How to Use Music to Heal
Have you found yourself balling your hand into a fist, punching the air, and shouting, “Who’s afraid of little old me?!” Then with a soft, affirming tone, nodding along and pointing your finger saying, “you should be.” Do you bounce and clap every time the intro to Beyonce’s “Ya Ya” comes on, no matter how rough the morning has been? We’ve been fortunate over the last few weeks to gain some great new music by incredible artists. The power that music has to tap into minds, bodies, and spirits, can be tremendously healing.
In therapy, we often discuss the trauma response - also known as the stress response - and the energy elicited in us physiologically by that response. Try picturing this energy as some sort of colorful fire or smoke that builds in us when we feel any intense emotion. Without any release, the emotion stays in us and can cause us symptoms of anxiety, depression, and a litany of other physical health symptoms. There are plenty of ways to help release some of this energy through talk therapy, exercise, stretching, creativity and healthy coping skills. Additionally, music can be added to any of those activities as a great way to further process and release some of your emotions while also obtaining benefits such as increasing dopamine levels and motivation!
While listening to music alone has benefits, singing along to music can be a particularly great way to practice mindfulness. For example, try focusing on new lyrics or let yourself get lost in the flow state of knowing your favorite tune by heart. The act of blasting your favorite song and shouting the words at the top of your lungs can be a great way to release tension and express some of those pent-up frustrations that may not have a direct source to confront. Creating your own music can be a great way to process some of the emotions that you are experiencing and share those feelings with others in a supportive and mutually beneficial way. Journaling your thoughts into song lyrics, or banging your hands against a keyboard can be great tools for anyone, regardless of your talent levels! Below, we’ve put together some easy ways to incorporate music into your life as a tool to help you along your healing journey.
Add some energizing music to your morning routine for a little dopamine boost, or some soothing instrumental music to your nighttime routine to help de-stress from the day.
Try to learn the words to a new song, just by listening! See how many plays it takes you to get the words right in a verse, and notice how this can clear your mind.
Notice when you’re feeling heightened emotions. Sing one of your favorite tunes at the top of your lungs. Notice how you’re feeling afterwards.
Dance to the most upbeat song on your playlist, attempting to move every muscle in your body. Notice what you’re experiencing in your body and in your mood afterwards.
Song Suggestions
Songs to make you feel empowered:
Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me? - Taylor Swift
Cozy - Beyonce
Me Too - Megan Trainor
Brave - Sarah Bareilles
Song to help you process pain:
Sandcastles - Beyonce
Older Than I Am - Lennon Stella
Easy On Me - Adele
ABCDEFU - Gayle
Songs to help you feel energized:
Dive - Olivia Dean
YA YA - Beyonce
New Shoes - Paolo Nutini
Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves
Songs to acknowledge the way you've healed:
Happiness - Taylor Swift
I Was Here - Beyonce
Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright - Bob Dylan
In Repair - John Mayer
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6397525/