We humans have been making music since the dawn of time to express ourselves, create a mood and bring people together. A form of art and entertainment, music is now proving to be an effective treatment for mental health disorders.
The Health Benefits of Music Therapy
Most of us listen to music in a distracted way, as a background to other activities. But music’s impact on our brains is nothing short of dramatic.
According to a study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences by Stefan Koelsch, music “engages sensory processes, attention, memory-related processes, perception-action mediation” and many more brain functions.
“Music is processed through the limbic system, the emotional core of the brain, which is why music is so powerful for people,” adds Ronald Borsczon, a professor of music at Los Angeles’ California State University, Northridge and a board-certified music therapist. “You’ve all seen the ‘music for serenity’ or ‘deep relaxation’ CDs at the store, but when you have a playlist tailor-made for you, it’s a whole different experience,” says Borsczon.
A trained music therapist helps their patients customize a musical experience to treat a specific issue or condition. It’s holistic and no drugs are involved.
Music Therapy for Anxiety
Personalized music therapy can help restore a sense of calm, whether you’re dealing with chronic long-term anxiety or the stress that comes with waiting for a medical procedure to begin. Research shows that as little as one session of music therapy can improve pre-surgical patients’ anxiety and improve the well-being of Alzheimer’s patients.
“Ideally you want to replace anxiety with a sense of calm, but you can’t do that without establishing calm first,” Borsczon says. He does this by helping patients “anchor” calmness into a particular melody, chant or song, then pairs that with the onset of a particular body sensation, such as a rapid heart beat or nervous sweating. This creates a cue or cues for the patient to bring him or herself back to calm.
Music Therapy for Depression
Depression poses unique challenges for music therapy. Because the condition is emotional and physiological, Borsczon recommends that patients using music therapy for depression also work with a doctor or psychologist. What music therapy does do especially well, he says, “is help people find a creative outlet they didn’t know they had.” Even if a patient doesn’t consider themselves musical, activities such as singing, chanting and playing instruments can lead to improved mood.
When working with depression patients, Borsczon says he’s careful “to meet the client where they’re at musically and emotionally.” Often that means not relying on upbeat music, but rather helping the person feel understood. “Music is a bridge between space, sound and time, and the vibration that exists in the music can often bring a client across the bridge.”
Music Therapy for PTSD
“PTSD often freezes people, physically and emotionally. Music can helps them become unfrozen,” Borsczon says. Research has found the simple act of drumming to be powerfully healing in cases of PTSD and drumming as part of a group even more effective than cognitive behavioral therapy, a long-standing psychological treatment.
Music Therapy and Self-Care
Music therapy is a form of preventative wellness therapy, too. If you’re having a difficult time, experiencing grief or feeling lonely, music therapy can help you manage your emotions. And while it can’t completely replace professional guidance in times of emotional crisis or when you’re dealing with chronic emotional distress, it can be part of a self-care routine.
