Music has an important and influential power in human societies. It has united people and made them happy. Music is a way to express feelings and emotions that cannot be expressed in any other way. Hence, it can make positive changes in people’s feelings and emotions. In modern times, Scientists and researchers worldwide have been finding music’s impact on our brains and emotions. Their findings are fantastic. Let’s explore how music improves our mental health and well-being.
Music and Mood
Have you ever noticed how a happy song can make us feel upbeat or a slow, sad song can make us feel unhappy? This happens to our mood because music has the energy to switch our mood. When we listen to music, our mind releases a chemical called dopamine, which makes our mood lighter. A study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that a 30-minute playlist of music can reduce feelings of depression and anxiety.
Reducing Stress
Sometimes life can be stressful, social, professional, and family responsibilities. Music can be a great source for slowing down and relaxing. Studies have shown that listening to calming music, classical or natural sounds can calm the heartbeat and reduce the stress hormone, cortisol. In a recent survey, in the United States showed that 60% of people listen to music to keep relaxed and calm.
Enhancing Focus and Concentration
Do you have trouble focusing on the tasks during office or home urgent tasks? Music can help to solve that confusion. Some types of music, particularly classical music can help to increase our focus on our tasks and improve our concentration in our activity. This process is known as the “Mozart Effects”. A study in the United Kingdom was conducted on the effects of music, it showed that listening to music can help students better focus on their studies, compared to those students who do not listen to music in studying.
Boosting Mental Health During the Pandemic
The COVID-19 has been a challenging time. It has affected our people’s mental health in many ways. Fortunately, music played a great role. It helped people to cope with difficult times. Music encouraged them to face uncertainties and challenges, which has brought about the pandemic. In those lockdown times, people played music and attended online music classes and concerts. All these activities with music allowed them to feel a part of the community, connection, and normalcy. A survey was conducted by the Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) about music during the pandemic days, it was found that 73% of respondents answered that music helped them with the difficult times in the pandemic.
Music Therapy
Music therapy is a growing field that address various mental health issues. Now a days music is used to improve mental health. Lots of mental disturbed persons successfully recovered from their mental illnesses. World Economic Forum also noted that physical and mental health can be improved by the use of music. Music therapist worked with children and adolescents and it helped to decrease their trauma effects. A study is conducted in Australia and found that music reduced significantly the symptoms of depression and unhappiness in young people
Music therapists work with individuals to help them express their emotions, improve their mood, and even recover from trauma. This type of therapy has been particularly effective for children and adolescents. For example, a study in Australia found that music therapy sessions significantly reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety in young people.
Music and Memory
Listening to music can also help with memory and cognitive function. Listening music is also beneficial for improving memory and cognitive functions. This fact is very much true for the older people especially who are with mental illnesses, Alzheimer’s illness. Music is helpful to recall lost memories. It arose slept memories and emotions. In Japan, a study found that music therapy is helpful for the Alzheimer’s improvement in their memory and thinking abilities.
Global Impact of Music on Mental Health
The healing power of music is recognized by Government and local organization. Now these organization rapidly included music for the improvement in mental programmers and witness the amazing improvements. In UK government using music in National Heath Service (NHS) in which music therapy is used for mental health services. Likewise in Canada, music therapy is used to strengthen “mental well-being” of the students.
Conclusion
From lifting our spirits to reducing stress and improving focus, the benefits of music on our mental well-being are immense. From lifting our glomming moods to lighting our moods, the charges of mental well-being are in many numbers. So, in the next time if we feel stressed or low sprite, we can put some music and experience it work of Magic.
