Why Use Music For Stress Relief?
Music is very therapeutic in nature. In fact, it has been widely used for healing since the early ages. This is why music is now utilized in a much more streamlined way for healing purposes.
(Photo: Pixabay)
It is now known as music therapy. Whether it’s a mental or physical concern, music has been found to be very effective in easing, alleviating, and even treating some conditions.
Science Between Music and Stress Relief
The main science behind the powers of music when it comes to healing is based on its ability to reduce levels of cortisol. It is worth nothing that cortisol is a hormone that is largely responsible for stress and anxiety.
Keep in mind that studies have shown stress is also one of the biggest factors in why diseases are very evident these days. Eliminating the very contributing factor in the equation will obviously result in a different outcome. In simpler terms, when people listen to music on a regular basis, stress can be alleviated and relieved. And in the long run, diseases and illnesses can be prevented.
How Listening to Music Helps as a Stress Reliever
Aside from reducing the body’s levels of cortisol, here are some of the most apparent ways that music helps relieve stress:
Level of Anxiety Decreases
While listening to music can decrease stress hormones, it can also increase the production of endorphins, also known as the ‘happy hormones’. When this happens, you will feel “grounded”, allowing your mind to stay present. As a result, your anxiety decreases. Some people even attest that they’ve already overcome anxiety attacks.
Builds Immunity
Vitamin C is the best solution to strengthen and boost your immune system. But in a more natural sense, it has been found that after listening to music, even for just an hour or less, the human body increases its anti-body production. When you have enough antibodies, this will help you get better and stronger immunity.
Reduces Blood Pressure
If you are suffering from high blood pressure due to lifestyle choices and/or other factors, specialists today recommend the utilization of music and music therapy for this kind of concern. As it happens, music has been found to regulate and normalize blood pressure. This is why most people who are taking music lessons have been found to have normal and stable blood pressure.
Improves Concentration
Focus and concentration are some of the things that you can improve, with the use of music. In fact, this is one of the reasons why many parents send their kids to guitar lessons and piano lessons – as music, in general, improves brain signals. This is a very helpful factor for young people, which is also beneficial for adults and seniors.
Elevates Mood
When you are in deep and great stress, your mood will certainly be affected. Many people today tune in to music when they are not in the mood. This shows how music can be beneficial to one’s mood…if you notice, a person’s mood can apparently change just by listening to certain music. Based on studies, listening and indulging in certain types of music can elevate your mood.
Music Genres That Relieve Stress
Classical music is the most popular choice of music genre when it comes to relieving stress and deepening focus. Although it has been found to be effective, there are other music genres that can also help in relieving stress:
- Instrumental
- Jazz
- Soul
It is worth nothing that your preferred music may still impact you on a much deeper level than these genres. So, if you have another preferred type of music that may relieve your stress and change your mood, try listening to it too.
Final Thoughts
All in all, music is one of the most practical and effective ways to relieve stress. With these science-backed points and basis, it would be quite surprising if people didn’t utilize music when it comes to dealing with stress.
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Guest Author Curtis Dean
Curtis Dean writes on behalf of Sage Music School, where they base lessons on the science and research of the psychology of learning. Their effective teaching methods create confident and capable students of all ages, who enjoy the happiness of making music.
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**All photographs & text in this article are © 2019 Curtis Dean / Sage Music School, except where otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Do not download or reproduce without written permission.**
