Music and Mental Health

Personally, I've found music a huge help during difficult times. I have felt that at times music is the only thing that understood how I was feeling, the lyrics hit me hard and I could relate to the music. I enjoyed the soft piano music of sad songs I loved and the happy, upbeat pace of a song that made me think positive thoughts. Sometimes music makes me feel pumped and alive, I listen to lots of different types of music. Including some of the music in the charts, rock, alternative and heavy metal. However, I enjoy acoustic and covers of songs too. My music taste is collective and I'm open to listening to any type of music, I find that if I can relate to it then I'll listen to it.

Researchers have also found that music can reduce stress as it releases dopamine, which is a happy hormone in the brain. If you're interested in music and enjoy listening to it then you could also join a local music therapy class if there are classes in your area. Music therapy includes things such as: singing, playing an instrument if you can and (it seems obvious) listening to music! You don't have to be experienced in instrument playing to get involved, there are plenty of instruments for beginners like the drums, bells or cymbals. You could create your own music to express how you are feeling, or you could find a song you can relate to and learn to play that on an instrument. You can think about how you relate to other people. Find songs that remind you of this person and this may help you to build a positive relationship with that person. Maybe you could make friends through music, there are other people out there who will enjoy the type of music you listen to. Music can help you express yourself and it may be able to help you open up to people more and talk about how you're feeling seeing as you can express yourself better. You could also play your music to someone else and tell them that that is how you're feeling.

I edit videos and in the past I used videos to express how I was feeling, I would use music with the type of pace and the lyrics that meant the most to me. I used self-filmed clips which suited the lyrics and music type and it helped me massively. Frequently, I showed the videos to my psychologist who I believe, also found it very helpful. Music helped me talk about how I was feeling and at times when I felt no one understood, music did.

Just play around with it and enjoy the music. Music is made to be enjoyed.

"Music expresses what cannot be said and that cannot stay silent."