The Healing Power of Music

Whether you’re listening to it or creating it, music can reduce stress and anxiety, distract you from negative feelings and emotions, and even relieve symptoms of health or mental health conditions. Music has been used to reduce physical and emotional pain and increase quality of life in medical and psychiatric hospitals, drug and alcohol programs, assisted living facilities, and cancer centers. These same music practices can be worked into your daily life, especially with the guidance of a counselor, coach, or licensed music therapist who can assess your needs and use specialized and research-based techniques to help guide you towards reaching your therapeutic goals.

Here are a few of the many ways music can enhance your life.

Overcoming Fear

If stress or anxieties make it difficult for you to do things, such as going to a busy store or riding on a train or airplane, music can help ground you before the fear turns into a full-blown panic attack. Have headphones handy and music that feels calming or distracting to you. When you feel the anxiety begin to rise, take a few minutes to simply close your eyes and breathe to the music. If you would prefer to have your eyes open, you can keep a peaceful image such as a nature scene on your phone or printed out. Take slow, deep, rhythmic breaths, and within minutes, your heart rate and breathing can be slowed, bringing your stress level down and allowing you to do things you might not otherwise have be able to do.