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Writer's pictureDr. Shyamala Peesapati

Music Therapy: 13 Best Songs To Help People Manage Stress And Anxiety.

Updated: Nov 30, 2022

Don’t tell me that you don’t want to relax!

I want you to close your eyes and forget all the responsibilities for once.

Just don’t think of anything at all. It’s only you and your peace.

You are breathing in and out slowly trying to loosen a little and relax.


Now, tell me how you feel.

You won’t believe me when I say that the whole world is struggling. We are all stressed. Completely STRESSED!

When we are stressed, music comes to our rescue.

I can also imagine you humming your favorite music.

Tapping your feet trying to find an escape.


Agree or disagree, music has always been therapeutic for us at least once in our lifetime! Music can help us manage our stress and anxiety.


Guess what, a study says that the Indian music industry is estimated to reach 28 billion rupees by the end of 2024. It was valued at around 19 billion Indian rupees at the end of 2021.


Overall, the sector was estimated to grow at a compound annual rate of 15 percent in the stated time frame.


Don’t be in awe.

Let me tell you more in this blog post.



In this blog post, we will talk about

  1. What is music therapy? When and how did it come into practice?

  2. Who are music therapists? How can they help in rare diseases and chronic illness management?

  3. Who do music therapists generally work with?

  4. 5 ways how music can affect our emotions?

  5. My 13 best song recommendations for rare diseases and chronic illness patients.

  6. Some institutions offering courses on music therapy in India.

  7. Conclusion.

What is music therapy? When and how did it come into practice?

Music therapy is an evidence-based therapy.

Here, music is used to help us manage our thoughts and emotions better. It’s proven that music can regulate our emotions. It makes us feel happy or sad too.


The earliest known reference to music therapy appeared in 1789. This was an unsigned article in Columbian Magazine titled "Music Physically Considered".

Writings about the therapeutic value of music first appeared in the early 1800s.

It appeared in two medical dissertations. The first was published by Edwin Atlee (1804) and the second by Samuel Mathews (1806). Atlee and Mathews were both students of Dr. Benjamin Rush.


Dr. Rush was a physician and psychiatrist. He was a strong proponent of using music to treat medical diseases. Source: https://www.musictherapy.org/about/history/


Who are music therapists? How can they help in rare diseases and chronic illness management?


Music therapists are licensed music therapy practitioners. They have a thorough knowledge of psychology and the human mind.


Music therapy can help with a variety of disorders. These also include Cardiac Conditions, Depression, Autism, Substance abuse, and Alzheimer’s disease.


In managing chronic illnesses,

  • It can help with memory.

  • Lowers blood pressure.

  • Improves coping.

  • Reduces stress.

  • Improve self-esteem.

  • Can enhance communication and social skills.

  • Helps you to reflect on your thoughts.

  • Reduces muscle tension.

  • Manages the pain.

  • Helps in increasing joy.

  • Helps in falling asleep, especially for those who have insomnia

  • Here is a study that says music helps in boosting immunity. People who were exposed to calming music had a natural rise in IgA more than others. Hence exposure to soothing music might improve immunity.


This article says that there is also a smart music player. That can detect a person’s mood and help regulate unpleasant feelings.



Who do music therapists generally work with?


Music therapists work with people of all backgrounds, ages, and cultures.

Everyone can respond to music, and music therapy.

Notably, music therapists work with,

  • Military service members because music therapy can help cope with trauma.

  • People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Individuals on the spectrum learn best when there is familiarity, predictability, and consistency.

  • Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Music therapy may help with memory. It stimulates your mind because of predictability, familiarity, and feelings of security.

  • Victims of trauma and crisis.

  • If you’ve experienced trauma and crisis, you might have anxiety, stress, and pain. Music therapy can help you with decreasing those three experiences. Music therapy can help provide a non-verbal outlet for emotions.





5 ways how music can affect our emotions?

  • When in stress, listen to music that has no lyrics. One of my kind is an upbeat music.


  • When you want to fall asleep, listen to music that has nature sounds like a waterfall.

  • When wanting motivation, listen to fast-beat songs.


  • When sad, listen to slow music songs which have lyrics. That can trick your mind into deviating from pain and focusing on the lyrics.


  • This goes without saying, when happy, listen to jazz music.



My 13 best song recommendations for rare diseases and chronic illness patients.



These lyrics help you feel motivated. They make you believe that there is still hope. Who knows? Maybe the best is only yet to come!


Do you know that there's still a chance for you?

'Cause there's a spark in you

You just gotta ignite the light

And let it shine

Just own the night

Like the Fourth of July


'Cause baby, you're a firework Come on, show 'em what you're worth



This song helps you become stronger. It makes you believe in that part of yourself. You have always been one step closer to believing in yourself.


Today, I want you to have faith.


This is the part when I say I don't want ya

I'm stronger than I've been before

This is the part when I break free

'Cause I can't resist it no more



I will not be lying to you. These lyrics remind me of my self-respect. People respect you because you respect yourself. The way you look at yourself is how the world looks at you.


