Five ways music can improve your mental health

Mental health challenges can often seem unmanageable and all-consuming, particularly during the colder months, but there are many ways to ease the burden. Read on to discover five ways in which music can help you through mental health challenges. Plus, a mood-boosting playlist to raise your spirits.

1. It eases anxiety

Music has been shown to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, as well as decreasing your heart rate and blood pressure. It can provide anxiety relief when you’re in a stressful situation, and it can also decrease long-term anxiety if you listen to music consistently – a study found that students who listened to classical music every day for two months had significantly lower levels of anxiety.

To distract yourself from a stressful situation, listen to songs that have a different message to whatever is stressing you. This will act as an escape mechanism and hopefully shift you into a different state of mind. If you’re in public, try using noise-cancelling headphones to help you focus on the music.

2. It helps you express difficult emotions

When we don’t have the words to explain our feelings, song lyrics can help us understand what we’re going through. Music therapists sometimes use a technique called ‘lyric analysis’, which you can try for yourself by following these steps:

• Listen to a song and look at the lyrics to follow along
• Pick out your favourite words and phrases
• Listen to the song again, thinking about what those particular lyrics mean to you
• If you’re feeling inspired, try writing your own song lyrics. Read more about songwriting in our video from Fraser T Smith, who has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry today.

3. It can shape your identity

Music is a powerful way to explore different cultures, moods and ideas. Listening to music of different genres and backgrounds is not only educational; it can help you reassess or reaffirm who you are and who you want to be.

To discover the vast range of music out there in the world, use streaming services that recommend new songs and playlists, watch TV shows or movies with interesting soundtracks, or check out concerts happening near you.

4. It builds community

Meeting new people and feeling a sense of belonging can do wonders for your mental health. Making music – with a band, choir or with friends – can connect you with new people. Listening to music, including going to concerts or dancing with others at a club, is also a great way to socialise through music.

Nordoff and Robbins has a Community Choir which is open to anyone.

5. It benefits those who are deaf or have hearing loss

Those with hearing loss can reap the rewards from music just like hearing people can. Experts suggest using instruments that create vibrations you can feel with your body. For example, try laying your hand on a drum while you beat it.

Concentrating on vibrations can help hearing people too. Many people find that sensing vibrations helps them feel grounded and connected to their surroundings.