Introduction to Music Therapy
https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/December-2016/The-Impact-of-Music-Therapy-on-Mental-Health
Music Therapy is an emerging form of healing in today’s society. The American Music Therapy Association defines it as “an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals” (American Music Therapy Association). In other words, it is almost used as a form of medicine for people with physical or mental illnesses. In this article of The Impact of Music Therapy On Mental Health, Warren speaks about her experience as a music therapist and how music empowers her patients. Music therapy can be treated on patients with health conditions such from depression to schizophrenia and can act as a way of processing to calming down emotion for people with anxiety or trauma (Warren, 2016).
This article talks about the four major interventions involved with music therapy: lyric analysis, improvisation, active listening, and songwriting (Warren, 2016). Often songs encode a meaningful message within the lyrics, which can be the reason why someone might favour a song over another. The lyrics to a certain song may have a message that relates to a person’s struggles and ultimately gives them the message that they are not alone. Improvisation is the art of “making it up”. Personally, when I improvise music, I base it off of a specific mood. Improvisation in music therapy can be a way of having the patient express their emotions in ways other than words. Active music listening is a way to match music to specific moods, and Warren states that “to alter mood states, a music therapist can play music to match the current mood of the person and then slowly shift to a more positive or calm state” (Warren, 2016). Finally, songwriting is similar to improvising because one is composing a piece. When a patient write a song, they can express how they feel through words and music.
The main concept of music therapy is for the patient to express their emotions and know that they are not alone. Landstedt states in Understanding adolescent mental health, that a positive relation with others and being heard is what is important to a good mental health. In music therapy, even though patients may not be heard in their own personal life, listening to lyrics that connect to them can help them so that they are aware that there is someone out there who understands what they are going through even though they may feel alone.
Music and its Effect on Mood
https://melodyful.com/why-music-makes-you-happy
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/11/19/music-and-health_n_2160571.html
These two articles discuss the benefits of listening to music and how it truly affects one’s mood. In Why Music Makes You Happy, it breaks down the music scientifically to discuss ways in which music can literally make us feel better by releasing dopamine from the brain (Melodyful, 2018). It talks about how certain types of music can bring up happy memories of our past as we often connect a moment with a song. This article also discusses the impact of lyrics and happiness can come from inspiring and motivational lyrics that empowers us to live a better and happier life. The booming beats and rhythms of an upbeat song can give us the energy to dance as the a faster beat causes excitement which ultimately causes an increase in heartbeat. (Melodyful, 2018). On the other hand, “instrumental, soft and melodic tunes relax the brain and make you happy” (Melodyful, 2018).
This article is quite relatable as it is agreeable that music and mood are interconnected. When it is sunny outside and I am in a good mood, I usually play an upbeat and happy playlist and it instantly makes my mood better. The beats make me want to tap my foot and dance even when I am on the bus, and I think that is what makes music so special. Although it is simply a song from an artist I may not know personally, the fact that they can turn leave such a big impact on my mood is powerful.
The second article Music and Health: What can Music Do for Your Mental Health? interviews Jennifer Buchanan, a music therapist, who takes the reader through a self-guided music therapy session. Similar to the article Why Music Makes You Happy, Buchanan explains how people find music that motivates them (Zaman, 2012). This can mean having lyrics that are motivational and inspiring that connects to the person’s life at the moment or what they desire for their life to be at. It also talks about when and where playing music can help someone increase energy and happiness from your workplace to at home listening to your own playlist. For example, Buchanan suggests playing music in the office as it creates a bond between colleagues, “turning it on 15 minutes before an important meeting to set the tone, or toward the end of the day so that…also sending employees home happier” (Zaman, 2012).
Overall, this article talks about discovering yourself and what your body reacts to musically. It is almost as if it suggests that music therapy is about knowing who you are internally and experimenting with your own mood and mental state; asking yourself questions such as “how does this song make me feel?” and “does my body subconsciously move a certain way when listening to music?”. Listening to music is a very common practice and I think everyone subconsciously listens to music that matches their mood. Personally, I find myself creating Spotify playlists to match the moods from mellow and soft music to listen to and reflect during the night to a childhood playlist for when I am in the mood to go down memory lane. I know that if I am feeling a certain way now, I will most likely feel this way in the future at some point so I have a playlist to listen to for the next time I am in the mood.
