Experiencing music can have a positive impact on human health. Music therapy, for example, uses sound as an educational and therapeutic element. Music is beneficial in various situations: during pregnancy, in the case of tinnitus and in education, oncology and geriatrics. It is also used in the psychiatric field, particularly in cases of schizophrenia, in childhood autism and in the treatment of anxiety disorder.
Can music help us to relax and sleep better?
Music therapy is an important ally in the fight against stress and sleep disorders. By acting on the autonomic nervous system, sound can regulate certain metabolic reactions in the body. Musical notes stimulate the production of endorphins, promote relaxation, and improve our mood. Music can be a valuable ally for a deep sleep. In particular, the ideal rhythms for sleep are between 60 and 80 beats per minute, a frequency like that of our heart, the first music we hear as a fetus in the womb. This rhythm reduces sympathetic nervous system activity and blood pressure, lowers heart and respiratory rates, and promotes relaxation. Certain types of music are more conducive to psychophysical relaxation than others. These have repetitive characteristics: a steady rhythm, with no sudden or abrupt changes in tempo or volume.
How does music therapy work?
Our bodies have their own “pharmacy” to respond chemically to different types of situations: not only by regaining calmness when we need to sleep, but also by creating an alarm in case of danger. When our internal system is functioning normally, the right elements are activated in time: cortisol and adrenaline. However, the “modern lifestyle” overloads adrenaline and cortisol stores in situations that should not be a danger. The result: anxiety, fatigue, and depression. This is exactly where music comes to help. Listening to a calm melody has been scientifically proven to reduce adrenaline and cortisol levels in the bloodstream and relaxes from stress. Researchers at the University of Toronto have demonstrated the calming effect of music even on newborn babies. In addition, enjoying music releases dopamine and serotonin, which stabilize our mood and help fight depression and stress. Slowing down breathing helps to calm the heart rate and facilitates sleep. Therefore, music can help those suffering from insomnia by also reducing the production of the stress hormone noradrenaline.
Choosing relaxing music
Relaxing music that is ideal for sleep and relaxation should have a slow, gentle tempo and a pleasant melody. There is no ideal music to fall asleep to and not all people relax to the same sounds. Depending on your experience and musical taste, you can choose and set your own relaxing music. Smooth jazz, pop, classical music, lounge, chill-out, new age, classical masterpieces or just the sounds of nature… The variety of styles suggested by music therapists who specialize in insomnia allows everyone to find the sound that best suits them. Feel free to try different styles of music to see which one relaxes you the most. Once you find that music, sit in bed and indulge in listening, meditation, and wellness.
