Healing power of music: 5 ways music can improve your mental health

Without me knowing this, music may have been my best friend in life. If I am not humming, I am listening to music. Music has been a constant companion since childhood as I was surrounded by parents who took keen interest in music and its nuances. This is perhaps one of the greatest gifts given by my parents as it has helped me in many situations. Music makes me focus when my attention wavers, makes me upbeat when fatigue hits or spirits are low, helps me heal after losses and sometimes even helps tide over crises.

Recently, the sudden onset of the pandemic and the consequent lockdown brought fear, stress, anxiety and a troubled mental state to me as it did to many others. What came to my rescue was music! I not only listened to many genres including bhajans in the morning, my favourite singer’s melodies when doing household chores, and old English classics in the evening after winding up a gruelling day, I even revived my singing and started ‘riyaaz’ again.

Indeed, music can be your saviour if you are facing an unprecedented situation. A UNICEF study puts emphasis on how music contributes to better memory and cognitive skills in a growing child. Listening to and playing music leads to changes in the brain and releases a healthy dose of endorphins, the feel good or happiness hormone.

A study from the Institute of Learning and Brain Sciences found that when babies listen to music, their auditory and prefrontal cortexes, in charge of processing music and speech, look different. By 24 weeks, the auditory function starts to develop rapidly. In the last few months of pregnancy, an unborn baby starts to recognize her mother’s voice and music from inside the womb itself. A mother who listens to classical music, gentle and soothing sounds and nice melodies can make herself as well as her baby calmer and more relaxed.

June 21 is celebrated as World Music Day, dedicated to music in all forms. With a wide range of music available now, there is something for everyone. Once you start to appreciate and engage in music, you will find an amazing calm take over. Soulveda lists 5 ways in which music can help in improving one’s mental and emotional health.

Relieving Stress

For most, stress is a byproduct of our modern lifestyle. The fast paced urban life, competitiveness and the fight for resources is generating immense stress. Anxiety, depression and anger are on the rise too. Music can be a great stress-buster here. A recent study indicated that music of around 60 beats per minute synchronises the brain with the beat,generating alpha brainwaves (frequencies from 8 – 14 hertz or cycles per second). When we are in a relaxed state of mind, these alpha brainwaves are found to be present.

When stressed, our heart rate and blood pressure goes up, and the adrenal gland starts to produce cortisol. Cortisol is also known as the stress hormone. Listening to music lowers the heart rate and cortisol levels. Music helps in releasing endorphins or the happy hormones, elevating our sense of wellbeing and thus lowering stress-related symptoms.

A research was carried out at Stanford University which concluded that listening to music seemed to change brain functioning just like medication.

We already know that a calm state of mind leads to more productivity and better decision making. An interesting study further found that half an hour sessions of listening to music each day at work for a month led to decreased stress levels and less emotional drainage amongst employees at a workplace. Imagine the work-life balance that can be achieved in this manner.

Uplifting mood

Stress or fatigue often leads to dampening of spirits, making you feel low and less energetic. There are moments in a day like afternoons or late evenings when you may feel lethargic. Stressful situations for a long time can also make you drop to a low zone. Music is the perfect antidote to revive your spirits and make you upbeat again.

You may naturally tune into high-tempo music to elevate your mood or listen to your favourite genre to let the mind slip into a happy zone – this happens due to a release of endorphins, the feel good hormones.

The monotony of a work day, whether you are in a corporate set up, a creative enthusiast or a homemaker, can be offset through tuning into music that you love or even actively trying to sing or play an instrument. Active music-making releases good hormones like dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine affects focus, concentration, memory, sleep, mood and motivation whereas serotonin impacts mood, sleep patterns, anxiety and pain.

Inducing sleep

Like me, you may be the kind who likes to listen to music before embracing sleep. The calming effect that music generates can make you dive into a deep sleep, and it is especially helpful if you are struggling to sleep.

A survey was conducted in which 62% respondents said that they took help of music to fall asleep. They also revealed that music relaxed them, helping them unattach themselves from the present and often troubled state. A person listening to calming music for at least 45 minutes was found to experience deep sleep, whereas he who sparingly indulged in music was found to have lower quality sleep.

Helps in focusing

Music absorbs you into its own aura. It takes you away from distractions and stressors. “Music activates both the left and right brain at the same time, and the activation of both hemispheres can maximise learning and improve memory,” says Dr Masha Godkin, a professor in the Department of Marriage and Family Sciences at National University at San Diego.

Similarly, while studying or working on an assignment which requires rapt attention, music can be your best bet, albeit with a carefully selected playlist.

Music is a perfect accompaniment during meditation too. It’s a common experience to find one’s mind wavering during meditative practice. Soft music, especially nature sounds are widely used in meditation to gain focus.

Helps in healing

Scientific research suggests that music leaves a profound impact on individuals – improves the recovery of motor and cognitive functions in stroke patients, reduces symptoms of depression in dementia patients, helps patients undergoing surgery to experience less pain and heal faster. Music is and can be therapeutic in a number of ways.

Any loss we face leads to a turbulent mental state that often goes through stages like guilt, sadness, anguish, hurt and trauma. Music can play an important role in the physical and mental healing here. With music, we can gradually transcend into a happy, upbeat state that benefits our wellbeing significantly.

Music truly delights, transporting us into a world of relaxation and joy.