Music’s Positive Impact on Mental Health
This post on Music and Mental Health is written by Kathryn McPhillips, M.S.
Key Insights
- Music boosts mental health through brain chemistry – Music enhaces mood by increasing happiness-related neurotransmitters while reducing stress hormones.
- Specific genres support cognitive mental wellness – Instrumental music improves focus and concentration, while meaningful songs can unlock emotional memories.
- Music has physical benefits, too – Music’s influence on vital signs and hormones reduces anxiety, improves sleep quality, and increases pain tolerance.
- Psychological processing and emotional healing effects – Music provides therapeutic self-expression and validation for those experiencing mental health challenges.
- Mental health support through community – Music create social connections that combat isolation and build supportive networks for emotional wellbeing.
Music is more than just entertainment; it is also a powerful psychological tool that impacts our well-being. It can also be viewed as a universal language, no matter your background, you can connect with others on an emotional level. Research has shown over the years how tunes can positively impact our mental health. Whether we are listening to it, creating it, or sharing it with others, music has the ability to lift our mood, build social connections, and improve how we feel physically.
Music’s Impact on Mood
One of the most obvious connections between rhythym and mental health is the impact of music on our mood. Listening to melodies can positively affect neurotransmitters in our brain by boosting serotonin and dopamine levels to actively improve our mood. Creating music, especially singing, can also boost serotonin levels and reduce cortisol levels, helping to lower stress.
Music has numerous effects on our cognition
Music can unlock memories and remind us of people, places, and events, due to activating areas in the brain associated with memory and emotion. Certain musical genres can also help us to remain concentrated. Low-fidelity, or “lo-fi”, and classical melodies are generally regarded as good musical genres for increased focus, as their soft volumes and repetitive melodies can help listeners enter a calm, focused state. Usually, songs without lyrics or with minimal lyrics are the most beneficial for remaining concentrated on work, because they limit distractions.
Music has an Effect on Hormone Levels
Music increases levels of serotonin and dopamine, which are chemicals in the brain associated with happiness and motivation. Tunes also lowers levels of cortisol, which is the hormone associated with stress. These hormonal shifts can lead to better sleep, reduced stress, and even a higher pain tolerance. The pace of songs also affects our heart rate and breathing. Fast songs lead to an increased heart rate and blood pressure. Meanwhile, slow songs decrease heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rates. Therefore, tunes can have a big impact on our physical health.
Self-Expression through Music
One of the classic ways songs get written is through a need to express one’s emotions. Listening to sounds can be a way for musicians to express themselves in ways that they are comfortable with, with them finding it easier to write songs about hard-hitting topics, such as the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or one’s struggle with substance use, rather than speak about them candidly. Through these expressions, we, the listeners, can seek these songs out as a way to feel validation that we are not alone in our struggles. Knowing someone else is going through a similar situation can provide a feeling of emotional relief when we otherwise feel alone and unheard.
Music Brings People Together
Music fosters social bonds and connections, as shared musical tastes often bring individuals together. Joining a band, choir, or other musical group can offer a strong sense of belongingness and community. Songs allow people to connect with others who they otherwise may never have connected with. Music festivals and concerts also create great opportunities to bring people together in a shared experience. Since song and dance can be deeply cathartic, meeting other people who connect with the same songs can lead to meaningful emotional bonds through shared experiences, such as personal losses and struggles. These bonds can then foster intimate friendships and help those who feel isolated find a supportive and understanding community.
Music is Medicine
Melodies are also used strategically as a form of treatment with many benefits. Music therapy is an evidence-based intervention implemented by trained professional music therapists who use song and dance to improve an individual’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Music therapy has helped individuals with dementia to recall memories. Additionally, music therapy is linked with decreases in pain after medical procedures. This reduces stress. It also improves coping skills and emotional expression.
In Summary
Music is a powerful tool that boosts our mental health. It enhances cognition, lowers stress, and increases the levels of chemicals in the brain associated with happiness and motivation. Tunes also promotes self-expression and social connection allowing people to process emotions and bond through shared experiences in musical communities. Consider using song and dance therapeutically to help individuals to improve their emotional, mental, and physical well-being.
Next time you hear your favorite song, take a moment to reflect on how it makes you feel!
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