Everyone has a special kind of their favorite music, some of them evoke happy memories, others satisfy their sense of happiness, and surgeons have always listened to their favorite music to relieve stress and tension while working in the operating room.
The field of music therapy gained official recognition after the Second World War in hospitals treating survivors of war. And that treatment has expanded in the past decades, to play music an increasing role in treating various types of physical and psychological diseases, such as chronic pain, anxiety and depression, through its direct biological effects, such as lowering the heart rate and blood pressure.
Music also improves social communication and support that improves mental health, in turn, so daily listening to music seems a suitable option for the world’s isolation, feelings of fear and anxiety experienced by the spread of the Corona virus.
Treatment methods
Usually people practicing music therapy are accomplished musicians who have a deep knowledge of all aspects of music, and how they are triggered by various emotional responses that motivate people and help them heal.
Specialists combine this knowledge of music, with their knowledge of different styles that suit every condition, be it classic, operatic, electroop, and other different musical genres.
Musical therapeutic intervention is designed according to the needs of each individual, in a way that helps him achieve his therapeutic goals, whether by playing, listening to music, or even composing it.
You must realize that you are using it to support others, to see how it affects the person who is sick, says healer Holly Charterand. He adds that the technology allows the processor to access all types of music effortlessly, which has enhanced the experience of musical therapy more simply than before.
Pathological symptoms
Music helps people who recover from stroke, painful brain injuries, and those who have lost the ability to speak due to damage to the left brain region, the region responsible for speech and communication.
It also helps before major surgeries, as it was found that those who listened to music were less disturbed and anxious, and less in need of sedatives, as they relieve arthritis pain, reduce the amount of painkillers patients take, and give them a sense of better control of their pain.
Music reduces the side effects of cancer treatment, listening to music reduces anxiety associated with chemotherapy and radiation, and it also protects nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy.
It also works to rehabilitate the physical, psychological and cognitive functions through various rehabilitation programs.
The quality of life for dementia sufferers also improves, because the ability to engage in music remains intact even with pathological delay, and here music therapy can help evoke memories, improve communication and mental physical coordination.
Music by Beethoven
This year marks 250 years since the birth of German musician Ludwig van Beethoven. He was known to have suffered hearing loss at the age of 27, but this did not prevent him from composing music for another 27 years while he was completely blind, as he was suffering from a bipolar disorder that makes him swing between depressive and joyful episodes.
All these different feelings and moods are reflected in his music, which made her use extensively in music therapy, as it drives a group of complex feelings to emerge. These feelings are linked to memories that trigger the release of the hormone oxytocin, which reduces feelings of stress and anxiety, and increases the ability to sleep well.