Music therapy is a broad term that encompasses a variety of methods and techniques. The therapies share the element of integrating music into a person's life to help improve their physical, mental, emotional and social well-being.
Explore with me the practice of Music Therapy and how it can help you deal with challenges in your life.
HOW MUSIC THERAPY WORKS
The therapeutic power of music lies in its ability to actively create a mood or atmosphere to achieve a desired effect on the patient's emotional and psychological state. In this way, music stimulates physiological responses, such as reducing blood pressure or heart rate.
Music is an integral part of the human condition and is deeply rooted in our cultural heritage and traditions – it can also be used to help people feel more connected to themselves, their culture and their family history, promoting a sense of belonging and well-being.
Music therapy can be used in several ways, such as:
- Listening to music
- Sing songs
- Playing musical instruments
- Create music from scratch
MUSIC AND NEUROTRANSMITTERS
In recent years, with the help of neuroscience, we have been able to understand more about How music affects people:
There are three different types of neurotransmitters in the brain that are affected by music: dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. They all play a role in how we experience the music we listen to and what mood it puts us in.
An interesting finding is that when people listen to sad music, they release their own level of oxytocin, which makes them feel better as it is similar to a hug from mom or dad in childhood.
Researchers were also able to discover how listening to music can lead to changes in activity between different parts of our brain, which leads to an improvement in mood and even cognitive function.
MUSIC AGAINST ANXIETY AND STRESS
Some studies of Mindlab International showed that listening to music reduces anxiety and stress levels by up to 65%.
The study relied on volunteers to solve puzzles of varying difficulty, designed to cause different levels of stress. At the same time, doctors played a variety of music at the experiment site.
The song that achieved a 65% decrease in anxiety levels and a 35% reduction in resting heart rate was Weightless, by Marconi Union:
It is important to emphasize that music or Music Therapy does not replace conventional treatment, but complements it. Always seek medical help so that he or she can recommend the best treatment for you.
BENEFITS OF MUSIC THERAPY
Music Therapy can also be used to help people with autism, ADHD, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and other mental health problems. It is also used by people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The benefits of Music Therapy include:
- Improve mood and reduce anxiety
- Increased self-esteem
- Improve memory and cognitive function
- Promote social skills and communication skills
Music therapy for adults can help with:
- Stress management
- Pain management
- Anxiety disorders
When we have well-being, we tend to look at the world in a more positive way and this helps us to remain strong in the face of obstacles, as well as allowing us to look at our ambitions more lightly and achieve them more easily.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT MUSIC FOR YOUR NEEDS
Putting together some playlists for each mood does not replace a music therapist, who will know how to work with the ideal songs for you, but this can be a good exercise in recognizing emotions! The key to choosing the best music for your needs is knowing what you want the music to do for you:
- Are you looking for something calming? Try classical or instrumental music. Piano or guitar pieces are especially good for this purpose because they have a soothing sound that can help calm your nerves:
- Looking for something more upbeat? Jazz, blues, funk are great options that provide a more lively atmosphere!
- Are you looking for something to listen to in sad moments? Try country music, country or more intimate pop:
THE 5 BEST APPS TO FIND YOUR VIBRATION
The internet is a great place to find music that is not just for your ears, but also for your soul. These 5 online music therapy apps offer a variety of different sounds and rhythms that can help you relax and release stress:
SERENITY
For most of us, life is full of stressors that cannot be controlled or avoided. But even in our busy lives, we can still find peace, calm and joy. This is what sets Serenity apart from other meditation apps – it's a guided meditation app with easy-to-follow instructions that teaches a variety of techniques that aim to bring a sense of peace, calm, and joy to your life. And with peaceful music and calm sounds!
MEDITOPY
Meditopia is a market-leading app that will help you calm down, reduce stress, sleep well and begin a journey of self-discovery. With Meditopia's guided music and meditations, you can dedicate some time to yourself and discover the well-being that comes with it.
ATMOSPHERE
If you're struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, or sleep deprivation and want to add a supplement to your wellness routine, Atmosphere is a great choice. The app's binaural therapy is a user-friendly way to relax. Add tension relief to your list of benefits when using this binaural therapy app!
MUSIC THERAPY
Music Therapy is an app with a collection of songs designed to help you relax and make you feel better in many ways. You can listen to music and sounds anywhere and anytime. It's great for meditation, yoga, reiki, pilates or simply when you want to relax.
CALM
We know that the daily routine can sometimes bring an anxious mind, but it doesn't have to be like this! Calm offers guided meditations, bedtime stories for kids and adults, relaxing music, and other resources to help you regain balance.
Want to hear something new? Check out my covers playlist! It features your favorite songs in relaxing, inspiring or energizing versions! Click the button to play:
