Music therapy is a special type of physiological therapy. It is primarily based on incorporating music and different inter-linked elements to help treat the underlying health conditions. According to research, music therapy helps provide a safe place for patients to express their emotions in a less-threatening way.

Music therapy is one of the proven techniques used to treat several mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, and other serious conditions. Music therapists used various mediums and interventions to help treat one’s underlying mental disorder. From songwriting and lyric analysis to composing and playing instruments, one can expect it all. 

How does Music Therapy help with depression?

Music therapists are more than just music experts. They are well-educated, trained, and experienced healthcare individuals who have learned various communication and clinical skills to treat psychological disorders and chronic illnesses.

After having an introductory session with the patient, music therapists discuss the goals they wish to achieve via their therapy sessions. Goals vary from person to person. Some wish to relieve stress; some want to enhance their mood while others wish to better grip on their productively expressing their emotions to keep depression at bay.

After analyzing the patient’s condition and their goals, the therapist devises a plan to help patients achieve their goals. Here are the major types of music therapy activities that might ask you to indulge in when fighting depression.

1- Lyric analysis

 A person receiving music therapy is most likely introduced to an alternative mode of talk therapy. One of the best ways to overcome depression is to talk about the difficulties or challenges you face in life and how all the setbacks and hurdles make you feel. Talking about things always helps. It is why your traditional therapy is mostly based on indulging in deep conversations with your therapist.

In music therapy, instead of direct communication, lyric analysis is used as an alternative since most individuals are often reluctant to open up to a stranger. During the therapy session, the patient is encouraged to share their perspective or provide alternative lyrics related to their problems and treatment plan.

 This helps the patient identify lyrics of the song that they can correlate to – ultimately allowing them to process their emotions, experiences, and thoughts in a less threatening way. It is one of the indirect approaches therapists use to help patients communicate with them about their problems.

2- Improvisation Music Playing

Sometimes all you need to treat your underlying condition is to let out the pain. It is often hard for depressed individuals to channel their emotions and feelings since hundreds of thoughts are going on in their heads simultaneously. Music helps them express their emotions by channeling it to produce something amazing.

Similar to how boxers find it relaxing to get in fights or train harder when angry or going through overwhelmed emotions, music lovers can do the same. Choose an instrument to play and use the escalation and de-escalation notes to express the storm of feelings buried deep inside.

For instance, a group of individuals finding it hard to express their emotions can let their emotions out and express them by setting out a storm using their drums, piano, guitar, and other instruments. Similarly, a single can uses high and low notes to express his emotions as well.

Almost all live popular performances by musicians around the globe are based on their emotions. They tend to channel their feelings to give the audience a remarkable, ‘true to the heart’ performance. If you ever hear them, you can feel their emotions through their performance.

3- Music as a mood regulator

One of the major reasons why the music industry has been blooming since forever is that the beats help regulate the listeners’ mood. Listening to happy and upbeat music helps shift your mood from depressed to jolly and playful in no time. On the other hand, sad music helps you engage with your feelings, whereas slow music helps you calm down.

Therefore, a music therapist plays music based on the patient’s current mood and slowly begins to alter it. The aim here is to shift it to a more calming, positive, and happier state. This helps the patient analyze different feelings throughout the session and learn the trick himself and self-treat in the future.

4- Songwriting

This technique used by music therapists is somewhat similar to keeping a journal. Sometimes, the root cause of depression is undealt feelings. Individuals find their surroundings unsafe to express how they actually feel. Therefore during this intervention, an individual is asked to come up with lyrics for a song based on their feelings. Patients often write and compose a song based on their current state. This helps them channel their inner, deep-buried emotions and express them in a safe and unjudged environment.

Furthermore, listening to their creation can also help develop a feeling of self-worth, which leads to an increase in self-esteem. The more confident one begins to feel, the more control he begins to have over his emotions.  Therefore he learns to process them productively over time.

Benefits of Music Therapy

Traditional psychological therapy and medication often help individuals treat depression. But there are always those who need something out of the box to treat their underlying depression. For instance, painkillers don’t work for everyone. Some opt for the best Kratom for pain. Similarly, instead of traditional therapy, music therapy helps individuals find a suitable treatment plan.

• Fun and Comforting

Music therapy can be quite fun and comforting compared to regular therapy, especially for kids and senior citizens. A person who doesn’t understand how they feel or what to name their feelings is often less affected by psychological therapy. Using music and various instruments helps them communicate with the therapist in an emotional language.

• Less threatening

Not everyone is a talker. No matter how safe a therapist’s office maybe, some individuals simply find it hard to express their feelings in words. They need a less-threatening and more comfortable mode of expression to let out their emotions. Music therapy helps you do that exactly when battling serious depression.

• Reduce stress and anxiety

Treating anxiety and stress can be hard, especially when they become the root cause of depression. The human stress response is significantly impacted by sound vibrations, according to research. Listening to music helps you promote a positive effect on your autonomic nervous system. This reduces the release of stress hormones in the body that lead to high levels of anxiety.

• Sleep better

One of the major problems linked to depression is insomnia. According to a study conducted, listening to classical music often helps calm your nerves, ultimately helping you sleep better. Play an audiobook or some classical music when going to bed. Let your thoughts sync with the sound vibrations, and in no time, you will be sound asleep.

Takeaways

You can buy Kratom to relax your nerves or indulge in music therapy to get professional help. Sometimes our mental disorders are worse than we expect. Therefore, before you develop ways to self-treat yourself, consult a professional. Get the treatment you deserve and very much need.