Abstract:
Mental health is something that everyone has. However, some people have mental illness which is when something affects the way one behaves or feels. This is something that doesn’t get as much attention as other major problems in the world. The brain is the most powerful organ in the body and its malleable effect on one’s mind can change the outcome of many.
The way mental illness is treated is by therapy, with the addition to medication. These medications include substances that may be addictive as well as make a person’s mind alter in a way to make things worse. Like things need to go bad before they get good again. But who’s to say that things can’t just get better instead of getting worse before doing the actual healing. Some of these medications alter the chemicals in the brain to help with the feelings and emotions we may feel to fix our behaviors. Some may abuse the medication and the outcome of this isn’t positive.
Music therapy is a type of therapy that may be more helpful to those who seek the help of psychiatrist. Without the use of medication, music can be more therapeutic than most realize. So, what is music therapy’s effect on the mind of people with mental illnesses and mental disorders? By gathering evidence from different case studies and trials that show a significant change in between those don’t have music therapy and those who do, can help show how important music is. This can help bring awareness to a different way to help others. Also, this can be a less expensive way to help those in search of mental help. The importance of music can change the way therapy is given to anyone with a mental illness.
Background:
What is Music Therapy? The definite definition of music therapy is hard to find, since it’s dealing with something that must suit everyone. This is because with a trained music therapist, anyone can make a relationship. The way one describes music therapy depends on the intention and purpose it would be used in a specific situation.
As Blunt and Stige(2014) once said “music offers a versatile space for people to establish contact with each other. In music therapy we observe how people use the music and what might affect the flow of interactive communication.” Certain music might change the way one feels, from happy to sad. This is an opening to see the way one truly feels in a creative environment. Sometimes sitting in front of a person and waiting for them to be open and tell a psychiatrist what’s bothering them is more difficult than a hands-on activity.
Recently, Music Therapy as changed into its own profession and its modern research base tactic has changed the service of human health. The United States was the first to use Music Therapy as a profession in the early years of the twentieth century. This can be specifically altered to the patient’s needs, which will help them mentally as a result. Music Therapy has been shown to help those with mental illnesses, but its evidence lacks. Not many were able to record their findings for others to use, which is why many tried to conduct studies and trials to see it’s affects for themselves.
Music is in therapy:
Music is surrounded by us. From the background noise in cafes to the personal music we choose to listen to everyday. Music is incorporated in our lives. We have a certain connection to the music that makes us feel and move to the rhythms it gives. Music brings out something in everyone. This could feelings that we try to suppress or the ones we can’t express. With music each one of us are given a voice, what we choose to do with it, is up to us.
Blunt and Stige (2014) believe that Music Therapy is the control use of music. Since it’s controlled in the treatment process, rehabilitation process, education and training of children and adults which may suffer from physical, mental, or an emotional disorder. In Music Therapy, music is used in a clear and focused manner. Depending on the patient’s mental needs, music can be altered to help. Help influence the change in the patient’s feelings and behaviors. It works to make the positive feelings better, instead of fixing the negative or pathological feelings. “Music helps to release feelings or to articulate in a musical gesture a feeling for which words are often inadequate, providing a different perspective and at times some resolution of what is hurtful and painful. And when words are not possible, because of some kind of impairment or disability, improvisation provides an alternative means of communication, a means of individual voices being heard. People can articulate in musical form feelings and impulses that can be uplifting and very expressive, and also those that in other forms, could be quite alarming or destructive.” (Blunt and Stige, 2014) Like previously said, sitting in front of a complete stranger and just spilling all your dark secrets might be hard to do. Some might not be comfortable enough to do that, especially with an impairment or disorder. Music is the language everyone speaks. The lyrics being the words we can’t seems to find or speak. Some of the happiest music hold the saddest meanings, just like some of the happiest smiles hold the darkest secrets. Music in metaphoric way can open the doors to one’s mind and show us the things we can’t see with our own eyes. Music can be a cry for help or a celebration to certain things. If we take the time to listen and see the way one connects, interacts to music, and creates music, we can see the things one struggles with. In hopes of helping alleviate some of those challenges, Music Therapy can focus on those certain problems and overall help the patient live a better life.
Music can form an important contribution to present day health and social care.
