Pacifi c Crest Trail Odyssey................. 7 Music as Therapy

Music Therapy Hits the Right Notes

by Ash Espinoza

Music: We listen to it when we clean, drive, and do various tasks and pretty much just because we can. But what if music could actually be more than just a way to pass the time or fi ll the silence when we are alone? What if there were a way that music could have deeper benefi ts and help not only lift your mood but also improve your mental health or even your physical health?

I wanted to take the time to show people that music can really change the world in more ways than one – that there are more positives to a song than just liking the band or artist, and that this is something that can defi nitely make a change in the years and generations to come. The defi nition of Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.

As noted by the American Music Therapy Association and others, it is clear that evidence-based treatment does help with a variety of disorders, including cardiac conditions, depression, autism, substance abuse, and even Alzheimer’s disease.

Therapy has also been shown to help generally healthy individuals with improved memory, communication and coping skills, reduced stress and muscle tension, lowered blood pressure, improved self-esteem, and more. It is credited with alleviating physical pain, as well as lessening feelings of isolation.

A VERSATILE TOOL

Did you know that formal music therapy was defi ned and fi rst used by the United States War Department in 1945? It was used to helped military service members who were recovering in army hospitals with occupational therapy, education, recreation and physical reconditioning.

Of course, most of us naturally sense the more casual benefi ts of music.

Music can bring people together, no matter the circumstances, such as during weddings, funerals, concerts. It works even in more intimate settings, like having a special song with someone you care about – or just having that one song that makes you smile even when you listen to it alone, because sometimes music just needs to be enjoyed solo so you can really feel the lyrics, and truly hear the artist behind the words.

I don’t know about any of you, but certain songs

“What if there were a way that music could have deeper benefi ts and help not only lift your mood but also improve your mental health or even your physical health?”

for me are tied to certain memories whether they be good or bad, happy or even painful. Any time I hear those specifi c songs I am immediately transported back in time to that moment and sometimes I’m happy to relive it – like a song I heard with my best friend, or from a concert I attended. Some songs I would rather forget, like the times during which I was homeless, or saw someone I care about get hurt.

On the more serious end, music therapy can help people cope with dementia and Alzeihmer’s disease, able to prick memory and stimulate minds to enhance predictability, familiarity and feelings of security. Benefi ts can range from emotional, physical, and spiritual help, such as better sleep and relaxation, to impressive cognitive and social advancements. Therapy can help autistic children improve communication and help individuals with Parkinson’s disease improve their fi ne and gross motor skills.

PERSONAL PAYOFFS

If you wish to try music therapy, you don’t have to fi t any type of description. Music therapists work with people of all races, ages, backgrounds and cultures, so anyone can give this a try to see if this would be a good fi t for them.

During therapy sessions you might try a few diff erent things, such as creating music. You could either compose it, write out lyrics or even just make it up as you go – it’s completely up to your preferences. Singing music, listening to music, dancing, whether it be tapping toes or doing a coordinated dance routine, playing an instrument or discussing music lyrics, the treatment will match your comfort level.

Music therapy has been proven to be good for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, people who are deaf or hard of hearing and other types of disabilities. It’s able to help with speech and communication skills and boost academic, behavioral, social and emotional outcomes.

As someone diagnosed with ASD, music defi nitely helps me when I get overwhelmed and begin to “spazz out,” as I like to call it. It helps center me mentally and I can slowly begin to focus and regain self-control and calm down from the latest bout of over-stimulation.

Sometimes I can get so over-stimulated that music is literally the only thing that can calm me down. I always make sure to have my playlist ready and my earbuds charged up, because it can go one of two ways with me: Either I crash immediately or it’s more like a slow build-up throughout a single day or over a string of days, sometimes of weeks. I can always tell when it’s going to happen – which helps – because I get irritated more easily, get more emotional quicker, and begin to feel like I’m having a miniature panic attack, in some instances. But my playlist is specifi cally designed to help me in those moments, when nothing else will work – which is why I am such a huge advocate for musical therapy, even though I am not using an actual therapist. I have been doing my own version of it for years now, and it works better than some other things I have attempted, such as meditation or yoga.

Musical therapy is simply amazing, and I heavily recommend that everyone, at the very least, give a try because it has a ton of benefi ts and long-lasting eff ects that can help do so much good in the world – and I wouldn’t want anyone to miss that opportunity.