Music as a "Cure" for Depression

It is my pleasure to feature a guest blogger from Healthline.com...

Music is an unspoken language of love, hurt, healing, pain, and a thousand other emotions that can sometimes only be expressed in notes and melodies. Music has been proven to help people heal from all kinds of mental, emotional, and even physical problems. Depression is one of these problems.

Depression can feel like an insurmountable disorder to those suffering from it. However, there are many coping devices that these individuals can implement to aid them in overcoming their mental shortcomings. Some of these tools include writing, reading, exercise, and counseling. However, one of the most prominent things suggested for coping with depression is the use of music.

Music can work wonders for people of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds. The reason is because music does not require actual words to express feelings.  There are several ways in which music can be used to help with depression.

Writing Music

Some people like to write music as a way to escape from their problems. Writing down one’s feelings can provide an outlet for pent up anger, aggression, sadness, and other overwhelming emotions that people tend to keep bottled up inside of them. By writing, whether it is in the form of rap, hip-hop, country, or any other genre, people suffering from depression are able to express their true inner selves and begin the process of healing from this life-consuming disorder.

Playing Music

Others, however, prefer to play music rather than write it. Some people do not actually feel the need to use words to say what they need to say. Instead, they can get out all of their feelings through a crazy violin solo or a dramatic piano piece. When playing on the drums or strumming a guitar, a person can both physically and mentally relieve themselves of their stress. This allows them to relax and forget about a lot of the issues surrounding their depression.

Listening to Music

A final way that music can aid in the relief of depression is through simple listening. Music covers just about every topic in the world, from love and romance to anger, death, sex, drugs, and violence. People come face to face with each of these issues and more on a daily basis, and a lot of times they have nobody to talk to about them. This is where listening to music can help. If individuals are having a hard time in a relationship, listening to one of their favorite songs about some of the things they are struggling with can often help make them feel a lot better and less alone.

The Music Miracle

Studies have shown that implementing some sort of music as therapy for depression is often effective. In many cases, the depression symptoms of those who began using music as a coping tool began to lessen if not disappear over a short period of time. Of course, the rapidity of the healing depends a lot on the severity of the depression. If people are already neck deep in their emotional crisis, it is much harder for them to dig their way out, though not impossible. However, if the depression is new or not yet very severe, it can most likely be overcome in a much shorter period of time.

No matter what the case, though, music has been shown to improve depression almost all of the time when used appropriately.  The most effective use of music to alleviate feelings of depression is best found through individualized treatment and especially in consultation with a board-certified music therapist. Music is a very useful tool for people who may not know about all of their coping options, because unlike a lot of other supposed depression cures, music is something that can help almost anyone in any situation.

Valerie Johnston is a health and fitness writer located in East Texas. With ambitions of one day running a marathon, writing for Healthline.com ensures she keeps up-to-date on all of the latest health and fitness news.