Can listening to music be good for your mental health? Time magazine says so. Studies show that listening to music can boost your mood and fight depression by lowering levels of stress hormones. Researchers have even discovered a link between improved post-surgical outcomes after listening to music before surgery.
Remember our post on Meditation? Listening to music can be considered a comparable practice to combat stress, although it may depend what type of music you are listening to. More often, listening to slower songs can have a calming effect, when compared to fast and loud music (but that depends on the person). You may already have songs in mind for different moods or activities, for example, if you are going to the gym versus reading.
Listening to music has an effect on many areas of the brain and can activate chemicals and structures in the brain to change your mood. This explains why listening to music can increase or decrease stress, boost happiness or sadness, and promote anger or relaxation, depending on what type of music it is. Doing a quick search on Youtube, Spotify, or other music streaming services will bring up dozens of already created playlists for any mood. For example, check out this playlist titled Classical Music for Reading.
There is even a relatively new field called Music Therapy. Qualified therapists use music to work with patients and help improve their mental health and outlook. Some people find it easier to express themselves through music, which can reveal something to therapists that could be critical in their journey to better mental health.
Next time you are in need of a mood boost, try turning on some music!
Adapted from https://time.com/5254381/listening-to-music-health-benefits/
