April is a busy time of the year, which can often lead to stress! It also happens to be Stress Awareness Month. How stressed are you?
Take the Perceived Stress Quiz Here
According to the World Health Organization, stress can be defined as, “…a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation…that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives.” Stress becomes toxic when it accumulates to the point of overwhelming and ongoing challenges that the body cannot adapt to.
Fortunately, music and music therapy are well-known sources of relief. Here are a few of the major benefits of music for stress reduction:
- Reduces cortisol levels and increase dopamine levels through movement
- Increases prosocial bonding (a sense of connectedness) with others
- Facilitates grounding and calming due to the predictable, repetitive nature of musical rhythms
- Increases emotional expression in a safe and structured way
- Regulates the nervous system through deep breathing that occurs when singing
When Sparks’ kids experience trauma, the brain loses the sense of predictability and control it once had. With music therapy, the brain can connect to the familiar musical sequences, which calms the fight-or-flight response that is activated during traumatic events.
Music is such a powerful modality for managing all types of stress. Won’t you help us provide healing through music therapy to more students who have endured highly stressful situations?
Donate Today
Sources:
https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/stress
https://www.resonatemt.com/music-blog/trauma-toxic-stress-and-music-therapy
