Does a Brahms Lullaby relax you, does a love song bring back fond memories, do you feel happy when your favorite song comes on the radio? If so, this is how music therapy, another self healing technique, like art therapy may improve your mental health.  Aimed at soothing you and restoring a sense of balance to your mind and body, this technique can be used in the privacy of your own home, or with the assistance of a therapist.

Music has been around for thousands of years, but it was the ancient Greeks who believed in the rhythmic and melodic flow of the universe. They felt that through
music, we are all connected to the cosmos and we become ill once this natural flow is disturbed. They also believed that an upright and moral person could be molded through music and proper exercise, as music reflects gentility, patience, valor, and ire as well as their opposistes. Thus, music was thought to penetrate the soul influencing it in a positive way and reflecting a universal order of things.  This is why mythological Greek musicians were believed to cause miracles.

Since music can "calm the savage beast,"as the old saying goes, alternative healing practitioners realize that music therapy,  may be an effective remedy for treating depression, tension, anxiety and other mental health issues.  They have also found music to be beneficial in helping people with neurological disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, brain damage, autisim, and mental retardation. In addition to this, music is an effective learning tool for children who have hearing loss because  they are able to respond to the vibrations that they feel. Even some hospitals, clinics and mental health facilities employ the use of music to relax patients and ease their pain.

Try music therapy for yourself and see if it is helpful.  Get comfortable by sitting in your favorite chair, turn the lights low, breathe deeply and rhythmically, and play some music that fits your mood. As you progress, choose something that is increasingly soothing and end the session by listening to piece from a Baroque composer such as Vivaldi, Handel, or Bach. The slower tempo helps to decrease your heart rate and blood pressure, thus relaxing you.

When you are sad, or depressed and feel as if you are carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, immerse yourself in nature.  Just hearing birds sing, or waves crashing on the shore can improve your spirits. Try listening to a CD with the sounds of nature and see how it can improve your mental state.  If you like to sing, sing an uplifting song, this can  rid your mind of things that make you angry, or annoyed.

Playing an instrument, such as a drum is also psychologically beneficial because it alters your mood.  It puts you in touch with your inner self and helps you to let go of your problems.


If your symptoms are serious, it might be good for you to see a music therapist, or mental health practitoner, who will better be able to assist you.








The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers,
     Pittsburgh, PA.
The First Photo is The Universe According to the Ancient Greeks called
    "The Greek Cosmos."