Can you imagine a world without music? That nightmare sounds almost impossible, as music has been part of human history for as long as we can remember.
Music has the power to change lives and evoke powerful emotions. But did you know that music may also have the ability to help relieve pain? While further research is still needed in this area, here’s what we know so far.
Stress and Anxiety
Have you noticed how the music we listen to can affect our mood? Scientists have noticed this too and have conducted research to help shed some light on the subject.
Most studies have been focusing on the effect of music on stress and anxiety. In fact, relaxing sounds are often used for calming anxiety. You hear it all the time in the background of meditation apps and at the spa. And it seems to be effective.
With some music’s calming effect, we are already aware of how music can impact the mind. Now, we wonder what the extent of this effect could be.
Pain
In one theory, it is said that our emotions and thoughts can affect the central nervous system’s nerve impulses. We can gather from this theory that things that can distract us from pain may lessen our focus on it. And they theorized that music, in particular, can be powerful in distracting people from their pain.
In some studies, scientists demonstrated how the music we love could positively affect pain tolerance. When we listen to the music we prefer, we develop an increased sense of control over our pain.
Aside from preference, researchers also saw the nature of music as a factor. For example, scientists have found that music with a slower tempo and lower intensity has more positive effects on pain tolerance.
Emotions
Music not only attracts our attention, but it also instills an emotional response from us. This is even greater when we have a strong attachment and relationship to a particular piece. Simply put, the songs we like will have a more substantial positive effect on our minds than those we don’t know or do not like.
Can Music Help Provide Pain Relief?
In some clinical settings, music therapy is used to aid in pain relief. Music therapy could come in the form of listening to music, playing a musical instrument, or singing. In some medical and dental procedures, music is used to help soothe children. And for older people who have dementia, listening to music they prefer has been linked to decreased agitation.
However, these studies primarily focus on pain experienced in shorter bursts. There is still not enough research focusing on music’s effect on chronic pain. For example, while we may know that music can help with pain relief, we don’t really understand how. We also still need to consider the different factors that can impact music’s effectiveness in pain relief.
Final Thoughts
Music doesn’t just have the ability to move us. It can also affect our minds, such that it can help reduce stress and provide pain relief. While further research still needs to be done, what we do know further strengthens the idea that music is good for us.
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