“Music is not a replacement for other treatments, but a way of enhancing aspects of healings,” said Ani Patel (APA Staff Web). Music can not replace all the different types of therapies, but it helps in more ways than one. Music is one of the best therapies for mental disorders. What is Music Therapy? “Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program” (Membership in AMTA Web). “Mental Health disorders in children and adolescents are caused by biology, environment, or a mix of both. Many factors in a young person’s environment can affect his or her mental health, such as exposure to violence, extreme stress, and loss of an important. Anxiety disorders are the most common of childhood disorders. It affects an estimated 8 to 10 of every 100 children and adolescents “(Bellenir n. pag.). Anxiety is channeled into thoughts or actions that are repeated over & over when the person is reminded of a certain event it brings back the feelings that they felt. "The root of an anxiety disorder may not be the threat that triggers it, but a breakdown in the mechanism that keeps the anxiety response from careering out of control” (Gorman Web).
“Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a pattern of excessive unrealistic worry not attributable to any recent experience. Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder is like being trapped in a pattern of repeated thoughts and behaviors such as counting or handwashing” (Bellenir n. pag). “Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involves unwanted and disturbing thoughts, images, or urges (obsessions) that intrude into a child/teen's mind and cause a great deal of anxiety or discomfort, which the child/teen then tries to reduce by engaging in repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions). Anxiety disorder require treatment, simply trying to talk oneself one of anxiety is futile as trying to talk oneself about a heart problem” (AnxietyBC Web).
“People suffering from a bipolar disorder disorder goes to the extremes. When he is high, he is energetic, sometimes aggressive. His thoughts maybe jumbled racing along at 90 miles per hour. He may be focused on one thought to the exclusion of everything. People with this disorder fear the suicidal laws even more than hospitalization. The blackness and terror they feel often prompts them to take their lives. The manic depressive responds to drug therapy, with Lithium being the drug of choice. Lithium seems to bring two moods together so the highs are no longer uncontrollable. When they are depressed, it is much more than being down. They may be also anxious. They have trouble sleeping because their thoughts seem to have taken their head. Depressed people have trouble thinking clearly, concentrating, and not acting impulsively. The symptoms of depression is staying in bed all day, reckless acting, trouble concentrating, remembering details, making decisions, overeating, or appetite loss,” (Bellenir n. pag).
“Psychosexual disorder is when teenagers worry about their sexual identities on the fact they are attracted to children. It is not normal for children to be sexual partners. If they find themself wanting close physical contact with a child, they need treatment. A child in need of treatment or services and his or her family may need a plan of care based on severity and duration of symptoms” (Simpson n.pag).
“ Dementia is a disease of the brain that cannot be altered with medication. Some symptoms of Dementia is combativeness and aggression. Those symptoms can be managed with medication. Brain cells don't regenerate, and as the brain progresses more cells are damaged affecting the person’s memory and ability. Personality gradually changes, and may become more aggressive out of frustration with his limited abilities,” (Bellenir Web).
“Bipolar Disorder starts before the age of 35. It is rare in children, but can appear in both children and teenagers. The symptoms of Bipolar Disorder are changed in mood, unrealistic highs in self-esteem, their energy levels will increase, as will their levels of talking” (Bellenir n.pag). One day they can be friendly like the nicest person in the world, the next it's like a bomb set them off and they treat some like they kicked their dog. The smallest things can set them off, from borrowing a pencil and not returning it or something major.
“Treatment for Bipolar Disorder is psychotherapy, it rebuilds self esteem. The medication that is used helps reduce the severity of the manic episodes. It helps if the entire family is educated about the illness. The parent’s role of treatment is to keep the entire family involved, it helps reduce the frequency, duration, and severity of episodes. Many factors in a young person’s environment can affect his or her mental health, such as exposure to violence, extreme stress, and loss of an important” (Bellenir n.pag).
“ The whole reason for a therapist to diagnose his client is to determine what he is treating. There is a danger of seeing the client as a “disorder” instead of a person. Therapists have been known to tailor a diagnosis so that the young person does not have to be cripple by a heavy diagnosis. Outpatient therapy nowadays the sessions cost from $60 to $120 an hour. If they have insurance they might get a reimburse. A Psychologist is someone with a degree in Clinical Psychology or Counseling,” (Simpson Web).
“Since the rhythmic pulses of music can drive and stabilize this disorientation,” said Lee Bartel (Noventary Web). “Active music engagement allowed the patients to reconnect with the healthy parts of themselves, even in the face of debilitating condition. Music therapy can involve playing music, singing, creating music, moving to music, listening to music, or teaching a person to play music. Music is used to help people recover when they have lost speech ability because of a stroke or traumatic brain injury. Ancient Greek Philosopher, Plato quotes “Music gives willing to mind.” Plato considered that music played in different modes would arise different emotions. History of the relation between music and the mind is skewed to the effects on one function of the mind. Human Nervous system processes music in different ways, perceptual processing, emotional processing, automatic processing, cognitive processing, and behavioral or motor processing. Music stimulates skin receptors by changing local pressure it is primarily made of sound waves. Human primary acoustic circuit involves auditory nerve, brainstem, medial geniculate body of the thalamus and the auditory cortex. Music signals are perceived through sharing of hair cells within the cochlear. Cochlear filters these sounds and the outputs are ordered tonotopically. The auditory brainstem processes the neural signals from cochlear and senas them to the senas them to the thalamus, which projects them into the auditory cortex. The primary auditory cortex is located on the transverse gyri of Heschl in the lateral fissure. Cingulate gyrus and medial orbitofrontal cortex are involved in processing of emotional behaviors. Structures are found to have auditory projections these are proposed to be involved in emotional processing of music.” (APA Staff Web).