So, take a step back and look at yourself with pride.


Now I got a taste, I wanna explore

Ain't going to waste, no, not anymore

You're going hard now, to win my heart

But too many times now, you've been coming up short


There can be a limit to anything, but not to human potential. Often, the limit is what you set for yourself.


This song reminds me that I have the potential in me to dream big. I too can achieve great success. I am a champion!


I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter

Dancing through the fire

'Cause I am a champion, and you're gonna hear me roar

Louder, louder than a lion

'Cause I am a champion, and you're gonna hear me roar

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

You're gonna hear me roar



This is the best song that we all grew up listening to.

Nostalgia hits us hard when we listen to this beautiful creation.


This song makes me believe that it’s okay to make mistakes. It’s okay to feel weak at times. It’s okay to have bad days.


When I get older I will be stronger

They'll call me freedom just like a wavin' flag

And then it goes back, and then it goes back

And then it goes back, oh.



Take your time to heal. Take your time to do great things.

There’s absolutely no rush! You don’t have to change any.


Be you. Be comfortable in your skin.


That’s the amazing meaning of this song.

Let me go passing by

Let me go come back in time

Let me be who I am

All through this time



Only if you want to do something, will you do it. No road is easy. No road is hassle-free. The stronger you want something, the more you work for it.


It’s not what you want that defines the battle but how badly you want it.

If you want it, you should work for it.

There are no free lunches anywhere! :)


If you really want to, you can hear me say

Only if you want to will you find a way.

If you really want to you can seize the day. Only if you want to will you fly away.


There is no end to love. So what if you have bad days?

So what if people remember you for your bad choices?

So what if the world judges you for your decisions?


You still have a life. Live it on your terms!

There is still hope. There will always be people who love you for who you are.


People, who treat you the way you want to be treated.


'Cause we're young, and we're reckless

We'll take this way too far

It'll leave you breathless, mm

Or with a nasty scar

Got a long list of ex-lovers

They'll tell you I'm insane

But I've got a blank space, baby

And I'll write your name



We all have that social responsibility to make this world a better place. Creating a sustainable environment is our responsibility. Nature has given us enough for our needs, but not for our greed.


Often, we tend to forget that little things hold a huge place in everyone’s heart. It’s the little things in life that matter!


Be kind to someone today. Take that leap of faith, the good comes back to you.


Heal the world

Make it a better place

For you and for me, and the entire human race

There are people dying

If you care enough for the living

Make a better place for you and for me.



The sky's the limit. You can still grow. You simply do not have to settle for less than what you deserve.

Keep going. The world claps at you someday.


I'm unstoppable

I'm a Porsche with no brakes

I'm invincible

Yeah, I win every single game

I'm so powerful

I don't need batteries to play

I'm so confident

Yeah, I'm unstoppable today



This song reminds me that I do not need the world to understand what I’m doing. I do not need the world to compliment me. I keep doing ‘me’.


As long as I know what I’m doing is right. As long as I know that I’m not harming anyone, there is absolutely nothing to lose.


I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose.

Fire away, fire away

Ricochet, you take your aim.

Fire away, fire away. You shoot me down, but I won't fall. I am titanium.



Of all the great innovations in the world, the best ones are born out of pain and persistence.


Revolutions happen out of pain. Pain makes you get out of your comfort zone. Pain is incredible. It makes you do what you wouldn’t be doing otherwise.


Take a moment and appreciate pain for being there in our life.


It makes us more human!


Pain!

You made me a, you made me a believer, believer

Pain!

You break me down and build me up, believer, believer

Pain!

Oh, let the bullets fly, oh, let them rain

My life, my love, my drive, it came from...

Pain!

You made me a, you made me a believer, believer



Nobody likes to give reasons, I know. We all love to be successful.

Nobody likes to be sad. We all love to be happy!

When life gives us a thousand reasons to be sad,

We need to give life a million reasons to be happy!

I will never say never

I will fight

I will fight 'til forever

To make it right

Whenever you knock me down

I will not stay on the ground

Pick it up, pick it up

Pick it up, pick it up, up, up

And never say never.



Where can I learn music therapy?


Now, coming back to where we started. If you resonated with the therapy.

There is good news if you want to pursue it as a career!

Music therapy is taught in,


Conclusion


Music is divine. Music can help you heal. It can help you connect with yourself better.

So, next time you feel out of place, remember to have a playlist with these songs.

You will be alright. Trust me, have faith!


Things will fall into place soon.


Do you pursue a career in music?

Why not? You know you can help someone else heal.

What's more rewarding than that? :)


Smile for now!


Love,

Shyamala :)


If you know someone living with a chronic illness or a rare disease, please check out




Know a child living with an invisible illness? Then you should read this blog post.



The author is a rare disease advocate, a dentist by profession and a blogger at heart.


She also has a hand in psychology. She's aiming to bring about a change in the rare diseases community, one blog post at a time.



Don't forget to share this article with someone you love! :)


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