Is Music Therapy For Depression Right For You?
Music therapy has long been recognized for its healing powers, particularly when it comes to depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders. It serves as an effective vehicle for expressing feelings and emotions as well as developing cognitive abilities and social skills.
Furthermore, music therapy offers clients an opportunity to gain insight into different cultures as they are exposed to songs from all around the globe during their sessions with a professional music therapist.
Therapy gives people the chance to craft their own music and learn instruments, which can improve mental health and boost self-esteem as they pursue a new hobby.
They can also learn to improvise with drums, shakers and other percussive instruments. This helps them recognize and connect to their emotions by hearing their highs and lows in the music, according to Shultis.
Shultis notes that when you listen to music, your body releases dopamine and endorphins that promote feelings of wellbeing and reduce stress. This explains why music therapy has proven so successful for those suffering from depression or other mental illnesses.
Music therapy is an alternative way to process emotional feelings you might find uncomfortable discussing in traditional psychotherapy. A music therapist could suggest exploring an improvised musical “dialogue” with an instrument, then having a meaningful discussion afterwards with the therapist about your experiences – this type of therapy being known as analytical music therapy.
A music therapist can assist you in discovering your “musical sound identity,” the sound that best reflects the internal psychological state. Doing so can give you greater insight into your emotional state and teach you strategies for dealing with it effectively.
Music therapists can teach you how to analyze song lyrics, which is an excellent way to express and process your emotions. Lyric analysis is a more accessible form of music therapy and tends to be less depressing than traditional talk therapies.
Music therapy can be a wonderful therapy for mental health, but it should never replace medical treatment. If you or someone close to you is struggling with depression, consult a mental health professional to see if music therapy is right for you.