Given the turbulent events of the last few years, there has been an emphasis on looking after not just your physical health but your mental well-being. For thousands of years, people regarded mental discomforts and problems as less important than physical manifestations of illness. Still, society has since established the importance of caring for your mental health.
With struggles ranging from anxiety to losing interest in one’s favorite activities, mental health issues can severely impact your quality of life. For this reason, many researchers have carried out various studies to figure out accessible yet effective ways to treat mental health conditions. One of the methods they’ve found is music therapy, typically using calm piano music to soothe anxiety.
How Does Science Support Music Therapy?
You hear music through the ears and perceive it with your brain. The music’s vibrations reverberate, hitting your eardrum, and your nerves transport the sensations to your brain. It triggers the sense of pleasure by releasing dopamine, a neurotransmitter that makes you feel happy.
According to researchers, playing musical instruments increases the grey matter in the brain. Additionally, when you listen to music, your sympathetic nervous system is taken over by your parasympathetic nervous system, helping you feel more relaxed.
How Does Music Help Heal You?
Kenichi Itao, a researcher from Juntendo University in Japan, carried out an experiment where he called participants and gave them a brief test. They listened to music for five minutes and then sat in silence for another five. The music they listened to was categorized into three: classical, healing, and Japanese pop or J-pop. Itao and his team attached a sensor to their bodies to monitor heart rate variability. They observed that low frequency and high frequency (LF/HF) drastically decreased, meaning participants felt more relaxed than before they listened to music. The research team observed the best result when the participants listened to classical music, proving that listening to calming music yields many positive effects.
How Does Music Therapy Benefit You?
According to Harvard Women’s Health Watch, music therapy helps reduce anxiety and discomfort, particularly during major medical procedures. It can even restore lost speech and has helped improve the successes of physical treatments and rehabilitation. It balances blood pressure and heart rates and has even improved the quality of life of people who have dementia.
However, music therapy also has many benefits for mental health. Many studies have observed music therapy to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. It helps fill minds with positive thoughts and feelings by stimulating oxytocin and endorphins, elevating their mood. Insomnia and autism patients have also seen improvements when undergoing music therapy.
What is Involved in Music Therapy?
Music therapy sessions are tailored to the patient’s needs. It is usually done in a one-on-one session that lasts from 30 minutes to an hour. After a consultation, the therapist designs a plan that includes singing, listening to music, creating and writing songs, discussing views on lyrics, and even learning how to play instruments. Music therapy has also been found to improve communication in those who are shy or have difficulty vocalizing their views.
Conclusion
The simple act of listening to beautiful harp music brings wonders to your mind, body, and soul. Backed by science, music can make you feel better in many different ways, healing you physically and mentally.
If you’re looking for Christian healing music, be sure to check out our many instrumentals on Prayer Pray. We have all kinds of relaxing music, from cello and violin to piano and harp, that you can use for prayer, worship, relaxing, studying, sleeping, and more. Visit our music store today!
