Stress and exhaustion can play havoc on the body as well as the mind. Unfortunately, people, today deal with this on a daily basis in their personal and professional lives. Most have demanding jobs that require intense focus for long hours of the day; others have to deal with family issues, raising children, or taking care of dependents, all of which can take their toll on their health and wellbeing.
It is important to focus on your health by finding productive outlets to all this buildup. If you don’t find something to soothe your mind, the stress will eventually lead to physical health consequences. Silver State Neurology agrees that music can have a big impact on the mind and can soothe the brain.
Does Music Really Help?
People have been making and listing to music for thousands of years. Even the earliest humans made small, crude musical instruments from wood, stones, and other available materials. There’s something about music that attracts our attention and influences our mood. Lively dance music can send energy rushing through a person’s veins, a love song can make people cry, and hard and angry rock music can help people vent anger. So it’s not surprising that soothing, mellow music can calm the mind.
Various studies have been conducted on the influence of sounds, rhythm, and melody on the mind and most of them show positive results. A research study involving 60 healthy female subjects with a mean age of 25 showcased that soothing music had a marked impact on an individual response to stress and recovery. This means that not only do you deal with stress better when listening to music, but you also recover from it quicker.
There’s a branch of medicine dedicated specifically to music and its ability to influence the nervous system psychologically and physiologically. Music therapy is used by neurologists to treat and soothe people with disabilities, disorders, chronic diseases, and similar health concerns. While music is great for everyday stress, it is important to consult with a professional neurologist if you’re looking for treatment for anything beyond that.
How Do You Hear Music?
When you understand how a human being hears sounds, it’s easy to understand why they have such a big impact on the mind. When sound enters the ear, the eardrums vibrate in response. Small piston-like bones in the middle of the ear amplify these vibrations, which is carried to the inner ear. The inner ear has a small chamber full of water and around 30,000 microscopic hair cells. These hair cells respond to the vibration frequencies; the shorter ones responding to higher wavelengths and longer ones responding to lower wavelengths.
These movements are then transmitted as nerve impulses to the brain, which then translates into sound. The ear is just an instrument and the brain actually does the hearing. According to recent research, the first brain cells to respond to sound influence early functional organization, which is why there’ s a link between sound and cognitive function.This shows sounds and music directly influence the brain and thought processes. It’s one of the reasons why neurologists believe in the power of music and sometimes will even recommend it to patients.
Influencing the Default Mode
Most people don’t know that the brain goes into a default thought process when it is not actively working on something. This is a predictable and consistent neurological activity that doesn’t have any direction; however, it does have an impact on your mood. It is very common to ruminate during this neurological state, to think painful thoughts, focus on worrying subjects, dwell on the past, etc.
The mind goes over these thoughts repeatedly with no resolution or productive outcome. People prone to this default are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, moodiness, or even anger. Soothing music can help draw focus away from these thoughts and even direct it outward. Natural sounds are most effective in drawing attention outward; so things like wind blowing, crickets chirping, birds singing, rain, waves, etc., will soothe the mind.
Mellow, soft, and repetitive music that doesn’t have many sharp pitches has a similar effect and will elevate your mood. Playing music or nature sounds when your thoughts drift can help you maintain a positive mindset and help you de-focus from stress. Even a short break for 15 to 20 minutes can make a harrowing day less stressful.
How to Choose Relaxing Music
Individual responses to musical stimulus vary, so find music that soothes you can be challenging. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
•Choose a Genre You Prefer – You prefer certain genres over others because they stimulate the brain in a specific way and have a better effect. Many people find classical music relaxing but if you don’t really prefer it, such songs won’t do much to relieve stress. Start with genres you love, even if it is lively EDM.
•Keep Pace in Mind – High-paced music will stimulate the brain and encourage it to be more active, which isn’t what you need. Choose slow songs or songs that slow down in pace gradually. Music that has a consistent pace of 70 BPM will get both your body and mind to a relaxed state. Music that starts at a high BPM but gradually slows down to 60 or 50 BPM will slow your body and mind down gradually, which is more effective.
•Skip Complex Music – Complex music with abrupt changes in rhythm, pacing, or tone force your brain to focus. Such music is jarring and will add to your stress instead of soothing the brain. Choose music with a steady beat, consistent tone, and very little change in pace.
It’s a good idea to skip songs with words, especially words in a language you speak. For example, people who speak English and Spanish should skip songs in these languages and choose instrumental or music in different languages. All of these factors will help you choose the best music option for relaxation.
Music is for therapeutic purposes only and can’t be considered a cure. People experiencing problems like substantial anxiety, health concerns caused by excessive stress or strain on the brain, and neurological disorders must consult with your Las Vegas Neurologist.