Can Music Therapy Bring Stress Relief?

Here in the west there seems to be an outbreak of stress and anxiety.

Experts tell us the figures are high and rising. Good news for those in the stress relief industry! No wonder their products are burgeoning. Some 'solutions' are better than others, but one that's tried and tested and is very effective, is music therapy. It's good for kids and parents alike -and it even works on some pets!

Music has always been used for its power to heal. There are stories about it in Greek mythology, and in the Bible there's the story of David soothing the king's depression by playing on his harp.

Tell Me More About Music Therapy!

There are basically two types: playing music as therapy, and listening to music. We'll focus on the second one, which enables the listener to not only gain anxiety and stress relief, but to conquer a host of related issues.

Meditation is often used with music therapy, and through a combination of listening, correct breathing and guided imagery, we can tap into the deeper levels of the subconscious mind. This affects not only our hormonal balance, but our moods and general health.

How Does Music Have This Effect?

Psychiatrists are of the opinion the beat or rhythm of the music penetrates deeply into the subconscious, and there it triggers associations of safety, warmth and security. That's because before birth a baby is surrounded by the security of the womb and the predominant sound is the mother's beating heart.

Before birth there were no worries about paying the bills, financing the kids' education and so on. Soft, rhythmic music enables us to leave all these concerns behind for a while and the soothing sounds help us regroup and recuperate.

When choosing music as therapy, either for yourself or others, you must choose carefully. Music can be a great stress reliever or a great stress producer! Avoid the tendency to pick music just because you like it. This can have a value, but for deep relaxation and stress relief you need to be more discriminating.

And picking 'relaxing' music that you hate - simply because you think it will be good for you -  can have the opposite effect!

Luckily there are music therapists who have covered all the bases. Their research and experience indicate that music with a beat of just under the regular heart beat - that's 72 beats a minute - is the most effective stress reliever. Even more so if it has repeated patterns.

Some of the most effective genres of music are known to be:

• Classical themes
• Celtic rhythms
• Native American music
• New Age recordings

Bear in mind that different styles of music can affect the mind differently:

• When you're lonely and blue, steer clear of weepy country songs!

• If you're stressed and your brain is over-active, hard rock could be the last thing you need. On the other hand, if you've had a particularly boring day at the office, heavy metal could be the best music therapy for you - provided you like it, of course!

• When you've to do something on your own and it threatens you, music from your childhood or teenage years can be highly reassuring.

If it's relaxation you're after, instrumental music with flutes, bass drums and even sounds from nature - bird song, ocean waves, rustling leaves, etc. -  are your best bet. These all have an extraordinarily calming effect.

The Best Way To Enjoy Music Therapy

These tips will help you really feel the benefits of music therapy:

• Set aside a minimum of 20 minutes in a place where you won't be bothered by others

• Sit or lie in a restful state

• Or you may prefer to walk in a restful, quiet environment while listening to your iPod or CD player. This can also combine regular, deep breathing and exercise

• Choose music that's appropriate for your needs; many commercially produced music is ideal for different situations and is often combined with meditations (e.g. on stress relief, on boosting confidence and self-esteem, etc.)

• The more often you can do this the better; every day is ideal

When you are really into music therapy you'll notice a great all-round improvement in your physical, mental and spiritual health. You'll look back and wish you discovered it earlier!

© 2008 Frank McGinty, StressReliefGold.com