The Top 10 Songs To Reduce Anxiety To According To Neuroscience
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Updated
December 6, 2022
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Anxiety Reducing Music – Stress is a potential threat to our overall health. It can cause blood pressure to rise, the heart rate to increase, and put you at risk of heart disease. Stress often goes hand-in-hand with anxiety. Some people experience “trait anxiety.” These people are more likely to react to stressful situations as more dangerous or threatening than other people in the same circumstances resulting in a heightened intensity of anxiety.
In randomized controlled trials, it was found that by diverting the attention of this specific group through attentional bias modification (ABM), test anxiety was reduced. Attentional bias is the tendency for a person’s perception to be affected by their reoccurring thoughts. In other words, the risk of bias increases by their specific recurring thoughts.
All of us feel stress and anxiety at some point. What can you do to alleviate these feelings?
Can Music Reduce Anxiety?
Yes. It has already been established that listening to music can serve as a conduit to our emotions which makes it a powerful tool in managing stress.
Why?
We become so absorbed with the sound that our attention is diverted from the problem at hand, thus reducing one’s stress levels. Do you find listening to music effective in reducing your anxiety?
How can music reduce anxiety?
Studies have shown that listening to sleep meditation music relaxes both the mind and body, helping some to fall asleep faster.
Songs that reduce anxiety can also improve overall performance.
It has also been found that music can reduce the distress as well as the sensation of chronic and postoperative pain.
How does Music Affect the Brain?
For those who are wondering, “Can music reduce anxiety?”, the answer is yes.
Listening to music can help with anxiety reduction.
Music is a combination of several elements from dynamics, to pitch, to tempo.
The speed and volume of the music can also play a part on how music impacts the brain.
Combine all these elements and you’ll find a positive change not just in your physiology, but also in your behavior.
The next time you find yourself listening to music pay attention to how you feel when you listen to different tunes.
You may understand better how this simple act can alter your brain function, mood, and even your physical health.
Technical Approach to Music Therapy
How does sleep meditation music relax the mind and body?
A music therapist guides individuals to help them learn how to express their emotions, enhance their cognitive and motor function, as well as process difficult or traumatic experiences.
In a music therapy session, the client makes use of various musical instruments including their voice to perform a series of exercises or an exploratory manner that helps them address issues.
The American Music Therapy Association has found that music therapy provides several benefits to individuals for stress as well as for anxiety and pain.
Health Benefits Of Listening To Music
Anxiety and depression can be triggered when you are suffering from high-stress levels. If you want to reduce anxiety, listening to anxiety-reducing music can be beneficial for the long run. Here’s how listening to relaxing music can benefit you.
Improves memory
Listening to a relaxing song can help improve your memory. Patients who have memory problems are encouraged to recollect lyrics on specific songs. Music therapists are also using music to aid individuals in recovering lost memories as well.
Supports healing process
A study conducted by the General Hospital of Salzburg found that patients who were recovering from an operation showed signs of improved healing and less pain and anxiety when music was incorporated into their rehabilitation.
Lowers stress and alleviates anxiety
Therapists have found that certain music aids in the practice of meditation due to its ability to reduce stress levels and increase relaxation.
Researchers from Stanford University determined that listening to anxiety-reducing music can alter your brain function, similar to when you are taking medication for your anxiety issues. A good example of soothing music is classical music.
Enhances sleep quality
What other benefits can you get from listening to relaxing music? It appears that this habit can also improve the quality of your sleep. In randomized controlled trials, the effects of music have shown that those who listen to music can experience a lower heart rate, less stress, and anxious thoughts that make it easier for them to drift off to sleep at night.
Do Different Types of Music Affect You Differently?
You’re probably wondering how music listening can be of value to you. Research shows that music has been found to improve relaxation and reduce stress levels, but did you know that listening to certain types of music can affect you in different ways? Here are a few examples:
Jazz
Listening to a slow tempo jazz song can generate alpha brain waves. These specific brain waves are typically present when we are awake but in a relaxed state. Combine jazz with sounds of nature and you’ll feel its soothing effects especially when your brain becomes synched with the beat of jazz music.
Classical music
Another example is listening to classical music. City staff in London played some classical pre-recorded music in train stations. Within 18 months, the crime rate went down. The effects of listening to a classical song may be linked to the fact that people tend to feel calmer and develop a greater sense of community.
Pop song
If you are in need of a second wind during your workout, you might want to listen to some pop music to help you focus on the song instead of the pain and fatigue that that comes when you need to go that extra mile. For those who need a performance boost, start playing some pop songs in your playlist and you may see an improvement to your workout.
Country music
If you want something that will make you feel upbeat, then country music is a good choice. The physiological responses associated with this type of music has been surprisingly positive, especially with upbeat tempos.
Rap music
What other genres can have an effect on your overall well-being? Rap music has been found to fight depression depending on the lyrics of the song. Those who make rap music often talk about people overcoming personal obstacles that have improved their lives afterward. The music itself tends to upbeat.
Do Different Volumes Affect You Differently?
Playing some sleep meditation music relax mind and body Playing music at a low volume helps with the relaxation process. But it’s also true that changing the volume of your music can affect you as well. Here are some instances where volume matters.
Choosing foods
Does playing or listening to loud music affect your food choices? Yes. Studies show that those who are listening to soft music make healthier food choices compared to those who don’t. Background music exists for more than just to add to the atmosphere.
Stress relief
Most people opt to play loud music when they are stressed because it helps release endorphins (or “feel good” hormones) into your bloodstream to combat the effects of stress.
Perks you up
Compared to listening to soft music, those who switch to loud and upbeat pop-rock songs tend to feel wide awake with the fast-paced tempo that accompanies these songs. This is considerably better compared to listening to slow songs that will put you to sleep.
How Does Music Reduce Anxiety?
Playing meditation music that is relaxing not only soothes your senses, but it can also help you feel less anxious too.
This is evident in music therapy where, when relaxation music is played, people often feel less stressed and anxious about their problems. This can improve a person’s overall health and well-being.
Music therapy is just one method of helping emotions or some mental issues, such as anxiety.
Often, music therapy is paired with other treatments, such as group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or even recreational therapy.
Music group therapy allows people to be more open about their feelings by utilizing music to release your anxiety, anger, and stress.
Music interventions have been found to have a positive effect on patients who are dealing with personal or mental issues. The sounds can have a soothing and calming effect on patients.
How Does Music Help You Relax?
Why does some music help us feel relaxed? Well, it appears that the soothing qualities of music reduce the amount of cortisol, the stress hormone, from being released into our system. There are certain rhythms and arrangements that are designed to reduce ones systolic blood pressure as well as diastolic blood pressure to normal levels to help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
This is one of the reasons why playing specific music is played during meditation. Heart rate variability goes down and stress levels are reduced. Playing songs while doing yoga can help you meditate better by helping you reach a calm and relaxed state.
The type of music that you are listening to can play a part on how relaxed you feel. If you are feeling particularly anxious, playing some classical music, slow jazz, or any slow songs will make you feel more relaxed and stress-free especially when the slow tempo, beats, and rhythm are becoming synched with your brain.
There is no doubt that playing songs or listening to music can have a huge impact on the anxiety and pain that you are feeling. It can calm preoperative anxiety and fears during a medical procedure. Playing relaxing music can help you feel less anxious about your treatment and can even improve your healing process as well. You might be surprised to find that listening to different types of songs at various volume levels can aid you in your rehabilitation.
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