Music has the power to soothe and improve our moods, we all know that, which is why music therapy is being used by more health professionals today, as a natural treatment for stress.
Relaxing Music Causes a Reduction in Cortisol Levels
It has been proven that people experience a greater reduction in their cortisol levels when music therapy is used, than those who do not partake in this therapy. Experts say that music can help stimulate a person’s brain waves enabling them to resonate with the strong beat.
Music with faster beats were found to make people develop stronger concentration and improved alertness. Importantly for stress relief, music with a slower tempo works best in promoting a meditative state while also providing feelings of calmness.
Music Therapy for Alleviating Negative Emotions
Strange as it may seem, another study conducted by a group of Japanese scientists revealed that listening to sad music can actually help bring about positive emotions in human beings. While this finding contradicts the belief of many, the study proved that sadness invoked by music is not the same kind of sadness that one feels after being exposed to a depressing or stressful situation.
Sad music can make a person feel good as well as relieve stress as it gently distracts the subconscious mind from the stressful clamor. This reduces and alleviates negative emotions while bringing more inspiration to daily life.
Music Affects Body Functions to Relieve Stress
As a person listens to music, their brain waves are affected which in turn causes changes in their body functions. Relaxing music causes an individual to take slower, longer and deeper breaths. These physical reactions will also subtly alter a person’s emotional state which will help to reduce burnout and relieve stress.
For those who have a talent for composing original music, allowing themselves to get lost in their own self-penned music can greatly improve their creativity as they also experience respite from stress.
Focusing more on each note being played will allow an individual to forget about their stressful thoughts and experience a refreshing feeling. There is just something about music that allows people to enjoy living and be more carefree, which is such a child-like and stress-free emotion.
Binaural Beat Music for Stress Therapy
There is a genre of music that can be tailored specifically to achieve stress reduction. This is known as binaural beat music. This type of music reduces stress by first altering a person’s brain frequency so that a relaxed state of consciousness can be achieved. Binaural beat music can also be beneficial for people who are plagued with anxiety, depression and panic attacks.
Although musical preference may vary from one person to another, listening to slow and classical music such as baroque is widely known and proven to provide a relaxing effect on a person’s mind and body. This type of music is used often in music therapy situations.
Music has the ability to absorb our attention, explore our emotions and provide a positive distraction. It also puts us in a meditative state, thus preventing the tendency of our mind to churn over our stressors. However, every person has the freedom to choose the kind of music that suits his preference and mood.
Some people totally avoid listening to music especially when they’re too busy and have a hectic schedule. What they may not realize is that music can actually provide a plethora of benefits. From stress reduction to inspiration – it is no wonder that those individuals who listen to music while working have become successful not only in conquering stress but in achieving increased levels of productivity.
As the late, great Bob Marley said – “One good thing about music is that when it hits you, you feel no pain”.
