Can Music Therapy Help Depression?
Music therapy may be helpful for depression, says a new Systematic Review from The Cochrane Library.
The scientists searched the international literature and identified five studies which met their criteria. Four out of those five studies found that the subjects who had received music therapy experienced greater improvement in their depression symptoms than those who did not. From this, they concluded that music therapy for depression is feasible and worthy of further study. Unfortunately they were unable to reach any firm conclusions about its effectiveness because of the small number and low quality of the studies.
Music therapy techniques can involve making music, listening to music, writing songs, and talking about lyrics. Some of its applications are to help the patient articulate difficult emotions or to aid in relaxation.
Has music helped you with your depression? Leave your comments below.
I listen to a great deal of music, but have never had any improvement with mood or with my depression. I continue to listen anyway as it takes the edge off the uncertainties of life. For me, nothing helps. I take it all one hour at a time.. one day at a time..
Yes, MUSIC does help me get out of my usual “low periods”during the day,and moreso at night;as I fall asleep much more easier and quicker as opposed to the times when I’m not listening to music.Music just provides a HIGH in me and soothes my otherwise “shattered nerves”.Listening to music also diverts my attention to other creativity related to it such as the social and cultural milieu;lyrics,diction used,the various RAGAS,etc.etc.
Depression is a terrible disease, but is it really a disease or is a choice? Sandy Copeland used to think that there was something wrong with him but then through a series of unpredictable events he realized that he was choosing to be this way, you can read about him at http://novelog.com
I don’t know if music has helped my depression but I know that I listen to different types of music depending on how “low” I feel. My boyfriend has been deeply depressed lately and he can’t even listen to any music. That’s scarey because I can’t imagine my life without music.
Music Therapy is different to simply listening to music by yourself. And while that may or may not help someone with depression, it is not what this article is referring to. Music Therapy could be described perhaps as ‘the planned, creative use of music to acheieve therapeutic goals.’ Music Therapists are highly trained in areas of psychology and counselling as well as being skilled musicians.
Have you ever even had depression?? I’m 15 and i think that even if you choose to have depression it takes further than you hoped. Music helps me just fall away form the world, i lisen to Thousand Foot Krutch, and i feel what they go throuh. If you listen to a good writer, you can feel what they feel. It helps you let your feelings out.
I was in a one car accident two months ago where I rolled my truck. I fractured my pelvis in 6 places and shattered my left hip. They didn’t think I was going to live. After all this time I am still here and strong!
I asked to see a psychiatrist the second or third week I was in the hospital because I was feeling a bit depressed with a piece of metal sticking out from my hips and unable to walk, anyone would be depressed! He decided to prescribe Zoloft 50mg once a day. I do not agree with antidepressants, depression is part of life and is usally temporary with me. I took the medication. Now I am getting better and he wanted to up my dose to 100mg, he said he insisted!! I said I don’t care what you insist, it is my body and I refuse to take it anymore.
I feel that those who practice medicine don’t realize that depression, anxiety, insomnia and such are normal human reactions. We do not need to take a pill to make it better “as this too shall pass.”
I do realize that some people need the medications but I am not one of them. I have a strong constitution and have made such great progress since my accident that even the doctors are amazed.
I just think antidepressants and the like are too easily prescribed when sometimes a person just needs some one to talk to.
Even if you listen to ‘a great deal of music’ but didn’t get the very essence or message of that particular piece of music that you used, you will not be able to recover from depression. Music therapy is a method of recovery that deals on a personal level. It is unique on a case-to-case basis because in this kind of therapy, the kind of music that should be used on a specific patient should be the kind of music that suits his/her 1) preferences, and then 2) situation. The kind of music being used on a specific person taking music therapy should ’speak’ to him/her on a personal level because music can only work its wonders if it gets through a person listening to it.
I am 17 and have been battling depression and anxiety most of my life. I was diagnosed at 9 years old. I turned to music about a year after the diagnosis and if anyone is asked about changes in me, there was a significant change. Having tried 5 different medicines music is the only things that has truly helped me not end my life. I still frequently go into my room and cry while listening to music. It calms me down after awhile but honestly it is the only thing that I turn to
I have depression and that is what got me to become a student at KU studying music therapy…I have to say the program is centered very much toward younger children and not a lot with depression, but I think that depression and anxiety are two of the biggest things that could be helped by music therapy! I was medicated as a kid, and took myself off the medicine without doctors knowing and music was my main source of comfort. It is not a cure, but it helps coping, and this is how we learn to deal with life. We cope. It makes us stronger.
But what kind of music helps you? Because I do not think it’s just any music.
Yes, music has really allowed me to go through all of my ups and downs.