Music: My Secret Weapon for Mental Wellness
Hans Christian Andersen was right: "Where words fail, music speaks."
It's a universal language, touching every corner of our emotions. It can lift us to the clouds with joy, soothe our deepest sorrows, and unleash frustration in a healthy way. Music even gets our bodies moving and calms our spirits.
But the magic doesn't stop there. Music is amazing for our well-being too! Studies show it can:
- Boost your immune system: Crank up the tunes and crank up your defenses! Music can increase immunoglobulin A, a key antibody.
- Chill you out: Feeling stressed? Say goodbye to cortisol, the stress hormone, with some relaxing melodies.
- Fight depression: Targeted music therapy can be a powerful tool to combat the blues.
- Reduce pain: Music can act as a natural pain reliever for some.
- Sharpen your brain: Music reactivates speech centers, potentially helping those with neurological conditions.
- Strengthen memory: For Alzheimer's and dementia patients, music can improve memory function.
Want to learn more about the mind-body benefits of music? Check this out!
Music: My Personal Path to Wellness
Creating a plan for well-being, I realized two things were missing from my life as a civilian male military spouse and stay-at-home dad: playing music and simply enjoying it.
So, I dusted off my Yamaha DJX MIDI keyboard, open Reason (my DAW of choice) and I immerse myself in music for at least an hour a day.
The difference is incredible. Words can't express it (though a killer jazz riff or power ballad might come close!). I'm happier, more hopeful, and way less stressed (a win for everyone!).
I have found the actual music-making proess to be the key. More specifically, being "in the moment" and staying in time - moment by moment, while improvising and making music on the fly - has been powerful and life-changing.
This is the way music has helped to reconnect me to something bigger than myself.
As philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said, "Without music, life would be a mistake." Maybe not for everyone, but definitely for me.
Music: Your Personal Tool for Wellness
Music is a powerful tool for managing moods and bringing joy.
What kind of music lifts your spirits or calms you down after a tough day? Does music play a role in your own well-being journey?
Share your stories and ideas in the comments on Facebook, or contact me here.
Let's create a melody of shared experiences!
