How To Use Music Therapy For Stress Relief

We're told that in the western world today the majority of people suffer from some degree of stress or other. If this is so, no wonder finding solutions to stress is a growth industry. Thankfully, many of these solutions are highly effective, and none more so than music therapy. Stress relief in both adults and children - even in some pets! - has been greatly enhanced by music therapy.

This is nothing new, the healing powers of music are well documented. We can read about it in the Ancient Greek myths, and there's a story in the Bible of the king's depressive state being helped by David's harp music.

So What Exactly Is Music Therapy?

There are different types of music therapy. Some involve playing music, but we'll focus on the type that involves listening to music for the purpose of helping the listener to relax and be calm, and so gain anxiety and stress relief.

Meditation is often used with music therapy, and through a combination of listening, correct breathing and guided imagery, we can tap into the deeper levels of the subconscious mind. This affects not only our hormonal balance, but our moods and general health.

What Makes Music Work In This Way?

Psychologists tell us music works on a very subtle subconscious level. In particular they refer to the beat, or rhythm, of the music. They point to the fact that before birth we felt safe, warm and secure within the womb, and the most reassuring sound was that of the mother's heart beat.

Slow music with a soft, regular beat can take us back to this time when we had no worries about work, bills and complex relationships. The music can help us to retreat mentally from these everyday concerns as we bask in the soothing and enveloping sounds!

When choosing music as therapy, either for yourself or others, you must choose carefully. Music can be a great stress reliever or a great stress producer! Avoid the tendency to pick music just because you like it. This can have a value, but for deep relaxation and stress relief you need to be more discriminating. And picking 'relaxing' music you hate because you think it will be good for you can have the opposite effectK

Fortunately, professional music therapists can guide us here. They recommend music that has a rhythm of less than 72 beats per minute - that's slower than the heart beat. If the music goes in cycles or repeating segments, so much the better.

Examples of the best music for stress relief are:

* Classical pieces

* Celtic rhythms

* Native American music

* New Age music

As already mentioned, you must bear in mind that different types of music can have different effects:

If you're sad and lonely, sad country songs will probably make you feel worse.

When your brain is in overdrive and your energy depleted, listening to hard rock may not be the best prescription! But if you've been bored out your mind at work and have lots of pent-up energy, it could be just what the doctor ordered.

When you've to do something on your own and it threatens you, music from your childhood or teenage years can be highly reassuring.

Natural 'music' - such as the sound of rippling water, birds chirping or children at play - can promote relaxation, as can the sounds of bass drums and flutes.

How To Get The Best From Your Music Therapy Sessions

These tips will help you get the most from your music therapy:

* Find a quiet, relaxing spot where you can be undisturbed for at least 20 minutes

* Relax, either sitting or lying down

* Alternatively, go for a walk in a quiet, relaxing spot and listen to your music through you iPod or portable CD player. Here you can practice regular breathing and enjoy some exercise

* Choose music that's appropriate for your needs; many commercially produced music is ideal for different situations and is often combined with meditations (e.g. on stress relief, on boosting confidence and self-esteem, etc.)

* Make a point of doing this several times a week, or daily if you can.

Once you discover the benefits of music therapy, your health will improve, your emotional life will be more stable and your relationships will improve. You'll wonder how you ever managed without it!

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