Music as the Ultimate Stress Management Tool
Experience Relief From Stressful Emotions With a Song
Oct 20, 2009
Life can bring a tremendous amount of stress on a daily basis. Whether the stresses come from work, family, or a crazy driver on the highway, they all affect the body in similar ways. Some symptoms include headaches, muscle tension, disturbances in diet and even anxiety attacks. The symptoms of stress are usually relieved with medications, exercise, and even alcohol, but what about music?
Effects of Stress
The effects of stress can be harmful to the body. The American Institute of Stress states that stress can cause the heart rate to elevate which in return can increase the chances of having high blood pressure especially for those who are more stress prone. It can also decrease the strength of the immune system which can increase the chances of becoming ill.
Music has the capabilities to relieve tension, decrease depression and put the body at a complete meditative state. It provides a calming effect that puts the mind at ease.
Music can help cope with all kinds of stresses and the best thing about it is that it can be used anywhere. No more squeezing time into an already busy schedule to attend yoga classes three times a week. Music can be used at any time, whether at work dealing with a stressful task or at home opening up those dreaded bills.
Types of Music that Relieve Stress
What kind of music produces this stress relieving effect? Laurence O'Donnell III who is a musician and creator of the site called “Music Power”, states that classical music is one of the most beneficial for stress relief, but it’s not the only type. Everyone has different tastes in music so if the genre is not one of the likings, then it could do more harm than anything.
Be sure to stay away from music that causes tension, anger and depressed moods. So listening to a song that reminds of a recent ex or a family member who just passed away is probably not a good idea. The body is built to respond to stress with the fight or flight response and the goal is to bring you back to homeostasis, not to fix a problem with a problem.
Music and the Brain
What exactly does music do to put the mind and body at such a relaxed state? According to Stanford it has been discovered that music can have a positive effect on the brain by causing the brain waves to become in sync with the beat of the music. In return, heart rate and breathing are lowered and muscles are more at ease.
Music not only serves as a stress reliever, but also as a pain reliever. The Director of Baltimore's Coronary Care Unit showed that half an hour of classical music or other soothing melodies produces the same effect as 10mg of valium.
So from this day forward say goodbye to the old ways of dealing with stress. The next time life’s stresses seem overwhelming, just put on a nice tune and let the beat of the music move the body to tranquility.
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