Benefits Of Music For Mental Health: Music is a powerful tool to impact and elevate our mental health and well-being. There are a lot of established mental health benefits of music. Music-based interventions have been found to reduce the symptoms of depression and bring down the levels of anxiety and stress. On a stressful day, listening to nature sounds like falling rain or waves crashing on the shore can act like a balm for frazzled nerves. People who struggle to communicate through words and language often find music an easy medium to express their emotions and feelings.

In a conversation with Jagran English, Prakriti Poddar, Global Head of Mental Health & Wellbeing at Roundglass Living app explained that healing music is an important pillar of wellbeing for us at Roundglass Living. We have designed a wide selection of curated playlists that help you sleep better, reduce stress and anxiety, and focus better,” says Prakriti, also a seasoned sound healer.

Benefits Of Music For Mental Health

Music has the power to alter our state of mind, and the key to understanding this lies in sound frequencies. “Quantum physics has proven that everything has vibrations, whether it is an inanimate object or the whole universe. And the sound is nothing but vibrations at a certain frequency. “ 

“The practice of sound healing harnesses this power of sound and vibrations and pairs it with intention - the most important aspect of healing - to raise the body’s vibrational frequency leading to healing, restoration and rejuvenation of mind and body,” explains Prakriti. Certain frequencies encourage the brain to produce certain brain waves, through a process called brainwave entrainment, which creates different states of mind and being. 

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For instance, some frequencies can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system (responsible for the rest and digest state of the body) helping the body’s organs, and tissues to rest, heal and regenerate. Other frequencies can make us more alert and focused, improving our performance at work.
 
Elaborating on the healing effects of music Prakrit further says, “As a sound healer, I vouch for the beneficial effects of Tibetan Singing Bowl meditation in reducing tension, anger, fatigue, and depressed mood in individuals. Tibetan singing bowls produce sound in the frequency range of 200-400 Hertz, which when placed on emotional or physical blockages leads to deep relaxation and healing.”

Benefits Of Music (Image Credits: Canva)

Different musical instruments, which create different healing frequencies, are used as per the requirements of the person seeking healing. The Solfeggio Frequencies, a set of 9 frequencies that form the basic notes of Gregorian chants, are believed to have several healing benefits.  For instance:

  • 174 Hz: Relieves pain and stress
  • 285 Hz: Heals tissues and organs
  • 396 Hz: Frees you from fear and guilt
  • 639 Hz: Improves your relationship

“We, at Roundglass Living, offer several playlists for sleep which include classical compositions and stories set to music. Music therapy has also been found useful in reducing symptoms and improving overall functioning in individuals struggling with PTSD,” Prakriti shares.

Music’s efficacy in improving sleep is well established. “What is not so well known is that music can make you more empathetic. As it stimulates the autonomic nervous system, which controls the heartbeat and your feelings and emotions, music helps you feel more,” Prakriti sums up.

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