Mental Health in the Popular Music Culture
This article talks about the stories of celebrities in the music and film industry and their battles with mental health issues. This article discusses everyone from Demi Lovato’s battle with bipolar disorder, bulimia, and addiction to Lady Gaga’s post-traumatic stress disorder (Yang, 2017). The stories from these celebrities range everywhere in the spectrum, as some have been cured while others are still finding their way to the light at the end of the tunnel. For example, Chris Evans admits that he suffers from social anxiety especially while walking on the red carpet, as his brain makes him overanalyze things and causes him to doubt himself. It is shocking how even the most seemingly put-together celebrities on the red carpet go through so many mental issues.
This is an article to read if you are suffering with a mental illness and do not want to feel alone. It is helpful to know that what you are going through happens to many people; even your favourite artist or actor. Reading these stories can give you hope that if you are still suffering with your mental health, that it can get better. For example, Kristen Bell suggests ways in which one’s mental health can improve by emphasizing “the importance of ‘mental health check-ins’…’It’s important for me to be candid about this so people in a similar situation can realize that they are not worthless and that they do have something to offer” (Yang, 2017). Perhaps seeing someone who you admire suffering from a similar mental health issue as you can break the expectations that a celebrity is a perfect person and can make everyone realize that celebrities are just like you and me.
5 Songs to Listen to If You are Struggling with Your Mental Health
Similar to what Buchanan suggests in Zaman’s article Music and Health: What can Music Do for Your Mental Health?, I have created a playlist for those who are suffering through mental health issues and need motivation to love themselves and know that they are not alone. Here are 5 songs that you can listen to if you are feeling down:
- Scars to Your Beautiful – Alessia Car
“Scars to Your Beautiful” is about a model who is fighting to love herself, but is struggling with the social standards of beauty. The world tells her to dress and look a certain way, but Alessia Cara tells her that she is perfect just the way she is and that “there’s a hope that’s waiting for you in the dark…you don’t have to change a thing the world can change its heart” (Cara, 2016). You should not change who you are to please other people because you are perfect in your own way.
2. 1-800-237-8255 – Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid
This song is called “1-800-273-8255” by Logic featuring Alessia Cara & Khalid. It brings awareness to suicide and helps those who may be suffering from suicidal thoughts. Logic begins by connecting to the person by saying “I don’t wanna be alive. I just wanna due today”, but helps them realize that they are not alone by saying “I want you to be alive. You don’t gotta die today” (Logic, 2017). By saying that he does not want them to die today, it hopes to reassure the person that they are loved. The title of this song is the number to the suicide prevention line to stress that there are other ways to go rather than taking your own life and there is always someone who wants to listen and help you out.
3. You Will Be Found – Dear Evan Hansen
“You Will Be Found” from Dear Evan Hansen is a song sung by Evan Hansen making a school announcement about his friend, Connor, who took his own life. Evan wants to make sure suicide never happens again and that if you feel alone, know that someone out there is listening and that you are seen and important and loved. He sings “Even when the dark comes crashing through, when you need a friend to carry you, and when you’re broken on the ground you will be found” (Pasek, Paul, 2015). Hopefully, this song helps those struggling with mental health issues know that you are not alone.
4. Shake It Off – Taylor Swift
“Shake It Off” is a song Taylor Swift wrote about self-love and ignoring the hate regarding her. She addresses the rumours people say about her such as staying out too late and having nothing in her brain (Swift, 2014), but talks about how she ignores them and continues dancing her own way. It inspires the listener to be themselves and to ignore or “shake off” the comments that others make that get in the way of one’s confidence.
5. Light – Next To Normal
“Light” is a song from Next To Normal which is a musical about a family where the mother suffers from bipolar disorder and the effect that her mental health has on her family. This is the finale number after a series of songs talking about the struggle of this disorder in a negative way. This is one of the only songs in the musical that is hopeful that the mother will overcome this issue with the help of family. For example, the lyrics are “Day after day, we’ll find the will to find out way knowing that the darkest skies will someday see the sun…there will be light. When we open up out light, sons and daughters, husbands, wives can fight that fight” Yorkey, 2009). These lyrics suggest that there will be days that are hard, but it will get better, and your loved ones will be there for support.
Music and Mental Health 