music & wellbeing - do you use it as a tool for managing stress and mental health?

@RachSANECEO I think there is a fair bit of evidence for the role of music in managing many aspects of health including mental health. There's a whole career for music therapists after all.

I am not a parent.

I sometimes (less than I would like) attend a musical lessons group, where we "play" the same instrument and sing along. I always feel uplifted after I leave the session. I think most of the group does. The group consists mailnly of over 50s but there are all ages from about age 10. We are learning the instrument so there's not a lot of pressure.

I also listen to music, especially in the car and sing along (noting that I can't actually sing). Recently when I was overseas and it was near the first anniversary of my Dad's death, we went to a restaurant on a big pontoon in middle of a river and they had great music (in English) on a player and I really felt uplifted I actually felt joyful. I did think yet again, how powerful music is.

There is a bit of a music thread on here and I'll tag @Appleblossom who I know also plays instruments and @tyme plays and @Dimity is interested in lots of things but music is one

@RachSANECEO

I have lot of CDs from various genre.

i find listening to music or songs very helpful when trying to processing things, managing stress plus for lifting my spirits/mood.

I become immersed in whatever I’m listening to which gives me distance and time away.

Is a grounding tool for me

Thanks for the tag @Till23 .

I haven't played an instrument for years - regrettably - but listening to music is very important to me. I'm currently trying to get back to my collections.

I strongly endorse "musicking" for pleasure, mind and body. I was a signatory to the recent petition to retain music therapy funding in the NDIS and have followed its progress..

Some of my family and forebears have been musicians.

I'd attend more concerts if I could afford to.

Getting back to music making remains a longterm goal.

@RachSANECEO I have music playing from the moment I get up and all day until I go to sleep. For me it's not only noise in the background but it also helps me to cope and keep me grounded. Depending on the mood I'm in it's either just on for noise or I'm singing along or even dancing to it. It very much serves as a good distraction for me and when thoughts get too loud I can crank the music up to try and drown them out.

@RachSANECEO I should add I was very grateful for music therapy during a hospital stay several months ago. I think it helped me make connections and accelerated my recovery.

Thanks for hospital reminder @Dimity

@RachSANECEO

Music also helps me deal with my physical chronic pain (CP). Without music it becomes a downhill spiral where MH and CP feed of each other making impact of each other worse.

walkman or similar is a definite must have for when I have my week long hospital stay for infusion of pain relief medication

@RachSANECEO @Former-Member @Dimity @MissGremlin @Till23 ,

I personally don't use music as a tool for managing stress. I find sounds and 'noise' further stresses me.

However, I am a firm believer that it certainly can be super helpful for people to manage stress. I know my niece focuses a lot better when she is listening to something. So when she is doing her homework, she's allowed to have headphones on.

Even going to bed, she has calming music to help her.

I also find music or white noise machines can help calm babies.

There is so much research looking into music as a form of therapy - it's also funded as part of NDIS.

I look forward to hearing what others have to share

@Shaz51 @Snowie @Eve7 @orez @outlander @Oaktree @Faith-and-Hope @avant-garde @NightFury @creative_writer

I'm not a big music listener. I like the lyrical, acoustic stuff, more than anything else because, somewhat like @tyme noise rattles around in my brain and I find it's an easy road to overstimulation.

But, as a teacher I've found that music calms a class.

When teaching Kindergarten, I've used music to connect kids to culture, and to learning. I've found that it also allows kids to do those big movements that they often need.

When teaching the older grades I found that if I allowed them to work with music on, then they are more focused.

Music also creates connection. It's an amazing feeling when you've got a song playing in the class and everyone starts to sing to it.

I've got my Holistic Creative Arts Therapist qualification and during the course we studied the impacts of music therapy and it amazes me that music can re-route neural pathways for those who experience dementia and alzheimers, and can stimulate strong memories. Music is sound and sound is frequency and energy, and emotions are energy stored in and moving through in the body. Music is a powerful way for some people to regulate, heal and build connections.

It's just not for me because my brain hates noise.

Thanks for sharing that insight @NightFury . I can relate to what you are saying. My brain is noisy enough. Also, I feel I'm around people all day so when I'm home, I look forward to quietness 🙂

I personally don't use music @tyme I find it doesn't help me and like you it stresses me out. Even growing up I was never 'into' music like other people were. Friends would talk about who they are listening too and what songs they like, and I wouldn't know who they are talking about.

Even going to a music concert, I can't cope.

However my D is a big listener. She listens to it whilst doing her Uni work. It really helps her out.

So strange how music can be so helpful for some and then not for others.

I do think for some people, it can be such a huge help.