Using Music Therapy to Defeat Depression

There are times when medication is not the best choice to treat depression, or even when medication alone is not enough. This is when treatment providers need to look for alternative therapies for dealing with a patient's symptoms. One alternative treatment is using music therapy to defeat depression.

Music therapy simply put is using music to heal. It can be as simple as popping a CD into your stereo, or even used in a group setting where individuals all participate.

Music therapy can be soothing, relaxing or even uplifting. This alternative therapy can affect your state of mind and can even change brain waves and heart rate. Music therapy can include actions, such as body movement, painting or singing along. This treatment in groups appears to be more effective when participants are also engaged in an activity.

As noted above, music therapy can affect brainwaves and heart rate. It can allow you to focus on something more positive than the depression and bring about a more peaceful state of mind. In a group setting, music therapy can get people together to particpate in an enjoyable activity that may not otherwise happen due to depressive symptoms.

When I was in the hospital for removal of my uterus, I received music therapy. I had a friend in the graduate program for music therapy at the local university and she came to give me this alternative treatment. I had been in intense pain after refusing morphine, so I was quite cranky and depressed.

The music therapy did help some. She played guitar and sang some relaxing songs. Then she played songs we could sing along with which uplifted my mood immensely. She ended with a few more relaxing songs before leaving. After receiving music therapy, I was more relaxed, in less pain and less depressed than before receiving this treatment.

Music therapy should be considered as an additional alternative treatment for those with depression to promote relaxation and to help uplift mood as music therapy can help defeat depression.

FURTHER READING:

Science Daily; Music Therapy May Offer Hope for People with Depression; http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080122203158.htm