Written by Michael Zuch

I went to see the movie musical In the Heights at the movie theater with a friend this past weekend. I discovered Lin Manuel Miranda’s musical when the original soundtrack first came out in my early high school years. I remember sitting in my room singing and dancing along, entranced by the music and memorizing every word. Its music became a shelter for me among many challenging transitions and experiences. As I sat in the movie theater with my friend and a handful of strangers scattered across the room, I noticed something I hadn’t felt since before the pandemic: I felt engaged and connected in my body and with others in the room.

Music and the arts are often relegated in our society as having only entertainment value. But scientific research in neuroscience and psychology is challenging this assumption. In a recent research article published by the American Psychologist, researchers reported on music’s impact on the brain. They found a potential connection between music and decreased cortisol levels (stress hormones related to our body’s trauma/stress responses), increased capacity for empathy, and activation of reward centers in the brain. In the case of groups of people watching or performing music together, researchers found that people’s brain waves sync up with each other. Music can help shift our bodily state and help us regulate our emotions. It has been a tool for coping and connecting with others since the start of recorded human history and science is starting to show us why that is the case. 

As a therapist, I try to remind my clients that healing doesn’t have to be depressing. Creativity and music are evidence of this. Here are some ideas on how to tap into the power of music for your own mental health:

• Turn up the music in the car and belt along to your favorite songs with your friends or kids. Don’t worry about sounding good, just put your heart into it!

• Watch live musical performances safely in public or online; notice if/when you feel a shift in your body in response to the music.

• Curate a playlist that gradually moves from one feeling to another. For example, if you often feel numb, start with neutral music (like Lo-Fi or easy-listening) and gradually shift the mood of the songs until you reach your favorite song.

While music can be powerful, it is no replacement for therapy. If you are wanting to move further in your mental health journey, contact us today!