Exploring the Marriage of Music and Mental Health

We’ve all been there.

After a long day—or during a particularly stressful time—we’ve all played or listened to music, and then lost ourselves in the experience. I mean this in the most positive sense.

It’s no secret that music can calm the mind. This post will explore the marriage of music and mental health.

An Immersive and Soothing Stress Management Tool

To improve your mental health, I urge you to add music to your self-care routine. The right songs or sounds will engage the senses for better stress management and overall health.

Research shows that music can:

• Improve the mood.

• Help to slow breathing.

• Alleviate stress and anxiety.

Music therapy is even used professionally in many cases to relieve symptoms of depression.

The Art of Music Meditation

Have you ever meditated? Even just 10 minutes a day can be powerful.

A regular meditation practice can increase resilience to stress—and music meditation is no different. Experts, in fact, believe that blending meditation and music can deepen the benefits of both.

How so? Researchers at Stanford University found that listening to music can improve brain functioning in the same way—and to the same extent—as medication. A growing body of evidence shows that music can enhance mental states and start to heal injured brains.

Music for Better Mental Health

Scheduling time each day to sit in stillness and listen to music can be truly beneficial.

Different rhythmic stimuli, however, will affect the brain and body in different ways.

Some examples:

• Faster tempos can increase concentration and make us more alert.

• Upbeat music promotes optimism and joy.

• Slower tempos quiet the mind and relax the muscles.

Do these findings resonate with you? Look no further than music to practice self-care and release the stress of the day. You’ll be embracing a newfound sense of calm in no time.