Whenever you’re upset chances are you turn to music to make yourself feel better. Music can help us in a lot of ways and well, over the past few years people have been seeing that more and more.
Not only does music bring us closer together but it can also help us to get our emotions out and some even think it could work wonders on depression depending on the case. Actually, a medically reviewed article posted by Healthline even suggests it can do things like help us learn more properly, improve our memories, and do so much more. Sure, it might not have much research behind it but what research is there seems quite prominent.
Healthline actually wrote as follows on how music can help with anxiety:
There’s lots of evidence that listening to music can help calm you in situations where you might feel anxious.
Studies have shown that people in rehab after a stroke are more relaxed once they’ve listened to music for an hour.
Similar studies indicate that music blended with nature sounds help people feel less anxious. Even people facing critical illness feel less anxiety after music therapy.
The APA even notes that music can work big time in health-care areas. This meaning places like clinics and operating rooms even. We as human beings seem to be much more relaxed when listening to music that we like and that in itself is a truth that’s hard to argue with. If you’re dealing with something be it physical pain, emotional pain, or some kind of mental health issue music may be able to help on some level be it small or big.
There are even therapies that are engrained in music, for instance, neurologic music therapy and even ‘music medicine.’ The things music can do are quite astonishing really. I know, for some it might not make a difference but for a lot of us it helps.
Healthypeople.gov actually wrote as follows on the topic when going over research on music therapy for depression:
Depression is a common problem that causes changes in mood and loss of interest and pleasure. Music therapy, an intervention that involves regular meetings with a qualified music therapist, may help improve mood through emotional expression. This systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness of music therapy for depression compared to treatment as usual (TAU) or psychological therapy. It identified 9 studies involving 421 people from adolescence to older age. It found that music therapy in addition to TAU is more effective than TAU alone. Music therapy seems to reduce depressive symptoms and anxiety, and helps to improve functioning (e.g., maintaining involvement in jobs, activities, and relationships). It is unclear whether music therapy is better than psychological therapy. Future trials should study depression in children and adolescents, and future trial reports should thoroughly describe music therapy interventions, other interventions, and the person who delivers these interventions.
Would you consider Music therapy or something of the sort for your issues and if so what do you think it could help you with? I for one already seemingly use music to help calm myself when my anxiety flares up. To learn more about the benefits of music, take a look at the videos below you may be surprised about the things you find.