Stress and Music – Music Relieves Stress

Listening to music has a profound effect on your psyche. It helps in making you comfortable, calms your tense nerves and reduces stress. Music as a therapy works at various levels and is a growing field in the arena of health care. As a stress reliever, music calms brain waves. It also works to induce a positive state of mind, which is necessary to avoid stress.

Musicians and mystics have known the neurological effects of music for many years and many cultures use drumming and rhythmic music to bring on trance states. Brain waves resonate in sync with the beats. Faster beats bring in sharper focus and alertness and a slow tempo induces a meditative and calm state.

Alteration in brain waves brings about changes in the physiological functions controlled by the autonomic nervous system, the part of the nervous system that controls involuntary actions of the smooth muscles, heart and glands. Soothing music slows the heart rate and the breathing rate and activates the body’s relaxation response.

Relaxation response counters the stress response, commonly known as the flight or flight response. During the relaxation response, the body reverts to its normal relaxed state. From a state of physiological arousal the body moves to a state of physiological relaxation. The enhanced release of stress hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol, increased heart rate and blood pressure, the slowed digestive system and other bodily responses for preparing the body to fight or flee return back to their normal.

Apart from the physical changes that it brings about in the body music is also used as part of stress reduction techniques like yoga and meditation. While exercising music makes you feel energized.

To derive maximum benefits, put on slow rhythmic music on your stereo and lie down in a comfortable position. Choose rhythms that are slower than 72 beats per minute (the normal rate at which your heart beats). If you must, use headphones to focus attention. But ensure that you put it on low volume since high volumes can cause hearing impairment. Focus on breathing and let it deepen and become regular. For complete relaxation, try not to analyze music, allow the music to ‘wash’ over you.

If you need stimulation after a hard day’s work put on loud music and see how it relaxes your muscles to enable release of tension that you carry after a stressful day.

Listening to the sounds of nature is also an effective stress relief measure. Music can bring these sounds indoors if you are unable to move out. Get some CD’s of these sounds and play to create a virtual outdoor experience.

Music is an effective tool for stress management. It is part of the numerous self-help techniques for stress relief. While using music for relieving stress, it is important to note that forcing yourself to listen to music that you do not like may lead to more stress instead of relieving it.

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