Music Therapy and Depression
Music Therapy as an Alternative Treatment for Depression
An estimated 121 million people worldwide are believed to suffer from depression. A disturbance in appetite, sleep patterns, and overall functioning preoccupies many individuals every single day. This life-altering mood disorder often leads to a low sense of self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness and guilt. Doctors and psychiatrists have been developing a variety of treatments for years. In a world that is so dependent on drugs and pharmaceuticals, these are the methods that have been used as treatments. From this perspective, relying on various pharmaceuticals that change the chemicals in our body and disturbs our natural body rhythm is seen to have beneficial outcomes. Is that the only solution? Evidence is beginning to emerge that music therapy can improve the mental health of people with depression. Music therapy is the use of sounds and music within an evolving relationship between client and therapist to support and encourage physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being. Music intervention is a non-invasive and inexpensive therapeutic technique that demonstrates positive results. The reason music therapy is so effective is because active music-making and music listening within the therapeutic frame offers the patient opportunities for new aesthetic, somatic, and interactive experiences. In a world that so often relies drugs, it is refreshing to know that there is an alternative solution to pharmaceuticals for such a life-altering illness.
There are various methods in music therapy that strive to alleviate distinctive symptoms caused by depression. It is proven that the act of playing music has the effect of allowing one to overcome feelings of worthlessness and thus in turn gives patients a sense of belonging. This method aims to cover a more psychological and social aspect of depression as opposed to administering a drug that would target serotonin and
An estimated 121 million people worldwide are believed to suffer from depression. A disturbance in appetite, sleep patterns, and overall functioning preoccupies many individuals every single day. This life-altering mood disorder often leads to a low sense of self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness and guilt. Doctors and psychiatrists have been developing a variety of treatments for years. In a world that is so dependent on drugs and pharmaceuticals, these are the methods that have been used as treatments. From this perspective, relying on various pharmaceuticals that change the chemicals in our body and disturbs our natural body rhythm is seen to have beneficial outcomes. Is that the only solution? Evidence is beginning to emerge that music therapy can improve the mental health of people with depression. Music therapy is the use of sounds and music within an evolving relationship between client and therapist to support and encourage physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being. Music intervention is a non-invasive and inexpensive therapeutic technique that demonstrates positive results. The reason music therapy is so effective is because active music-making and music listening within the therapeutic frame offers the patient opportunities for new aesthetic, somatic, and interactive experiences. In a world that so often relies drugs, it is refreshing to know that there is an alternative solution to pharmaceuticals for such a life-altering illness.
There are various methods in music therapy that strive to alleviate distinctive symptoms caused by depression. It is proven that the act of playing music has the effect of allowing one to overcome feelings of worthlessness and thus in turn gives patients a sense of belonging. This method aims to cover a more psychological and social aspect of depression as opposed to administering a drug that would target serotonin and
References: Baker, F. A. (2007). Music therapy and emotional exploration: Exposing substance abuse clients to the experiences of non-drug-induced emotions | Genevieve Dingle - Academia.Edu Cohen, B. (1985). Tolerance to therapeutic effects of antidepressants. PubMed, 142(4), 489-490. Consumer Reports Health. (2004). Consumer Reports Health. Retrieved April 30, 2013, from http://www.consumerreports.org/health/free-highlights/manage-your- Watkins, G. R. (1997). Music Therapy: Proposed Physiological Mechanisms and Clinical Implications. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 11(2), 43-50 Zukowski, E. M. (1995). The Aesthetic Experience of the Client in Psychotherapy. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 35(1), 42-56.