Stress Relief Through Music Therapy

Stress Relief Through Music Therapy by Frank McGinty

How many people suffer from stress these days? Experts tell us that in the west it's the majority of people! That probably accounts for the fact that stress relief programs appear like mushrooms. Some are useless, but many work - and one of the best has proved to be music therapy. It works not only in reducing the stress of grown-ups and kids - but even pets!

This is nothing new, the healing powers of music are well documented. We can read about it in the Ancient Greek myths, and there's a story in the Bible of the king's depressive state being helped by David's harp music.

Tell Me More About Music Therapy!

Broadly, music therapy falls into two categories: playing music and listening to music. The latter involves listening to music in order to relieve panic, anxiety or stress - and to help the listeners regain control of their lives.

This goes hand in hand with meditation, and involves such techniques as deep breathing and mental imagery. It's known that music works on many levels of the brain and significantly changes moods and hormone functions.

How Does Music Do This?

Psychologists tell us music works on a very subtle subconscious level. In particular they refer to the beat, or rhythm, of the music. They point to the fact that before birth we felt safe, warm and secure within the womb, and the most reassuring sound was that of the mother's heart beat.

Slow music with a soft, regular beat can take us back to this time when we had no worries about work, bills and complex relationships. The music can help us to retreat mentally from these everyday concerns as we bask in the soothing and enveloping sounds!

However, selecting music for therapy - for self or others - can be quite tricky. Instead of promoting stress relief, the wrong kind of music can cause stress. And just because you have a favorite style doesn't mean it will work for this! For the profound relaxation and stress relief we're talking about you must select more carefully. (Some people even listen to so-called 'relaxing music' they can't stand - and it does anything but relax them)

Luckily there are music therapists who have covered all the bases. Their research and experience indicate that music with a beat of just under the regular heart beat - that's 72 beats a minute - is the most effective stress reliever. Even more so if it has repeated patterns.

Some of the best music for stress relief is to be found in:

* Classical themes

* Celtic

* Native American music

* New Age music

Bear in mind that different styles of music can affect the mind differently:

When you're lonely and blue, steer clear of weepy country songs!

When your brain is in overdrive and your energy depleted, listening to hard rock may not be the best prescription! But if you've been bored out your mind at work and have lots of pent-up energy, it could be just what the doctor ordered.

When you've to do something on your own and it threatens you, music from your childhood or teenage years can be highly reassuring.

Listening to the music of nature - a babbling brook, birds singing or leaves whispering in the breeze - is a great way to induce a stress-relieving relaxed state. And instrumental music like flutes coupled with bass drums can work wonders.

How To Make The Most Of Music Therapy

These tips will help you really feel the benefits of music therapy:

* Aim for sessions of at least 20 minutes and ensure that you will not be disturbed, either by people or by external noises.

* Lie down or sit - but don't be too comfortable!

* Or you may prefer to walk in a restful, quiet environment while listening to your iPod or CD player. This can also combine regular, deep breathing and exercise

* Choose music that's appropriate for your needs; many commercially produced music is ideal for different situations and is often combined with meditations (e.g. on stress relief, on boosting confidence and self-esteem, etc.)

* Daily sessions are best, but if this not possible do them as often as you can

Once you discover the benefits of music therapy, your health will improve, your emotional life will be more stable and your relationships will improve. You'll wonder how you ever managed without it!

Prior to buying any stress relief products check Frank McGinty's StressReliefGold, and grab your FREE report, Beat Stress - And Start Living. Also, get info on your FREE stress-busting 20-minute meditation, The Secret Garden.
This and other unique content music therapy articles are available with free reprint rights.

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