Every person’s journey through addiction treatment and recovery is different. You may find that group therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy is the most helpful. Others find solace in repairing their broken relationships. Still others turn to the arts such as music as they journey through recovery. Music is one of those universal things that speaks to almost everyone in different ways. You might get the most out of music by playing it when you cook or exercise. Others use it to relax and create ambiance. At New Method Wellness in San Juan Capistrano, CA, we are well-aware of the healing power of music. We’ve seen the positive effects of music therapy for many of our patients in addiction treatment.
Benefits of Music Therapy for Addiction Recovery
Part of why music and music therapy are so effective in addiction treatment is the diversity. Music offers a world of sound to appeal to a range of tastes. From classical to smooth jazz to rock and beyond, there’s something for everyone. Listening to music can indeed be therapeutic in almost any application. At New Method Wellness, we offer music therapy as one of our addiction treatment programs for a reason.
Music Is A Mood-Lifter
Many people listen to music to enhance or adjust their mood. It’s no different for addiction treatment patients in music therapy. Studies have found that people who regularly listen to bright and upbeat music feel happier after only two weeks of therapy. Those who listen to music purposely with the intent of improving their mood found even greater levels of happiness. When you feel depressed and defeated after a relapse or another obstacle in recovery, music may provide just the boost you need to carry on.
Music Can Mitigate Pain
Some aspects of the feeling of pain are inherently psychological. Music has been found to reduce the severity of perceived pain. Research has shown that regular music therapy can even reduce the need for pain killers in some people. Long periods of detox during addiction treatment can leave you feeling exhausted and achy, but music can provide some relief.
Build and Strengthen Connections
It’s very difficult for many addicts to connect with others around them during recovery. This is especially true for those who have experienced past trauma. They may have a hard time opening with people, including their therapist. The shared experience of music can help them make connections and bond with others. This can strengthen their relationships with peers in group therapy as well as with therapists. When a connection or bond is formed, many people in recovery have a much easier time of opening up and talking about their emotions.
Music Therapy Can Promote Self-Discovery
Addiction is characterized by chronic and intense drug-seeking as well as using. It’s not an exaggeration to say that drugs or alcohol becomes the addict’s entire life. When you enter recovery, it’s common to feel lost and empty. Without drugs or alcohol, you might feel like you have no interests or purpose. Composing music or playing an instrument or just simply using music as a hobby can fill the emptiness and prompt you to build a healthy new sense of self. Music therapy can involve many different types of activities related to music.
The Effect of Music On Brain Function
Research shows that music has a profound effect on the brain. Slow songs cause the brain to transmit feelings of peace and serenity. Upbeat songs with strong beats and a quick tempo stimulate energy and alertness. Some types of music also improve concentration and focus, but that tends to be different for everyone. Listening to music actually improves the brain’s ability to change gears by itself.
Music As Relaxation
Music can stimulate something called the relaxation response. This occurs when heart rate and breathing relaxes and slows. These changes to the autonomic nervous system can put you into a meditative state simply through listening to relaxing music. This is one of the reasons that spas often use calming music during treatments. The music stimulates a relaxation response alongside any spa treatment you partake in. This can be very helpful when you need to relax in recovery.
Reduce Stress
You don’t have to necessarily experience the relaxation response to feel relief from stress while listening to music. Simply hearing your favorite song or a type of music that you really enjoy can relieve muscle tension and lower your blood pressure. For this reason, music therapy is used in many other areas besides addiction treatment and recovery.
Music As Motivation
Music can motivate recovery in many ways. It can direct your concentration when you’re studying or writing. It can lift your energy when you want to exercise. Calm, peaceful music can also motivate you when you’re trying to meditate. If you’re down or depressed as you go through recovery, music can lift your mood and make you feel happier.
Music Helps Your Memory
Music also has a way of bringing you back to a place in the past. Memories may be tied to specific songs, and hearing those songs can bring you back to a time where you felt joy. For those struggling with trauma in recovery, music has the power to remind them of enjoyable times in their lives. If you remember a time when you had a positive mindset, music can be the trigger to bring you back to that and encourage healing in recovery.
Musical Expression and Creation
Music is also an invaluable tool of expression, which is why music therapy can be very helpful to those in addiction treatment and recovery. You don’t necessarily have to create music or play an instrument for music to be an important expressive outlet. Simply having a certain interest or taste in music is a form of expression. However, for those who do like to create music through composition and/or playing an instrument, music therapy can be even more rewarding. Making music is a great conduit for raw emotions that you may have difficulty expressing through words.
Encourage Movement
Music can be applied in other physical therapies like Surf Therapy or Yoga Therapy. This is because music is an excellent way to encourage physical motion. It helps you focus and boosts your energy. Many people hear music and immediately feel like moving. This is why we apply music throughout our programs when appropriate.
Music Therapy At New Method Wellness
New Method Wellness, a dual diagnosis addiction treatment center, offers Music Therapy as part of our additional treatment programs. These programs are an essential aspect of our well-rounded and individualized treatment. We encourage you to find yourself and explore new ideas and hobbies as part of your recovery plan.
If you have any questions about the benefits of music therapy for addiction recovery or need information on treating substance use disorders, please get in touch with one of our addiction specialists today.
For more information about our Addiction Treatment Methods call 866.951.1824 today!
