. According to the research, it may help in improving the focus. It mainly depends on what type of music a child listens to while studying. Although, musically trained students perform better in tests when they listen to music as they are used to the sound.
It is an easy way to express feelings
It is proven that playing or listening to music is an excellent way to express feelings. It is perfect for people who struggle to express their emotions verbally. Playing your favourite melodies with friends or playing an instrument is a perfect non-verbal way to express emotions. Listening to different types of music, like sad music, can be seen as a person dealing with trauma or depression. It can also help manage pain. In 2015, one of the two was asked to listen to music before, after and during the surgery. After completing the surgery, they noticed that the patient who listened to the tune was feeling less anxious and in less pain than the patient who was not listening to music. Another survey discovered that listening to music for at least one hour a day can reduce mental pain.
It Gives motivation
Away from emotions, it can also affect our simple actions like how productive we are or how e are spending our day. Let us take an example of people who work out. Workout enthusiasts have known that listening to music while working out increases their physical performance and leads to
longer workouts. Athletes listen to high-beat music during their warmups to perform more competitively. It helps you to reach your highest point, using less oxygen. A very important phycological benefit of music is that it boosts performance. While running, researchers have found the addition of a strong, rhythmic beat that inspires people to follow the pace. The recommended tempo is 125 to 140 beats per minute.
It reduces the depression hormone
Scientists have discovered that music therapy is a safe treatment for depression and anxiety for patients with dementia, Parkinson's disease, etc.
A few examinations have shown that paying attention to old-style music or meditating on music helps people feel less anxious, indicating that the body releases less cortisol (stress hormone). Many Neurologists have noticed that music triggers the release of neurochemicals that play an important role in brain functioning.
It increases self-esteem
In a small case study of music therapy, therapists asked questions to older people in a facility about activities based on their interests.
After that, they asked them to do weekly activities and some exercises. It was noticed that they felt more self-esteemed and fresh compared to day one of the session.
Different musical interventions not led by professional trained music therapists is that people who have Insomnia- a sleep disorder. It is a very serious problem which happens to people of almost every age group, whether a child, a teenager or an adult, who use music to treat the disease. While listening to soft, soothing, and calm tunes can help in relaxing the brain and helps you to sleep peacefully.
In the end, music has been proven to impact one's life positively. A musical piece can change your mood, whole day cycle, and relive the memories. It is necessary to have professional music training to have a healthy brain functioning, listen to good music and find joy in it.
