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Aryanna Hearns

Professor Freeland

ENG 1201

02 May 2021

Music and the Mind

I find myself "stuck inside my head" more often than not. Over the past several years,

anxiety and depression have been things that I have become increasingly familiar with. There are

okay days, where taking the day minute-by-minute is the best that I can do. Those days are like a

moderate drizzle because it is inconvenient but bearable. There are also bad days, where it feels

like I'm unraveling at an increasing rate. Those days can be compared to rain because, at that

point, being weighed down is no longer impossible to ignore. Finally, there are really bad days,

which are like being in the eye of the storm. One of my biggest regrets is not finding a way to

healthy way to cope with my feelings earlier. I alternated between methods, but in retrospect, not

all of them were good. However, I am still grateful that I eventually found a healthy outlet in

music. I do not remember the exact moment where I began listening to music to cope, but I

remember finally understanding myself more. I tend to bottle up my emotions and not

communicate how I feel, but music helps me feel less alone in my struggles. Additionally, I feel

that music helps me reflect and connect with my feelings and emotions. In a time where mental

health struggles are prevalent, some turn to music as their preferred method to cope. Through

physiological reactions in the brain and general benefits that come with engaging with music,

music has a positive impact on one's mental health and opens avenues to managing, regulating,

and coping with it.

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The idea behind music's link to mental health has been suggested for centuries. It has

been referenced in the works of Plato and Aristotle, but in some parts of the world, it can be cited

before their time. Around 5th century BCE, Ancient Greeks began to shift their views regarding

the fields of health and medicine. Traditionally, the Greeks put much of their faith in their health

in the gods that they worshipped. For example, the Greeks believed that disease and plagues

were a result of divine punishment from the gods. Over time, they began to use science and

natural causes to explain these happenings. Through their investigations, the Ancient Greeks

acquired the belief that could bring balance to one’s soul and body. Famous Greek Philosophers

such as Plato, Aristotle, and Pythagoras wrote about the effects that music can have on an

individual. Theirs works are still used as references to support the use of music and mental health

today. In other parts of the world, music was used to influence one’s mental health. For example,

in Africa, music was used in traditional healing rituals. These ceremonies are still performed in

indigenous groups around the world as well. During the Enlightenment, music was taken up as

an area of study. Scientists and researchers studied the physical and mental effects of music. In

1789, the first study of music’s physiological effects was published by an unknown author

entitled, “Music Physically Considered”. Dissertations on music’s effects on individuals began

being published in the 1800s. Experiments were also performed on patients located at

Blackwell’s Island Asylum during the 1800s as well (“Music Therapy”).

The study of the relationship between music and mental health gained traction in the

early to mid-1900s. Specifically, the periods after World War I and World War II marked a

turning point in the movement. The reason for this being that musicians began traveling to

hospitals to play for veterans who had emotional trauma and physical injuries. As the musicians

continued to travel and play for the veterans, the doctors and physicians noticed that their
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physical and mental states began to improve. Hospitals across the country started to hire

musicians to play for their patients. As a result, music therapy later emerged as a profession.

Additionally, the professional and organized study of music's impact on mental health was

established as well ("History of Music Therapy").

Music is a universal medium that many use. Although the methods and the reasons for

engaging in music may differentiate between people, it remains to be a common factor in the

daily lives of many. Most typically utilize music for pleasure and enjoyment. However, other

than for entertainment purposes, incorporating music into one's life can help manage and cope

with mental health. Music being used in one's day-to-day life can be effectively used as a

wellness strategy to navigate complex emotions and thoughts.

There are many links between music and its impact on mental health. The article “How

To Use Music for Mental Health” describes the day-to-day impacts that music has on mental

health. For instance, music can help with self-expression, if talking about one's emotions poses to

be difficult. Listening to music can aid in understanding and reflecting upon how one feels.

Creating music helps in the processing and expression of emotions. The act and process of

creating music aids in the development of creativity. Creativity allows the brain to focus, which

can lessen feelings of depression and anxiety. Other than through creative means, different

genres of music have different levels of effectiveness in helping the brain focus. Classical is the

best genre for mental focus as "music that has a tempo of 60 bpm (beats per minute) increases

the efficiency of the brain in processing information" (“How To Use Music for Mental Health”).

Even if one is not struggling with mental health, it can still be utilized as a wellbeing and

wellness strategy in their daily life (Reach Out Australia).

