Analysis has proven that music alleviates signs of hysteria and despair. As music therapists – we see this day by day. As of late – my first encounters with purchasers typically bear the marks of hysteria, despair, and loneliness. Their faces are drawn, shoulders slumped, and physique language closed and tight. They report that they’re “okay” or “getting by” – and as we enter into the music collectively – it by no means takes lengthy for a shift to happen. The muscular tissues across the mouth and eyes start to loosen up, shoulders draw down the again and the physique begins to specific a way of openness. There are smiles, even laughter.
“I listened to this track quite a bit after I first began experiencing despair. It’s completely different to take heed to it now – to see how far I’ve come.”
We all know that music impacts the limbic buildings of the mind – particularly the amygdala and hippocampus – calming the nervous system and stimulating highly effective reminiscences and robust feelings. We all know that music will increase the manufacturing of dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin within the mind – lowering cortisol ranges and inducing emotions of well-being. For the music therapist – understanding the results of music on the mind and the physique assist us to evaluate within the second what the consumer is experiencing and the way we’re to reply. For the consumer – the expertise of music, and its influence – are sometimes felt, and extra simply expressed – via tales and that means positioned within the music.
“Typically I believe that this artist might have been experiencing precisely what I’m now after they had been my age.”
Music is likely one of the methods we mark our passage via time. It accompanies practically each human ritual and expertise – weddings, funerals, cultural celebrations – graduations and birthdays – each expertise of celebration and mourning. The soundtracks of our lives and the way in which we expertise music over time typically supplies us with alternatives to replicate on our personal progress and alter by connecting to our reminiscences, values, emotions, and group.
“I relate a lot to the lyrics – it’s like she’s singing precisely what I really feel”
Hans Christensen as soon as wrote – “The place phrases fail, music speaks.” On daily basis, experiences in music remedy show this to be true. Once we are experiencing a downturn in our psychological wellbeing – it may be tough to search out the phrases to specific precisely what we really feel. Typically – we could not even bear in mind that despair or anxiousness are on the root of different experiences comparable to sleeplessness, lack of urge for food, or racing heartbeat. Once we discover a track that captures our expertise so completely, we really feel seen, heard, and understood.
“Once I take heed to this track – I don’t really feel so alone.”
We are going to look again on this time and little doubt recollect it as one of many loneliest occasions in our historical past. That is very true for folks experiencing challenges with their well being – as hospitals, remedy packages, and care amenities limit visitation and group engagement to guard probably the most weak. However the correct track, on the proper second – a musical interplay or expertise – nurtures connection not solely with others however to ourselves. This stays unchanged by distance, bandwidth, or layers of private protecting tools.
“This track jogs my memory of somebody I’ve misplaced.”
“Somebody I used to be in remedy with confirmed me this track – and it received me via that powerful time.”
“Every time I take heed to this track – it doesn’t matter what – it makes me really feel higher.”
We return once more to the human mind and our bodies chemical response to music. Dopamine will increase motivation, serotonin stabilizes temper, oxytocin creates a way of connectedness, and endorphins cut back ache – each bodily and emotional. The consequence? We really feel “higher.” Greater than that – our brains, and the numerous techniques throughout the physique it governs – are functioning extra optimally – carrying us ahead. But it surely isn’t simply chemistry – it’s story, group, connection, reminiscence – all of the issues that make us human that we miss so dearly nowadays. All of the issues that music provides us, with out failing.
To me – being a music therapist on the frontlines is in regards to the union of story and science – what we’d like, what we really feel, how we evolve and heal, and who we’re – which may all be found, expressed, and skilled so absolutely in music remedy. The function of music therapists on the frontlines is to be part of sustaining this steadiness within the organizations and lives of the purchasers we serve – to strategy well being, wellness and restoration firmly rooted in each sound medical proof and making sense of all of it via the tales we discover, and inform – in our music.
Written by Jesse Dollimont, MTA
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This weblog publish was written for our #MTOnTheFrontlines collection, which can proceed to characteristic many tales from our 30 years on the frontlines of music remedy. Collectively we’ll discover the completely different locations (optimistic outcomes), journeys (processes), and the corporate (our purchasers) we now have stored alongside the way in which.