Music therapy is using music in a clinical context to enhance emotional well-being. To improve patients’ mental health and treat mental health concerns, music therapy does more than play music for them; it also encourages them to take an active role in the process.
Music therapy has shown promising results in treating mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, sleep difficulties, and dementia. The singing sounds like a great way to help with all of these health issues. It seems that listening to music may help bring people closer together. The answer must be found in the fact that music is a socially beneficial art form.
Benefits Of Music Therapy
It’s possible to tailor music therapy to each patient’s specific needs, making it an effective treatment option for individuals of all ages, including infants and toddlers. It has many applications and may help individuals with varying musical abilities and health issues. Participating actively in musical experiences can:
• Engage circuits in the brain responsible for a wide range of cognitive and behavioral processes, including learning, emotion regulation, decision making, and reward processing, among many others.
• Slow your breathing and blood pressure
• Soothe your tense muscles
• Get those endorphins flowing!
• Calm the nerves and bring forth a sense of peace
• Help children and youth with developmental and learning difficulties strengthen their motor skills and enhance their ability to communicate.
Technique
Some people who are depressed find that listening to music helps them feel better and happier. They are interested in using music therapy to treat other indicators of depression, including:
• Lack of concentration
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
When participating in music therapy, they have the opportunity to explore various musical styles, learn new instruments, and even write songs. You may be advised to control your emotions or to follow your gut when carrying them out.
If you’re feeling furious, you can choose to play or sing at a high volume with quick, dissonant chords. Furthermore, you may experiment with altering your emotional state by listening to different types of music.
Your music therapist may recommend calm, quiet, and soothing music to listen to or compose if you reveal feelings of anger or tension during treatment. Most music therapy sessions are conducted alone; however, group sessions are also available.
Having trouble with one or more of the following? Think about music therapy.
•Depressed
•Alzheimer’s disease
•Inferiority complex
•Autism
•Impulsive
•Heart condition
•Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
•Anxiety or stress
•Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
•Rehabilitation after injury or medical procedures
•Emotional disorders
•Difficulties in verbal and nonverbal communication
•Headache
•Chronic pain
•Negative emotions
•Surgery related issues
•Problems related to childbirth
•Diabetes
•Movement or coordination problems
•Breathing problems
•Substance use disorder
Music is a treatment – Not a solution
Some medical illnesses, such as mental health issues, may not respond well to music therapy. When used in conjunction with other treatments, such as medicine, psychotherapy, and lifestyle changes, it may be pretty helpful.
To ensure the safety of music therapy for those with hearing loss, hearing aids, or hearing implants, it is recommended that they first speak with an audiologist.
Similarly, music therapy that incorporates physical activity (such as dancing) may not be appropriate if you are dealing with pain, sickness, injury, or any physical condition that makes exercise difficult. Music therapy is something you should discuss with your healthcare provider.