By Miah Loveday
Hey Tiger! With Apple and Spotify wrapped revealing all our favs. I figured I’d
share some information about what music can do for your mental health. As a music
lover myself, I’ve found that music holds a unique ability to influence the human mind. It
offers emotional, cognitive, and physiological benefits that make it a powerful tool for
your mental well-being. Studies in music therapy consistently show that listening to or
creating music can reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels and activating the brain’s
reward pathways (Thoma et al., 2013). This helps explain why people often turn to
music to regulate their emotions—whether to calm anxiety, lift depressive moods, or
process difficult feelings.
Beyond emotional regulation, music also enhances cognitive functioning.
Research indicates that rhythmic elements in music can improve focus and support
mindfulness by anchoring attention (Moore, 2013). For individuals dealing with trauma
or chronic stress, this grounding effect can provide a sense of stability when internal
emotions feel overwhelming. Music therapy is also widely used as a non-invasive
intervention in clinical settings. The American Music Therapy Association reports that
structured music interventions can improve mood, strengthen coping skills, and even
reduce the physical sensations associated with pain or tension.
Ultimately, music provides a safe emotional outlet; one that allows people to express
themselves, connect with their inner world, and find comfort when words fall short. Its
accessibility and versatility make it one of the most powerful and universal tools for
supporting mental health. Linked below are four playlists of mine that I hope you will
enjoy. Happy Holidays Tigers!
90’s Hip Hop
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2DP0DdUZVhcZukK5w0NgPG?si=gnjrihUlROCtaSK-
IjXvYw&pi=IvY9dshZRliMC
Christmas Songs
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/215N205SpBkGV5rSVgUeDz?si=gxo9fj06QfiWh5xy8H
AL9Q&pi=w1mspgnbSsqxu
Gospel:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5jtPJpU2kwM2zwXb39dUH7?si=3KA_50SBTkqvKoq1U
e_Ztw&pi=Yoc_bK18TZ2Id
Good Ole R&B: (90’s-2010’s with a dash of current music)
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/74ytgzsRLOQLs3S8BApdwz?si=sDfvrbFpRpe3G0U3dI
2S3Q&pi=shaLDTMJQUCGY
Works Cited
Moore, K. S. “A Systematic Review on the Neural Effects of Music on Emotion
Regulation.” Psychology of Music, 2013.
Thoma, M. V., et al. “The Effect of Music on the