Maybe you’re studying for a test, maybe you’re getting ready for a first date, or maybe you’re just driving. Whatever it is that you’re doing when anxiety strikes, just know that there is a song out there that will be able to soothe your mind.
What is Music Therapy?
Music therapy is the clinical use of music to aid in treatments and to improve the quality of a patient’s life. It is used in many different cases and has been proven to be effective.
The history behind Music Therapy
The earliest mention of music therapy was in 1789 in Columbian Magazine. In the 1800s music therapy really started to be recognized. During this time, two dissertations were published. The first was by Edwin Atlee and the second by Samule Mathews. Both of these men were students of Dr. Benjamin Rush, who strongly believed in music therapy to help treat medical diseases.
How to use Music to Help Reduce Anxiety
I’m no doctor but personally, I like to have music in just about every part of my life. For me, it really helps with anxiety and depression and makes me feel so much better in almost no time at all. As a student who also has a job, I have very little free time, so finding ways to help me cope is beneficial. It has been found that music can positively affect parts of the brain that manage anxiety and depression. This is because music can increase the levels of dopamine that are released. Studies show that the best music to help lower anxiety levels is classical.
Here are a few ways to use music to reduce anxiety:
- Create a playlist of songs that you know will help you to relax.
- Find songs that are slow and mellow that you might be able to meditate to.
- While you study, listen to slow instrumental tracks of songs you know. (This is for if you aren’t necessarily a fan of classical music but need music without lyrics)
In Conclusion?
To me music is the heart and soul of my life. I listen to everything, from rap to indie to country! Find what music speaks to you and you might just stumble across the soundtrack of your life!
