According to research data, the benefits of music therapy include the management and treatment of anxiety, depression and other mental health disorders. And while music therapy is often used to promote mental and emotional wellbeing, it can also improve the quality of life for people with physical health problems.
If you like music, you may already know that it can affect your mood. You may have noticed that putting on your favorite song while preparing for an important meeting makes you feel alive and energized. You may even like to listen to relaxing music before bedtime while you are in bed. There is a scientific answer to this. Here, we will look at the benefits of music in the treatment of emotional and physical issues.
What is Music Therapy?
A music therapy session may include music creation, songwriting or listening. The training of music therapists is not limited to music, but often covers a wide range of clinical skills such as communication, cognitive neuroscience, psychological disorders, chronic illness and pain management.
When you begin working with a professional music therapist, you often start by identifying your goals. For example, if you are depressed and feel emotionally unwell most days, you can use music to naturally boost your mood. You may also want to try the benefits of music therapy to treat and cure anxiety, insomnia or focus disorders.
After discussing your needs, the goals of music therapy may include:
- Improving your mood
- Improving the quality of life
- Strengthening skills in coping with and solving psychosomatic problems
- Encouraging emotional expression
- Relief from anxiety and symptoms of stress
How does music act therapeutically for the body and mind?
Music helps you to express your feelings without words, and can also be approached as an “environment” for exploring new ways to change how you feel in the moment. If, for example, you express anger or anxiety, your therapist may ask you to listen to or create your own music by composing slow, soft and relaxing tones.
This transition to calm sounds can help you feel more relaxed. There is a scientific explanation for this. Several studies have shown that heart rate and blood pressure measurements respond to changes in volume and rhythm. In addition, some research shows that listening to music releases endorphins, which can help people manage pain.
Music Therapy and Cancer
Cancer treatment and cure also includes emotional healing. Cancer patients often need more than one type of treatment to address their complex medical needs. Different sources of support can take care of their emotional and spiritual well-being. Music therapy has been shown to help reduce anxiety in cancer patients starting radiation treatments and can also help them cope with side effects of chemotherapy, such as nausea.
