Music to relieve stress

As I sit here having lunch listening to the music in the clinic, I stop to contemplate why I chose the playlist I did this morning.  Usually I ask my Google home mini to play relaxation music on Spotify but as soon as it started I had to stop it.  It felt like nails on a chalkboard! Seriously, it was horrible.  Usually I love this playlist but today it was a no go.

I was shocked how quickly listening to music I was not in the mood for ramped up my anxiety level.  

I changed to 'chill-out' playlist and instantly felt a calm come over me and my clinic.  Funny to think how background music can affect my day.  I work occasionally with a guy who likes Jazz.  Don't get me wrong, I don't mind a bit of live jazz, but after two hours of Jazz radio my customer service kindness goes straight out the window!

So, I decided to investigate my love OR hate of music and it's affect on your anxiety levels.

In a study by Thoma et al (2013) on the effect of music on human stress response, they found that relaxation music had the ability to reduce the psychobiological stress response.  Maybe they weren't listening to my playlist or maybe I'm just very picky about my music haha.  Actually, yep. Definitely picky about my music.  Interestingly listening to natural water ripples had the greatest effect on reducing cortisol levels and relaxation music reduced heart rates faster after an induced stressor.  

The website Psychcentral also mentions many benefits of music on anxiety such as:

• Music’s form and structure can bring order and security to disabled and distressed children. It encourages coordination and communication, so improves their quality of life.
• Listening to music on headphones reduces stress and anxiety in hospital patients before and after surgery.
• Music can help reduce both the sensation and distress of both chronic pain and postoperative pain.
• Listening to music can relieve depression and increase self-esteem ratings in elderly people.
• Making music can reduce burnout and improve mood among nursing students.
• Music therapy significantly reduces emotional distress and boosts quality of life among adult cancer patients.

I know for me music has always been a big part of my life and I hope my children one day take up our ritual of dancing in the kitchen with the music blaring and dancing out all our anxieties about the day.  Whether it's quiet relaxation you are after or a Breakfast Club style breakout dance, add music into your life.

Here's what I'm listening to right now and it's a perfect way to continue my afternoon in the clinic.
Velvet Sky by Palmer Players 
  
​Leah xx