Skip to main content

May 2023: The Connection Between Music and Mental Health

 



If we were to ask you right now to name one song that always makes you feel more positive, lighter, and calmer...what song would you share with us? 

Maybe even thinking about the song had a reaction for you or made you want to play it (which we highly encourage at any point!) Music is something enmeshed in our daily lives, but do you ever just think about the psychological impact it has on you? Well, buckle up because this blog post is ALL about the powerful connection between music and our mental health. 

A lot of research has come out about the link between music and brain/mental health and how listening and making music has been identified as a critical way to preserve and enhance our brain's health. This includes promoting mental well-being, increasing social connection, and stimulating thinking skills. And, yes, music can be a huge source of pleasure for us, but it also relaxes the mind, energizes our bodies, and can even help people manage pain. 

And if you reading this and still questioning whether or not music can have such an influence on you, think about the last time you heard a song or performance that brought you to tears or gave you goosebumps or listened to a bass-bumping song that made you workout harder and faster...Ringing a bell, now? 

Let's look at some specific ways music can help us psychologically:
1. Improves cognitive functioning and performance
2. Reduces stress
3. Can help manage pain 
4. Can help you sleep better 
5. Improves motivation
6. Helps improve mood
7. May reduce symptoms of depression
8. Improves endurance and performance 

So as we finish up this semester and get into the stress of finals, how can you add music into your coping strategies and stress relief? 

Something to think about and be proactive is making a playlist of songs that motivate you, make you feel happy, make you feel understood/hear, or make you want to dance. Music is a powerful tool, so knowing how to use it to our advantage and help us battle stress can make a world of difference. 

We hope that after reading this blog, you find yourself putting on your favorite tunes or planning ways to incorporate music into your mental health journey. 

Good luck with finals and happy listening, Pioneers! 



References:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-music-improve-our-health-and-quality-of-life-202207252786
https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/health/brain_health/2020/06/gcbh-music-report-english.doi.10.26419-2Fpia.00103.001.pdf
https://jedfoundation.org/resource/how-music-can-improve-your-mental-health/
https://www.verywellmind.com/surprising-psychological-benefits-of-music-4126866


Interested in other When Life Feels Messy content? 
Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDvZhitB6IB01ex05vw0o?si=a87510fe7229415e
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@whenlifefeelsmessy...
Instagram - @twucaps and @twudalhou_caps


TWU CAPS Contact Information:
Denton Front Office - 940-898-3801
Crisis Line - 940-898-4357

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

September 2023: Suicide Survivors of Loss

Resources for Suicide Prevention https://988lifeline.org/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=onebox https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/suicide-prevention-month https://988lifeline.org/how-we-can-all-prevent-suicide/ https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Suicide-Prevention-Month https://www.dhs.gov/employee-resources/news/2023/09/06/september-suicide-prevention-and-awareness-month https://www.nimh.nih.gov/get-involved/digital-toolkit-for-suicide-prevention-month Resources for Loss Survivors of Suicide https://sprc.org/tools/resources-survivors-suicide-loss/ https://afsp.org/taking-care-of-yourself/ https://988lifeline.org/help-yourself/loss-survivors/ https://afsp.org/ive-lost-someone/ https://allianceofhope.org/ https://health.maryland.gov/bha/suicideprevention/Documents/What%20Survivors%20of%20Suicide%20Want%20You%20to%20Know.pdf https://loss.helplinecenter.org/suicide-loss-and-grief/ https://dr-kari.com/my-approach/common-humanity#:~:text=This%20idea%20of...

September 2024: Self-Improvement Month

  In a world were anyone can have their own interpretation and definition of something, how do you define self-improvement?  Some of us hear this term and might get defensive and feel that someone is being critical or insinuating something is wrong with us and needs to be changed. Others might hear this term and feel like they don’t have anything to improve about themselves.  Our hope, though, is that you hear this as a validation of being an ever-evolving human, who always has room for improvements and growth. Self-improvement itself is a personal and unique process that involves an intentional effort to make changes in our lives to enhance our overall well-being. It is a lifelong journey and encompasses every area of our lives, including: mental and physical health, emotional well-being, relationships, career/education, and personal goals.  But why is self-improvement important? I think we can sum this down to a few points: Empowers taking control of your life Lead...

December 2023: Navigating Boundaries with Grace: Empowering Statements to Decline Conversations and Uphold Respect

As we go into the holiday season, you might be experiencing some anxiety, frustrations, or even unhappiness about being around certain people. These people might be the type that do not respect your boundaries, voice their opinions unwarranted, or even assume that you have the same beliefs/ideas/priorities as them. Although it can be very common to be engrained growing up that we have to be respectful and listen to others no matter what they talk about, this mentality can be very harmful, especially depending on the topic or things being said.  Establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries is an essential aspect of self-care and personal well-being. In our journey through life, we often find ourselves in situations where we need to decline conversations without compromising our own mental and emotional health. It's crucial to communicate our boundaries with respect and assertiveness, especially when certain topics or behaviors are not okay. In this blog, we'll explore a range...