5 Incredible Benefits of Music Therapy
Music is one of the finest forms of art with the power to touch souls, transform minds and change lives.
For centuries, it’s been a source of inspiration for individuals and entire nations. From Mozart to Adele, music has always been an outlet for artistic expression. It’s powerful enough to mend a broken heart and brighten up even the worst of days.
The incredible impact of music on people has set the grounds for using it as a therapeutic practice. Music therapy is performed by licensed professionals and therapists and addresses emotional, social and cognitive issues.
This revolutionary kind of therapy is a regular part of many rehabilitation and special needs programs. It helps treat autism, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, depression, Parkinson’s disease and even schizophrenia. Aside for healing, you can use music to awaken your creativity and tap into your subconscious mind.
Read on to discover the many benefits of music therapy and its effects on your emotional and mental health.
1. It Keeps the Brain Healthy and Active
Your brain is the machine that controls every mental and physical process. It works non-stop to keep you healthy and safe. But to keep doing that, it needs an occasional brushing up.
Listening to uplifting music both on your own and during a therapy session can help the brain stay healthy. Music will also improve your cognitive function, keeping the brain active and perceptive.
2. It Reduces Stress and Depression
In a fast-paced, overstimulated world, it’s sometimes hard to relax and be in the present moment. We’re overwhelmed by useless information and have a hard time unplugging from social media and clearing our mind.
Music therapy can reduce stress almost instantly. It’s also very effective in treating symptoms of depression, alongside standard therapy and care.
This is because when listening to music, especially tunes we like, our brain releases dopamine. This is a neuro-transmitter responsible for good mood and explains why we feel better and happier after listening to our favorite jams.
3. It Helps Fetal Development
You’ve probably heard of pregnant women playing music to the baby in the womb. This isn’t some kind of new-age nonsense. Music therapy can actually help the fetus develop positive behavior post-birth and be more responsive to music.
In a study of 272 premature babies with a respiratory distress syndrome, researchers wanted to know if music therapy would help them develop cognitively. A music therapist played lullabies and other live sounds to the babies three times a week in the course of two weeks. The babies showed improvements in their sucking patterns, respiratory and heart rates, and feeding behaviors.
This goes to show that music therapy is a truly miraculous form of healing that can help humans of all ages.
4. It’s Good for Your Mental and Emotional Health
If you’re suffering from mental and emotional distress, but are unable to find relief, try music therapy.
People go through so many positive and negative emotions throughout the day and it’s impossible to process them all properly. Sometimes, the best we can do is sweep them under the carpet and wait for them go away. Mental health, however, is rooted in releasing intense emotions.
Music is an effective way to release pent up anger and resolve mood disorders. It’ll teach you coping mechanisms and offer support in critical situations.
5. It Promotes Heart Health
A broken heart is not just something that happens when we lose someone we love. It’s an actual condition with physical symptoms like chest pain, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath and even cardiogenic shock.
Music therapy can not only heal a broken heart, but also keep your heart healthy afterwards.
It can stabilize your heart rate and lower your blood pressure. Music therapy can be an effective treatment after a heart surgery or when recovering from a heart attack.
It does so by helping the body release oxytocin, which is the hormone responsible for pain relief. It’s the same hormone that gives us butterflies when we’re in love and that helps the mother during childbirth, and in breastfeeding and bonding with her newborn baby.
How Will You Implement Music Therapy Into Your Life?
Music is food for the soul and nourishment for the senses.
When used as therapy, it can improve the quality of your life, your relationships and overall mental and emotional health.
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Frosina A. Ivanovic is a content marketing specialist and writer. She’s passionate about quality coffee, travel, wellness, and digital marketing. You can connect with Frosina on LinkedIn or her website, Zhillmatic.