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On a physiological scale, when one listens to music, it affects the way that one behaves,

thinks, and feels. Regardless of the genre or medium of the music, it will still have an effect on

an individual. As a result of this being a physiological and biological reaction, music will affect

individual people differently. However, benefits such as its ability to ease anxiety and depression

remain a recurring commonality. According to a study orchestrated by Dr. David Lewis-

Hodgson of Mindlab International in the United Kingdom, certain subsets or genres of music

"such as instrumental, classical or ambient [music] can help reduce anxiety by up to 65%" ("5

Positive Effects Music Has on Your Mental Health"). Taking the initiative to explore how music

influences one's thoughts and emotions can be a great baseline in one's mental health journey.

This step is one that some decide to follow through with music therapy ("5 Positive Effects

Music Has on Your Mental Health").

Music therapy is becoming increasingly utilized in the medical field as a treatment for

many issues, ranging from mental to physical. Music therapy and music, in general, can elicit a

reaction from sections of the brain that are having difficulty in responding. Even without major

concentration from the listener, emotional and analytical areas in the brain can be triggered and

activated. Suzanne Hanzer, who is the head of the music therapy department at the Berklee

College of Music, even asserts that "just listening to a single phrase can trigger all those

things..." (Weintraub). As Karen Weintraub from USA Today states, "music can help rewire the

brain" (Weintraub). This fact can be critical in situations where the body and the mind are

severely injured such as in the case of Carey Gordon and Gabrielle Giffords.

Carey Gordon could be compared to the average working male. He lived a successful life

working as a chef. But, around 2004, it was discovered that there were malformed blood vessels

in his brain. These malformed blood vessels made seizures and headaches a frequent and life-
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threatening occurrence for Gordon. He had several major surgeries to address the severe issue.

However, even in the aftermath of his surgeries, he still uses music for treatment as there as still

lasting effects and risks. For example, if Gordon feels anxious, depressed, or strong emotions

like anger, then there is a possibility that his seizures could be triggered once again. So, to help

manage his mental health, he listens to music (Weintraub). Gordon himself has stated that music,

"just hits that nail right on the head for me" (Weintraub). Although Carey Gordon is not fully

recovered, music has given him the means to cope.

Another situation is in the case of Gabrielle Giffords. Giffords was a United States

Representative who represented the state of Arizona. At the beginning of 2011, Gabrielle

Giffords was shot through her head, as apart of an assassination attempt on her life. She survived

the attempt, but the path to her recovery, physically and mentally, was lengthy. Therapists

utilized music therapy to help Giffords relearn how to walk and talk. Giffords's music therapists

used a method called Melodic Intonation Therapy to "circumvent the damage" of her brain

(Weintraub). The music therapists also used music to aid Giffords in regard to her mental health.

Gabrielle Giffords was traumatized by her assassination attempt, but engaging with music and

different types of music therapy helped her emotionally (Weintraub).

There are many methods involving music that can impact one's mental health. Four major

methods are typically used which are lyric analysis, improvisation music playing, active music

listening, and songwriting (Warren). Lyric analysis is the act of discussing the lyrics, themes, and

topics of songs. This method helps individuals process their emotions and thoughts. As each

individual has their own experiences, lyric analysis aids in the association of song lyrics that

correlate with said experiences. Improvisation music playing can be described as the act of

playing and creating music. In group settings, percussive instruments such as drums are typically
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used. According to Warren, this act can "encourage emotional expression, socialization, and

exploration of various therapeutic themes (i.e. conflict, communication, grief, etc" (Warren).

Additionally, it allows one to connect details in the music being played to the emotions being felt

and encourages reflection. Songwriting is also a method that helps because it allows an

individual to reflect upon their emotions and thoughts. Songwriting is also considered to be

validating because of its in-depth process and the introspection associated with it. Most tend to

resort to active music listening as their chosen method. Active music listening employs "the

neocortex of the brain", which controls perception and thought (Warren). As a result, this

engagement aids in the management of mental health issues, such as anxiety. Music engagement

methods can aid and positively impact one's mental health.

Fig. 1. This graph shows a comparison in depression scores in patients who participated in music

therapy compared to those did not (Erkilla et al.).

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Fig. 2. This infographic shows a comparison in depression and anxiety symptoms in patients that

participated in music therapy compared to those that have not (Erkkila et al.).

However, one may argue that music has a negative impact on one's mental health. The

brain subconsciously seeks music to match one's mood (Warren). This can be beneficial in most

cases, but there is a possibility that it can put one in a cycle of negative feelings. An additional

factor to consider is the physiological processes that occur in the brain which trigger memories.