“Research shows the benefits of music therapy for various mental health conditions. Music gets as a medium for processing emotions, trauma, and grief – but music can also be utilized as a calming agent for anxiety or dysregulation. Lyric Analysis introduces a novel and less – threatening approach to process emotions, thought, and experiences. A person receiving music therapy is encouraged to offer insight, alternative lyrics, and tangible tools or themes from lyrics. Improvisation Music: playing instruments can encourage emotional expression, socialization, and exploration of various therapeutic themes. Active Music Listening: Music can be utilized to regulate mood. Because of its rhythmic repetitive aspects, music engages the neocortex of our brain.We often utilize music to match or alter our mood. To alter mood states, a music therapist can play music to match the current mood of the person and then slowly shift to a calm state. Song writing provides opportunities for expression in a positive and rewarding way. Anyone can create lyrics that reflect their own thoughts and experiences and select instruments and sounds that best reflect the emotion behind lyrics,” (Warren Web). “ Research has shown that when people listen to music that they prefer they have reduced the need for pain medication, and less anesthesia and experience less stress. Music therapy is the clinical and evidence – based use of music interventions to address physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs. Music can help lessen the perception of pain and help alleviate depression in people experiencing chronic pain. It can increase effectiveness of physical rehabilitation by helping to motivate people, similar to how music helps exercise. Music can help people with insomnia. Recent studies have discovered that music can help people sleep. Music has been used extensively to help people with dementia. It can elicit both memories and emotions. One recent study on the links between music and stress found that music can help soothe pediatric emergency room patients. Ages 3 -11, University of Alberta researchers found that patients who listened to relaxing music while getting an IV inserted reported significantly less pain. Researchers at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Singapore found that patients in palliative care who took part in live music therapy sessions reported relief persistent pain, (APA Staff Web).
“Brain activity is present predominantly in the frontal lobes for pleasant music and in the temporal lobes for unpleasant music. Music has been found to involve relaxation and to alter pain perceptions, blood pressure, respiratory, and heartbeat. Soft, slow, non lyrical music significantly decreased blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation. Music with a faster tempo significantly increased heart rate, minute ventilation, blood pressure, and sympathetic nervous activity. Cognitive processing of music is hypothesized under 2 mechanisms; Affective or indirect mediation and non – affective or direct meditation. Affective medication basically refers to activation of certain cognitive networks by meaning of activation of emotional music processing. Direct or the non – affective processing of music means activation of regions involved in a particular cognitive function by music. Behavioral response music is most evident in the form of dancing. Music expresses the forms of feelings which the individual is not able to express otherwise. Tones and sounds occur either in a single line or multiple lines and the feeling of movement of sounds in time are essential elements of music,” (Nizamie Web).
“Music improves symptoms of autism. Patients with developmental issues within communication and social interaction should follow music therapy. Many autism patients are interested in playing or singing. A great pro is that it helps them increase focus and attention, improve communication and social behaviors, and alleviate the anxiety issues.Listening to music will enhance fetal development. Apart from helping the child to be more responsive to music after birth, the therapy reduces heart rate, increases the feeding rates, helps the fetus gain weight, and induces them in a deeper sleep. Lullabies, live sound, and even played songs on devices will influence positive neonatal behavior and decrease the stress faced by parents when caring for a premature baby.
Some experts claim that music isn’t the best therapy for dementia patients. Although it helps them unwind and reduce stress, it can also cause harm. Listening to melodies can create false memories, distress, and confusion to those whose memories are already altered,” (Hunger Mountain Boys Web). “Music is second only to smell for its ability to trigger memories. This is due in part to a long evolutionary tradition that connects a need to process sound quickly in order to survive. Clinically, there are certain situations where this can be incredibly powerful, as in cases where dementia is involved and a well-known song creates a moment of lucidity. But it can also be unwelcome and unwanted. Music has this ability to trigger powerful emotions, often in conjunction with a memory, but sometimes not. This particular group was facilitated by myself and a licensed social worker (the primary group facilitator) and we were trained to be responsive to emotional situations like that as they emerge. Music is not a one-size-fits-all experience. Not everyone likes music. And very few people like every type of music. In fact, most people I have talked with have certain genres, songs, or artists on their personal "no listen" list. Hearing that song, artist, or genre—even in an open public space—can induce negative responses physiologically and/or emotionally. In my experience this is commonly felt as anxiety.
In a clinical setting, music therapists are trained to be aware of responses that may indicate heightened anxiety, even in clients who are unable to speak for themselves. For example, consider a community of individuals living with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Although music can be a powerful elicitor of memories for them, the "wrong" music can have a different effect, causing anxiety and distress in one individual that could easily spread throughout the group. As Uncle Ben counseled Peter Parker, "With great power comes great responsibility." The same can said for music. It wields an incredible power over our minds, bodies, and emotions. At the same time, though, we need to be aware that this power does not alway work in our favor.,” (Moore Web).
There are many types of mental disorders, ways of treatments for the disorders, and the brain reacts to music differenty. One of the best therapies for mental conditions is listening to music.
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