Making and listening to music is a universal human trait.

The oldest evidence of musical instruments dates back 35,000 years. Since then, people around the globe have used music and song to share their stories, invoke powerful emotions, and improve their mental well-being. 

You can take advantage of the healing qualities of music to begin your journey toward better mental health. Keeping an album you love close at hand can help you overcome memories and shift your mood to help you take control of thought spirals and other triggers for anxiety. 

Music Therapy

Music therapy is a relatively unknown form of formal psychological treatment. As Molly Warren, MM, LPTM, MT-BC explains, music therapy has the potential to help with conditions including “depression, trauma, and schizophrenia (to name a few).” When used as therapy, music “acts as a medium for processing emotions, trauma, and grief.” Warren also explains that music can be used as a “regulating or calming agent for anxiety.”

Engaging in musical therapy is about more than just listening to your favorite tunes. Musical therapy is an engaging activity much like talk therapy. As a participant, you can use lyric analysis to better process emotions and thoughts. Listening to a song that brings your joy can also act as a buffer so that you can explore your anxiety or worries without getting swept up in a thought spiral.

Music therapy can also help regulate your mood. Warren explains that active music listening connects with the brain due to its rhythmic and repetitive nature. This may reduce impulsivity and make it easier to create a sense of calm and well-being in a person.

Ultimately, listening to music in music therapy is all about finding ways to change thought patterns and disrupt negative emotions. This can promote greater resilience and well-being, which may be the boost you need to overcome the challenges you face. 

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Music to Overcome Challenges

If you live with anxiety, you may feel like some challenges are insurmountable. This is particularly true now, as the cost of living has forced many folks to take on debt to make it through a challenging period. Debt can negatively impact your mental health by increasing stress, straining relationships, and triggering anxiety.

Music can give you the boost you need to navigate feelings of anxiety and improve your cognitive performance. Background music may help when you’re focused on tasks and need to maintain your productivity. This can give you a boost during the day and give you the energy and focus you need to overcome challenges. 

Music may also help you manage general stress. Meditative music can soothe the mind and reduce your hormonal stress response. Even the quiet sound of melodious music and nature noises can keep stress in check. This can give you the chance to think clearly about any challenges you may be facing and the steps you need to take to overcome them. 

Music and Self-Care

Music is part of most people’s daily lives — and for good reason. Listening to music is a great way to practice self-care during stressful times. Turning on your favorite songs and taking time out from a busy day can help you find a spiritual connection to the world around you. A good playlist may also help you discover your passions, as you’re likely to connect with music and lyrics that share your values.

Music can also help you recall happy memories and shift your mood. Suzanne Hanser, a professor of music therapy at Berklee College of Music, explains that listening to music that was played “at your wedding or in a religious service, or even at a concert you attended or a dance you were at,” can preserve neural pathways that connect particular music with positive affect.

By playing music that brings you joy, you can trigger the release of dopamine and oxytocin. These chemicals are associated with happiness and love and may even reduce your stress levels. As a result, listening to music may have a small, positive impact on reducing the symptoms of your anxiety. 

Playing an Instrument

Listening to music is a great way to unwind and reexamine your thought patterns. However, you can also benefit from playing an instrument to alleviate some symptoms of your anxiety. Playing instruments, like the piano, can reduce anxiety and increase feelings of self-worth. 

Depending on your schedule and resources, you may want to schedule music lessons rather than learning alone. Learning to play with an instructor can streamline the process and give you an important social connection that keeps you invested in playing in the long run. 

Picking up a new hobby, like learning to play the guitar or piano, can be an important part of your self-care toolkit. Healthy behaviors, like playing the guitar with a group of friends, can give you the momentum to take on other essential self-care habits, like exercising regularly, eating healthy, and practicing mindfulness.