Music is the pill to a happier life

Photo by Antoni Shkraba: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-taking-a-floral-bath-and-listening-to-music-on-headphones-6728308/

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a pill that could take all the pain and stress away? A pill that is not harmful or addictive but makes all your problems disappear. It sounds very appealing, right? Even though music isn’t a magical solution, it certainly makes our lives better. It helps manage pain, reduce stress and anxiety, and even helps with sleep deprivation.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-black-crew-neck-t-shirt-wearing-white-headphones-3767420/

Studies show that listening to music can help manage pain. An experimental test, with sixty participants diagnosed with fibromyalgia, found that the patients who listened to music once a day for four consecutive weeks experienced a significant reduction in pain compared to those in a control group. Trials like that emphasize the importance of music therapy in treating chronic pain. Instead of shoving pills down your throat every day, take one hour a day and enjoy your favourite music. Or, after a stressful day with the physiotherapist, music can help reduce inflammation, stiffness, or soreness.

One of the great benefits of music is that it reduces stress and anxiety. It is also a safe way to treat various disorders like depression. We all feel the pressure of everyday life in our work, school, and relationships. We eventually seek a pressure release. Some people find it in substances and other unhealthy options. But that is not a solution in the long run. Music therapy is a great and beneficial way to reduce or manage pain. It is important to note that the type of music is vital. For example, classical and meditative music is a great way to relax the body and soothe the mind. On the other hand, heavy metal or, despite its name, trance has the opposite effect and can even be harmful. So, choosing the appropriate music for the right mood is crucial.

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Insomnia is linked to many chronic health problems and increases mental health disorders and their severity. Unfortunately, it affects people of all age groups, and it is considered a serious problem. While there are a lot of ways to approach and treat sleep deprivation, a study, looking at ninety-four college students with sleep complaints, found that listening to relaxing classical music is a safe, cheap, drug-free cure. They separated the participants into three groups. Group one had to listen to classical music before bed. Group two had to listen to audiobooks. And group three received no intervention. We all know who slept. So, next time you are tossing and turning in your bed, try listening to some relaxing music.

Music therapy helps with improving quality of life. It assists with treating chronic pain. It reduces stress and anxiety. And finally, it soothes sleepless nights. With the right type of music, you don’t need any harmful substances to temporarily patch your problems. You can safely and effectively put on your headphones and transcend into a world where pain and stress don’t exist.  

    

Works Cited 

Maria Dolores Onieva-Zafra, Adelaida María Castro-Sánchez, Guillermo A. Matarán-Peñarrocha, Carmen Moreno-Lorenzo. “Effect of Music as Nursing Intervention for People Diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.” Pain Management Nursing, 29 November 2010,  https://www.painmanagementnursing.org/article/S1524-9042(10)00139-6/fulltext

 

László Harmat, Johanna Takács, Róbert Bódizs. “Music improves sleep quality in students.” Wiley Online Library, 18 April 2008,  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04602.x


Hello! My name is Eirini Katsika (but you can call me Rena). I studied Film and Television back home in Greece, and I am currently in the Professional Writing program at Algonquin College in Canada (a long way from home.)

Now the good stuff. I grew up in a very music-friendly house. My mother introduced me to classical and opera music. And yes, I still love classical music. It’s great for cooking. I also have an older brother who is obsessed with rock and metal music, so I did go through that phase.

I took piano and electric guitar lessons, which sounds cool, but I can’t remember anything.

I am currently into house and Lofi music but I’m open to anything.