Introduction
When it comes to listing down our hobbies, music would certainly be at the top of the list for most of us – it holds true whether you are someone who plays music or just somebody who loves to listen to it.
While some listen to music as a leisure activity, others listen to heal. Yes, you read it right. It might come as a surprise to you, but music does provide healing energy. Why else would most of us feel better after listening to music when we are in distress?
It’s a fact backed by science. Music activates major regions and networks of your brain. It also strengthens the connections between various parts of the brain. These parts can include areas responsible for emotions, memory, cognitive functions, well-being, movement, and quality of life.
In fact, neuroscientists have concluded that listening to music increases the production of dopamine that boosts our mood and cheers us up. We will be talking at length about how music can help you heal in this post.
Music Reduces Anxiety
Sadly, stress and anxiety have become a common part of our everyday lives. Whether it is work stress or personal stress, you can find a hundred things during the day that can stress you out. Whatever the reason for your stress, music can work as a healing wand. As per the researchers, slow songs with slow instrumentation and slow tempo can decrease anxiety levels and help people calm down during stressful events. It can do so by controlling the increased heart rate and blood pressure that tend to rise in stressful situations.
Music Reduces Pain
Pain can cause discomfort to individuals. This is where music comes in – it can help ease the pain in some cases. As per research conducted by The National Center for Biotechnology Information, music can help with pain management. The conclusion came after an experiment wherein certain patients who were about to have spine surgery, were instructed to listen to music hours before and after the procedure. As per the results, this group had considerably less pain as against those who did not listen to music before the procedure.
Music Can Help Enhance the Quality of a Workout
It is no new news that exercise plays a crucial role in enhancing our mood and reducing stress by increasing the production of endorphins, a.k.a. your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters. But a workout without music can feel extra demanding. However, a workout performed with upbeat songs can fill you with energy. Ever wondered why?
It is because music can boost your mood and provide you with a distraction that might prevent you from looking at the clock again and again and waiting for a particular exercise to get over. In addition, music can also increase endurance, and enhance metabolic efficiency.
It Can Help You Have a Peaceful Sleep
“The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep”
We are all familiar with the power of a good night’s sleep. But a good night’s sleep can be hard to have when the overthinking mode of your brain is activated. Turns out, music can be a healthier alternative to a sleeping pill as it can calm down the nervous system of your brain by promoting slower breathing, reduced blood pressure, and stable heart rate. By doing so, your body sends a signal to the nervous system to calm down, take rest and prepare the body to sleep.
Music Can Boost Immunity
An effect on the mind is followed by an effect on the body. That’s why, it’s very common for you to experience physical distress or fall sick after periods of stress and anxiety. As stress hormones can affect your immunity for the worse, music being a therapy, can reduce anxiety and boost your body’s immunity. Your body’s immunity majorly depends on Immunoglobulin, also known as IgA, which acts as a significant antibody for the first line of defense when your body needs to fight disease. Music increases, particularly calming music, the production of IgA, ultimately creating a stronger defense against diseases.
The Bottom Line
It cannot be denied that music is no less than therapy. Whether you are listening to your favorite artists, some calming tune, or white background sounds, just know you are only benefiting your mental health and overall well-being.
You might have already experienced the healing powers of music, but now you know the science behind it – how it actually helps you during your tough times or moments of high anxiety and stress.
So, feel free to open your favourite music app and listen to your favorite music to have a therapy session wherever you are.
