Casey Clark hasn’t stopped listening to music since her grandfather passed away five years ago. It helps her deal with grief, depression and the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) that she suffered from when her grandfather died. She listens to Michael Buble’s albums when she feels ill. It was her last gift to her grandfather, and she shared many happy memories while listening to it.
Clark, 22, a New York City-based writer, says that music can be used to escape flashbacks. It’s the only way Clark has found to stop her thoughts from racing.
It’s been long known that the teen and young adult years are crucial in developing a taste for music. the average teen spends 2.5 hours a day listening, and more than half of young adults report streaming music every day (compared with 24% for all adults).
Music can be an excellent way to improve your mental health.
Music can distract you and reduce your stress.
Clark says that music serves as a temporary distraction to my mental health problems. Research has shown that music can reduce anxiety and depression. In 2019, a study showed that students who listened to classical music for at least two months had significantly lower anxiety levels.
Another 2016 study examined the relationship between anxiety and music by looking at people with fear of heights. Participants were placed in a virtual reality simulation that involved riding up an elevator nine floors high. The experiment was conducted with one group listening to music and the other not. Researchers found that people who listened to music could recover faster from stress than those who did not. Many studies have found that music can reduce blood pressure and heart rate spikes when stressed. It also lowers stress hormones.
Bethany Cook is a Chicago psychologist and music therapist who recommends choosing songs that are different from your current situation. You can be temporarily transported to another place and get a break from your worries, much like reading a book.
Music can help you feel your emotions.
Cook suggests that clients listen to classical music when they have trouble managing their emotions or are in a bad mood. She says that listening to music without lyrics allows the listener to project their feelings and personal struggles into the music. Research has shown that even “sad music” can bring positive emotions. This could help you feel less pain or more secure in your sadness.
It can be easier to share your troubles with music.
Song lyrics are a great way to express yourself if you don’t have the words or confidence to talk about your emotions. Cook says that lyrics allow you to see your situation from another perspective. When working with teens and children in group therapy, Cook uses a technique called “lyric analysis”. It can be done alone or with a friend. Here’s how:
- You can open the lyrics from your phone.
- Listen to the song.
- Highlight or mark sentences and words that stand out to your attention.
- Listen to the song again. Pause at the highlighted places and reflect on the lyrics and your relationship to them.
- Take a moment to reflect on the song’s meaning for you and your friends.
Music can help you discover who you are
Teens and young adults can discover music that resonates with them. This is how teens define themselves and their future. Cook and Viega encourage parents, teachers, caregivers, and students to be curious about the music of teens and young adults.
It is possible to show interest in music and express an interest in a young person’s future. Viega says that even listening to music with questionable lyrics can be an “opportunity”. It allows caregivers to converse with teens about what they see in the song. Viega says that this can help foster meaningful conversations about complex topics.
Viega says that music introduced her to drag culture and the queer community as a teenager. It turned me to feminist ideals, ecology, and ecological thinking.
Music is a way to build community.
Music can connect people with common interests. You can sing or play an instrument at school, with a band, with your friends, or in school. Even if you don’t sing or play an instrument, people still love the same music or a similar style. A proven way to improve your mental health is to feel connected to something bigger than yourself.
Music can increase your brain’s ability and connections.
Cook created a TikTok video that describes how music can enhance the brain’s connection to the left and right. Cook encourages everyone to play music, not just to be a professional musician but to improve their brain development and health.
Music can quickly lift your mood.
Although this is unlikely to be a scientific fact, it has been proven that upbeat music can improve moods. This is something that you can research daily.
People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or blind can benefit from music.
Although research into music therapy for deaf people and people with mental health issues is limited, case studies show that music therapy can help people with hearing loss express emotions, improve their cognitive abilities, and even enhance their cognitive skills. Cook uses table drums in her connection with her cousin, who is deaf. Cook says that table drums are enormous and can be positioned underneath. All of the sound vibrations will go straight to your body. By playing them together, Cook and her cousin have increased their nonverbal communication and connection.
Cook and Viega are recommended for exploring music to improve your emotional well-being.
- You can expand your musical horizons by listening to different music styles and discovering what you enjoy.
- Use music to calm your anxiety.
- Talking with a friend about meaningful lyrics.
- Try an instrument.
- Discuss why you love a song with other adults (or with your teen if you are a caregiver).
- When you are experiencing complex or confusing emotions, listen to classical music.
- You can create playlists that match or inspire different moods.