For some, confronting memories could be beneficial. However, for others with mental health

conditions such as PTSD, this could be problematic. Nonetheless, it is important for one to

realize that music will not have the same effect on each individual. Like many things, it is a

learning experience and one may have to experiment with finding what works for them on

multiple occasions.

Additionally, there have been studies suggesting that those engaging in music are more

prone to mental health conditions than those who do not. These studies were conducted in

response to the high suicide rate among musicians. Despite the result of these studies, they posed
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as an outlier compared to other studies, where the results supported that music has an

overwhelmingly positive effect on individuals. Engaging in music through varying methods such

as singing or playing an instrument was "reported to have a positive influence on various

subjective health outcomes, including anxiety and depression" (Wesseldijk et al.). In order to

delve deeper into the issue, a study was commenced by a research team in Sweden. The purpose

of this study was to investigate the relationship between active musical engagement and mental

health. In this study, active musical engagement was defined as playing a musical instrument.

This is still applicable to the overarching research question at hand because, as previously

mentioned, creating music through a variety of means can influence one's mental health. Factors

being measured in the study were the level and history (if applicable) of musical engagement,

diagnosed mental health conditions, and self-reported mental health by those in the study. The

results of the study showed that there was a trend towards those engaging in music and having a

mental health condition. For example, those with active music engagement had a higher

likelihood of "39% of being diagnosed with anxiety" (Wesseldijk et al.). In regard to self-

reported mental health, despite the analysis of the trend in those with diagnosed conditions and

who had active musical engagement, they reported that they did not experience an increase in

symptoms. In its conclusion, the study discussed the trend between those with mental health

conditions and engaging in music. The results between the diagnosis of mental conditions and

what was self-reported by those being studied were contradictory. The study acknowledges that

other factors which can not be controlled contribute to mental health issues in an individual, such

as genetics and a particular environment. The study also acknowledges that even though the

individuals were more prone to mental health issues, they were reported to be more aware of
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mental health topics and more accepting. It was concluded that the benefits of music engagement

helped them recognize these feelings and cope as well (Wesseldijk et al.).

To reiterate, music has a generally positive impact on one's mental health.

Physiologically, it triggers reactions in the brain that affect the way that one thinks and feel.

Generally, it comes with a variety of benefits that aid in the management of mental health.

Additionally, music therapy branched from evidence surrounding the benefit upon music's

impact on mental health. Although due mostly to the minimal amount of music therapists

currently in existence, this is not a widely available method. Despite this, it has been proven that

music opens avenues to managing, regulating, and coping with mental health.
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Works Cited

“5 Positive Effects Music Has on Your Mental Health.” Open Minds, 13 Feb. 2020,

www.openminds.org.au/news/5-positive-effects-music-mental-health. Accessed 5 Mar.

2021.

Erkilla et al. “Music Therapy and Depression”. Clearvue Health, 22 Mar. 2019,

https://www.clearvuehealth.com/b/music-therapy-depression/. Accessed 10 April 2021.

---. “Music for Depression and Anxiety”. Clearvue Health, 22 Mar. 2019,

https://www.clearvuehealth.com/b/music-therapy-depression/. Accessed 10 April 2021.

“History of Music Therapy.” American Music Therapy Association,

www.musictherapy.org/about/history/. Accessed 26 Mar. 2021.

Howland, Kathleen M.. "Music therapy". Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Aug. 2017,

https://www.britannica.com/topic/music-therapy. Accessed 11 April 2021.

Reach Out Australia. “How to Use Music for Mental Health.” Reach Out,

au.reachout.com/articles/how-to-use-music-for-mental-health. Accessed 6 Mar. 2021.

Warren, Molly. “The Impact of Music Therapy on Mental Health.” NAMI, 19 Dec. 2016,

www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/December-2016/The-Impact-of-Music-Therapy-on-

Mental-Health. Accessed 5 Mar. 2021.

Weintraub, Karen. “Music Can Heal Mind, Body, Soul.” USA Today. EBSCOhost, 29 Nov.

2011, p. 12b.

Wesseldijk, Laura W., et al. “The Effects of Playing Music on Mental Health Outcomes.”

Scientific Reports, vol. 9, no. 1, Aug. 2019, p. N.PAG. EBSCOhost, Access no :

10.1038/s41598-019-49099-9.
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