Please Understand Me:
When one experience’s anxiety and depression, trying to explain what’s in their mind might be difficult. They might think that it’s hard to explain and that one may not be able to understand what they say. In adolescent’s anxiety is prone depending on their academic pressure, family disfunction, poor family communication, and interpersonal relationships. Anxiety disorders and its symptoms associated could have long term negative impacts on the following:
- Academic performance
- Psychological well-being
- Negative emotional behavior
- Depression
- Attention and learning disorders
Kwok (2019) uses music therapy and integrates positive psychology in her study to increase the sense of hope and enhancing emotional competence. Which as a result decreases anxiety and increases happiness in adolescents with anxiety symptoms. Music therapy helps these adolescents identify, experience and express their emotions. Making them motivated to pursue goal-oriented activities and keep them going with interest they may have. The results of the experiment showed the experimental group “higher hope, emotional competence, lower anxiety symptoms and higher subjective happiness following the intervention when compared to the control group.” These kids were able to identify the positive traits in themselves and certain situations to create a sense of happiness and well-being.
Music in mind is the name of a study that uses improvisational music therapy, where therapist does not impose any structure or rules on the patient.” This model of therapy can be active, where the client makes music, and/or receptive where the client is encouraged to listen to music.” (Poter, Holmes, Lynn, etc. 2012) The patient is then encouraged to explore music and sound in their own ways. Here they can create music and sound using their voice, an instrument or through movement. This study was done with the standard care (Medication or psychiatric counseling). This combined with music therapy lead to clinically significant improvement in communication and interactional skills, social functioning, and self-esteem.
Another thing Music Therapy can be influential in is with patients that have Autism. For people with autism, music is special. It allows them to be meaningful, to let them express themselves, explore themselves, realize things about themselves, and learn new things. Especially because it’s hard for those who have autism to communicate with others. (Straus. 2014) Music therapy makes music a source for normalcy. There are certain mental illnesses that have no cure like autism. Music can help those who have autism tap into their musical interest to help maintain behaviors and communicate with others
I can’t connect to my child:
Unfavorable birth experiences have been shown to negatively impact postpartum psychiatric symptoms and connection between mother and infant. Another word used is maternity blues, which could be a reaction to stress caused by childbirth pain. For those women who prepare for a painless labor and experience pain can be felt as failure which results in postpartum depression. However, if pain-related labor can be decreased, postpartum depression can be decreased too. “Music therapy can be clinically recommended as an alternative, safe, easy and enjoyable nonpharmacological method for post-partum well-being.” (Serap, Ikbal, etc. 2014) Music’s mood changing effect can be used for therapeutic benefits. Music listening has reduced depressive symptoms in adults which can help bring down the depressive symptoms in the adult population. This is because music therapy is one of the relaxing techniques and the beneficial effects are being recognized more over the years. All types of music can be used as a listening material. In Post-partum, its best to let the patient have the choice of what kind of music they listen to.
I can’t afford it:
In future studies Music therapy should be investigated in terms of expenses and how accessible it is to the public. Health insurance is hard to get normally, mental health help is even harder and more expensive. There aren’t enough resources and people to help those who need mental health help. The system is outdated and inaccurate. “Given that mental illness and its associated social, emotional, or behavioral difficulties is one of the largest health problems facing modern society, providing timely, beneficial and cost-effective interventions is key priority.” (Serap, Ikbal, etc. 2014) This study made a good point on making sure that music therapy isn’t as expensive as other health help out there, especially because many insurance companies aren’t covered in mental health practices.
In this paper we have connected different studies done among the years to prove that Music Therapy is effective. We’ve seen the way it has help those with autism, depression and anxiety, as well as mothers who suffer from post-partum depression. Not only can Music Therapy be helpful to adolescents but to adults to. The future of this is left on our hands. Do we want to enhance the way therapy is given? Make it more accessible to those that aren’t fortunate enough to get the help they need. That’s something that must be investigated. The methods used in these studies connected to the technique’s psychologist use in their research, so its affective and credible.
Work Cited Page:
Blunt, Leslie, Stige, Brynjulf. (2014) Music Therapy: An art beyond words (Second Edition) 1-
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Kwok, Sylvia. (2019). Integrating Positive Psychology and Elements of Music Therapy to Alleviate
Adolescent Anxiety, Research on Social Work Practice (Vol. 29) 663-676. DOI: 10. 1 177/1049731518773423
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https://journals-sagepub-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/doi/pdf/10.1177/1049731518773423
porter s., Holmes v., mclaughlin k., lynn f., cardwell c., braiden h.‐j., doran j. & rogan
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https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.central.ezproxy.cuny.edu/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2011.05936.x
Serap, Simauli., Ikbal, Kaygusuz.,IIknur, Gumus., Betul, Ugluogullari., Melahat, Yildirim.,
Hasa, Kafali. (2014). Effect of music therapy during vaginal delivery on PostPartum pain
Pain relief and mental health. Journal of affective disorder. (Vol 156) 194-199
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Starus N, Joseph. (2014). Music Therapy and Autism: A View from Disability Studies. Voices:
A World Forum for Music Therapy, Volume 14 (No 3) 1-3
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https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1466&context=gc_pubs
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