Music is something that almost everyone has some type of relationship with. Whether it’s a breakup song that makes you feel better after losing someone that meant a lot to you or an absolute BOP that makes you get up and dance, music can invoke many emotions. This week, we’re going to discuss the true power of music and how much it can affect our emotions.
As someone who suffers from depression, anxiety, and autism, music can be the perfect distraction from the many stresses of everyday life. Whenever I can take the time to sit down and listen to music for a while, I can relax and heal from any and all stresses I may have experienced on a specific day. Music is something so simple that seems to do the impossible. There is much evidence suggesting that music can and does reduce stress, encourage relaxation, and even treat some types of pain (Novotney, 2013). This surprises me as even something like listening to death metal has demonstrated the same levels of relaxation and stress reduction as something like jazz.
As someone who suffers from depression, anxiety, and autism, music can be the perfect distraction from the many stresses of everyday life.
My personal musical journey made me fall in love with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Daft Punk, and Alina Baraz but your musical journey may look completely different than mine. The importance of your musical journey is not who or what you listen to, but that it inspires emotions within, and transports you to a world that you didn’t even know existed. With music, not only can you transport yourself to a different world, but also feel certain emotions. Something like jazz can inspire calmness or even euphoria, depending upon the style of jazz you’re listening to. On the other hand, something like hip-hop can inspire happiness or even such intense euphoria that you get up and dance.
Music can be your best friend when you’re sad or your guilty pleasure when you just can’t seem to stop listening to that one song that everyone else hates. Go out, listen to your favorite song or a song you’ve never heard before and enjoy every emotion you experience. As always, be great, smell great!