“Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours.”
- Elton John

Hello, Beautiful Souls!

For years now, music has been used by humans to make us happy and less stressed. In ancient times, playing music with any object available has transformed now into music made with the help of technology. From when we were babies, our mothers used to sing us lullabies and as we grew up, we formed our own taste in music; for example, when we work out, are with friends and family at a festive occasion or just power through tasks that we don’t feel like doing. Whether we realise it or not, music is an integral of our lives, and that’s how our mood and mental health can be affected—by music.

We all instinctively know that music makes us feel better because it helps us connect with not only who we truly are, but with others who may not have the same cognitive functions we do. For instance, people suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia may react to certain music that they had once heard when they were in their formative childhood years, and it can help their cognitive functioning by almost 58%!

So how does music have such a tremendous impact on our minds?

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Music Helps Reduce Stress Levels

As we know, music can greatly reduce how stressed we are feeling as it produces lower cortisol within us, a hormone that pretty much contributes to our levels of stress. If we are in a situation where we are anxious and overwhelmed by our environment, listening to music can steady our breathing and lower our heart rate. When I feel anxious about an assignment I need to complete and I struggle to focus, listening to classical music such as jazz beats, or even some Beethoven, makes me concentrate on the task at hand and gets my breathing and stress under control. This is what is also known as “The Mozart Effect,” which helps improve one’s cognitive abilities!

In a foul Mood? Listen to Music!

Listening to music can boost our energy and increase our happiness. When linking it to your neurotransmitters that are associated with pleasure, hearing your favourite, upbeat song can release dopamine and make you cheerful. Music can be an outlet for some people as they may struggle to speak about how they are feeling. By listening to songs that reflect how you feel, you can mirror your own feelings, be it when you hear happy music after you passed a really difficult exam or sad music when you’re coping with the loss of someone or something.

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Music Bonds Us To Each Other

I am a person who LOVES going for raves and every time I have gone for one, I always seem to bond and connect with the people there and make friends who enjoy the same music I do! Building a community like this is why people love going to concerts is because they can bond with others who have similar musical interests as theirs. Almost 80% of people say that they feel emotionally connected to others who share music tastes or even after going to a concert together!

Your Favorite Artists Feel the Same Way You Do!

Multiple renowned artists have spoken about their mental health battle such as Adele, Billie Eilish, and even Kendrick Lamar; turns out They are like us (if you get it, you get it). When these artists who have so much pressure to perform and have the paparazzi’s eyes on them constantly, can open up about their journey, it helps us also open up and seek therapy when we are struggling with our mental health. So what's stopping you? Happy Minds is one of the best organisations that provides therapy at just 200 rupees and you can improve your mental well-being just like your favourite artists!

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The 3M’s- Music, Mood and Mental Health

In conclusion, focusing on the 3M’s can help you understand what music fits any mood of yours and improves your mental health and well-being. We are all individuals who have various tastes in music but understand how useful it is to us; can help you crack the code on what music works best in specific situations we encounter.

“I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.”
- Billy Joel

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