Mental Health and Music
Mental health is a major theme in a lot of art today, particularly music.
Music For Mental Health is dedicated to coordinating creative projects between the music community and organizations that work to improve people’s overall mental health and well-being.
Society continues to break down the stigma around talking about struggles, drug addiction, depression and anxiety that many can relate to.
In our sorrowful times we turn to a sob song that may sound just like our life relationships, or during a happy night out with the girls you hear a song after a long day to kick off your shoes and get ‘
Lit.’
Whatever the genre you prefer there is always a melody you will be drawn to for whatever reason that maybe.
But why?
Why does music help heal our minds and feel it can reach the darkest part of our soul?
Music is a powerful tool for mood regulation and stress.
The best part is, it’s always available to anyone who needs it whether it’s for a good laugh or a good cry.
Harvard Law did a study that states;
“Music has been shown to activate some of the broadest and most diverse networks of the brain. Of course, music activates the auditory cortex in the temporal lobes close to your ears, but that’s just the beginning. The parts of the brain involved in emotion are not only activated during emotional music, they are also synchronized.
Music also activates a variety of memory regions. And, interestingly, music activates the motor system. In fact, it has been theorized that it is the activation of the brain’s motor system that allows us to pick out the beat of the music even before we start tapping our foot to it!”
The How
So just how does music promote well-being, enhance learning, stimulate cognitive function, improve quality of life, and even induce happiness?
The answer is, because music can activate almost all brain regions and networks, it can help to keep a myriad of brain pathways and networks strong, including those networks that are involved in well-being, learning, cognitive function, quality of life, and happiness.
In fact, there is only one other situation in which you can activate so many brain networks all at once, and that is when you participate in social activities.
Don’t be afraid to dance in your kitchen, express your inner child.
It’s true what they say
“Dance like no-one is watching”
One thing that I like to do is play a coffee-house playlist when it’s quiet in the house, light a candle and just relax.
I can listen to the music that creates a relationship to the verses, to help calm me, and allows me to drift away.
My suggestion?
Create a mood playlist.
If you’re feeling down, anxious, or upset, find a track that expresses how you feel.
Feel those emotions and let the lyrics resonate with you. Then, gradually shift your listening choices so that the music takes you into a happier or calmer place.
This is a popular technique used by music therapists.
Music is the gateway to the soul.
This post was written by Lauren K., and published by Convenient Counseling Services.
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