When you hear music, it’s almost impossible not to be swept up by the beat or to feel the rhythm. It relaxes, it soothes, and it uplifts. As a therapy, the effects are far-reaching. For musicians, every aspect of playing will evoke deep emotion and the sound is experienced on multiple levels through the whole body. You’ll feel the definite impact of emotional processing, and it affects the autonomic nervous system in a positive way. For those listening to music, there is an integral connection that can inspire or enthuse.
To understand how this works, you need to understand the central nervous system. It is made up of the brain and the spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system which equates to the nerve fibers that branch out from the spinal cord. The brain controls your nervous system and transmits messages via the spinal cord and nerves, this controls muscle movement and organ function. Music requires the whole brain function rather than utilizing the left or right side of the brain although it increases connectivity between the two. The brain is enhanced while the mind is stimulated. When you play music, it creates vibrations in the body and impact at a very deep level. You have probably experienced this when playing.
When it comes to pain, whether acute or chronic, pain can be highly restrictive, and it can also be hard to keep mood lifted. While treatment for pain should be considered, music therapy can be incredibly useful for altering emotions and feelings. Research into the benefits of music has discovered that it can even have a positive effect even on long-term chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia. It is possible that when music is so pleasurable it may release opioids in the brain, and these are the brain’s natural morphine.
So, music is powerful and can help reduce the need for some pain medications but it also, provides a distraction from the pain too.
1. It is possible that music therapy can be used to treat a wide range of imbalances within. It has such a profound experience for all and if you have ever felt despondent or anxious, you will know that music can lift mood or, calm emotions. It can draw you into the rhythm. Music heals through evoking deep memories, but it can be calming and joyful too. It is also expressive. Music therapy works for all ages and backgrounds, it crosses divides and great rapport can be developed between the client and therapist. It has long been known as an established clinical intervention helping anyone with severe disabilities or illnesses as well as minor ones.
2. If you have ever heard of mindfulness or indeed, practiced it, you may wonder how it is associated with music therapy? It helps you to tune into the music, offsetting external distractions and is a very effective way to calm the mind and body. It helps as an alternative to medication and guided imagery and mindfulness meditation will help to control pain. It’s about turning the attention inwards and resonating with the music on a sensory level. When mindful, you will find that music therapy benefits are enhanced because the whole focus is on the music itself and not on any thoughts, feelings or external distractions.
3. When you feel pain, it occurs on both an emotional and physical level. So, any health condition can be improved in a simplistic and cost-effective way. Music reverberates throughout and triggers positive memories and, of course, positive emotions. It’s been proven to increase resistance to pain.
4. There are so many benefits using music therapy. You just must experience it to know that the body is responding. It’s a great way to offset stressors too and can help you to lessen the impact of general aches and pains. Even acute or chronic pain can be eased by the power of music therapy.
Music therapy affects attention, cognition, emotion, behaviors and even, communication. Music therapy can alter perception giving a positive effect on the brain. Sometimes, music can transform or even validate an existing emotional state but, it forms a safe space so to explore emotions and to forget the difficulties of pain. Ultimately, music therapy is not a cure-all, but it can provide much needed respite against the perils of pain especially in the long-term.
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