Article by terry rakings

What Role Does Music Play In Stress Relief?

If you’re stressed, you want something to help relieve the symptoms of your stress. You want some stress relief. Try music! Music has power to soothe the savage beast – even when the “savage beast” is our own beastly self under stress.

Listening To Music

Stress relief can come through listening to music. When you are stressed and want to try listening to music for stress relief, pay attention to the music you choose and how it makes you feel. If you tend to listen to rap and find that your stress level goes up as you listen, you’ll need to change your music preference to get stress relief. Music that raises your blood pressure and makes you want to either tear your hair out, cover your ears, or shoot imaginary darts at a gangbanger isn’t music that will offer stress relief.

You can try listening to classical music. Classical music ranges from calm, gentle music to wildly exciting music. Choose the style that fits your mood best. For many people, if they’re stressed they want calm music to help them relax, but play around with it – listen to a classical station on the radio – and see which helps you relax the most.

Others people don’t care for classical but can enjoy “easy listening” or “elevator” music. Music in this case is more like background music that can help you relax. The music may be familiar, but it often is without the words. This type of music can help you forget the stresses that led you to turn to this radio station in the first place, and you’ll soon be humming – or singing! – along.

Who are some good choices? Look around. There are unfamiliar pianists who play the piano in a way that will take any and all stress right out the window. The melodies are unfamiliar at first, but over time they will become familiar and resonate within your soul. There are online websites where you can sample new artists and find some new favorites. Be open to the unexpected, and who knows what new favorite you will find!

Playing Music

For those who are able to play music, stress relief may be moments away! If you play the piano, harp, or even drums, try sitting down and focusing on your music to melt away the knots in your shoulders or the tightness in your chest. Whether you play written music or you make up your own, opening up to creativity and allowing it to be expressed can relieve stress through music.

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