Music on The Mind

 

Music has long been recognized as a powerful medium of both emotional articulation and comfort. Most of us, including me, turn to music when we're stressed, anxious, or in need of solace, and it is an incredible & immediate mood boost we receive from listening to the music we enjoy. Funny enough, most of the music I listen to is considered emo, yet I still find it enjoyable. So what's actually happening? How does music actually impact our mental health?

Researchers have found that music can make our brain release dopamine, which is a chemical linked to pleasure and reward. That's why hearing something we like can automatically put us in a better mood and ease stress. Tests showed that people who listened to their favorite music for short periods of time each day had much lower cortisol levels, the stress hormone.

It's honestly an effective emotional stimulus, enabling us to deal with and communicate emotions that may otherwise go unaddressed. Some songs have a way of encapsulating precisely what we're experiencing, giving us a feeling of confirmation and comprehension. This emotional release is acknowledged by psychologists as being helpful for mental well-being, providing a healthy means of release for pent-up emotions.

Music is not just listening; it can also heal people, and I don't just mean figuratively. Music therapy is a treatment that uses music to meet physical, emotional, and social needs. It has helped stroke patients speak again, allowed people with autism to express their feelings, and has many other uses. The applications are as diverse as music itself.