Mental and physical illness responds well to music therapy. It’s interesting that Jung once pointed out that illness is ‘dis-ease,’ that is, we lose our sense of composure when we don’t feel well.
Music can be used by the psyche to express the inexpressible. It is nonverbal, or uses appropriate words, and is non-threatening. Expressing emotional pain is an important destressor. Emoting to music draws out intense feeling; the music seems to emote with you, and for you.
Music brings about transcendence of symptoms – we rise above them, and regain composure. Music therapy even helps to manage pain. This is termed audioanalgesia, an analgesic or pain stopping effect from listening. This works in three ways.
First, the emotional engagement fostered by listening to music distracts the attention from pain and discomfort. Focus on the melodic and rhythmic tensions leaves less mental resources for pain perception.
Second, we acquire a feeling of control over pain because we have an available, engaging way to deal with it. We can use music as a medicinal treatment.
Third, we make associations with the music from memories we have. The personal context we recall attaches meaning to the music, and makes it more potent.
With music therapy we can take an active part in healing ourselves. I have turned to the power of music to help me be brave during a very difficult period of time. For my needs, I wanted songs with words as well as melodies, that inspired and comforted. I took a few days to create a list of songs that I found empowering. My son burned a cd for me. I played this cd so many times in the car on my way to stressful events. The music was there for me, and reminded me that I could get through. Doing this simple thing made me feel less powerless.
As we think, so it shall be.
Happiness
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