The power of Music to heal.

MUSIC

The power of Music to heal.


We all know that music can affect our moods but have you ever wondered how? Some music makes you sad, some calms you, some makes you happy and feel good. Music and its benefits have been extensively researched and some of the results have been ground breaking. Music not only helps with our mental health but also with many physical ailments and life in general. One of the greatest things about it is the effect it can have on managing stress.

A very interesting study by Japanese scientists found that listening to sad music can actually trigger positive emotions. They explained that sadness prompted by art is not the same kind of sadness that results from a tragic event. Indeed, the sadness prompted by art can actually feel quite nice.
"If we suffer from unpleasant emotion evoked through daily life, sad music might be helpful to alleviate negative emotion," the scientists wrote. (The Huffington Post, June 2016)


How does music affect us?
The effect of music in healing is classified as either receptive, when we listen to music or active, when we make our own music.
Listening to music increases the neurotransmitter dopamine. This is the brain’s “motivation molecule” and an integral part of the pleasure-reward system. (12) It’s the same brain chemical responsible for the feel-good states obtained from eating chocolate, orgasm, and runner’s high. Playing music with others or enjoying live music stimulates the brain hormone oxytocin. (13) Oxytocin has been called the “trust molecule” and the “moral molecule” since it helps us bond with and trust others. (14) There’s evidence that the oxytocin bump experienced by music lovers can make them more generous and trustworthy. (15) (Be Brain Fit).

What ailments or situations can music help with?
Music can help with depression, anxiety, headaches, reduce stress prior to surgery and stressful events, calm babies, settle people in aged care facilities, mental health centers, reduce pain, reduce high blood pressure, slow your breathing down, slow your pulse.
Many years ago I was an aerobics instructor and did studies with my clients to evaluate if certain tracks used to cool down brought their pulse rate down quicker.
The interesting outcome with the music that we tried that decreased their heart rates the fastest was music from the television series, Twin Peaks, link below
.
Music can also increase creativity, distract us, calm us.
When I worked in operating theatres many surgeons played music, usually classical as it helped them relax and concentrate and is believed to also help the patient even whilst they are unconscious and also aids in a quicker recovery time.
Music also helps us solve problems, is a great aid to meditation and can help us deal with past hurts.
This list just covers some of the benefits and future research I am sure, will continue to discover more.
At present there are a lot of studies regarding how music can help people with dementia, those that have had strokes, how it can benefit children with autism just to mention a few.


So what music should you listen to when you need to reduce stress?
Below are some suggestions, however of course music preferences are an individual choice.

The Smiths - I Know It's Over
Bowling For Soup - Girl All The Bad Guys Want
REM - Everybody Hurts
The Cure - Pictures Of You
Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees
Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart
Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel - Don't Give Up
Blur - This Is A Low
The Beatles - Good Day Sunshine
(BBC News}


The Huffington Post in 2013 asked their Facebook fans and these were some of the most popular songs:


What a Wonderful World, by Nat King Cole
Sailing by Christopher Cross.
John Mayer, any
Twisting the night away by Sam Cooke
Who am I, by Casting Crowns
I will rejoice, by Mylon LeFevre and Broken Heart
Sinatra. Just about anything.
Landslide, by Stevie Nicks
La Vien Rose, (Life Through Rosé-Colored Glasses), Edith Piaf.
Glitter, by Pink,
Wish you were here, by Pink Floyd
Watermark, by Enya, (A personal favorite of mine)


As mentioned above from Twin Peaks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhJo7aljnQg


I would love to hear your feedback regarding music that does or has helped you and how so we can share it with others and try your suggestions for ourselves.

If you would like to know about how I can help you with managing depression, anxiety or other mental health problems and stress please visit my website.
http://www.valkeenalifecoachaustralia.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html




Posted by Reeanne Keena at 03:13