Music as Medicine

Last summer I sat around a fire surrounded by oak trees and watched the flames rise into the sky while Nessi Gomes reminded us to breathe. She told us that everything is, and will be okay.

I could feel the words drop straight into my veins, allowing a moment for me to actually breathe. Just one breath, holding, and then letting it all go.

It was more than exquisite, wholesome, and necessary. The song in combination with the breath made the inside of my body feel full of new oxygen.

I wanted more of this feeling, and as I’m the type of person that needs hard evidence, I started researching. I had to figure out why and how this worked.

In a science-backed study by AAA : listening to music actually increases the body's production of the antibody immunoglobulin A — the cells that attack invading viruses and boost the immune system's effectiveness, and therefore, reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

After discovering this, it started to feel that this should be a crucial part of my wellbeing habits. I wanted to experience this during times and places in my life when the environment was less harmonious. I believed this would allow me to get back to my best, most open, self.

I started using music as a way to meditate. 

Whether it was five minutes before falling asleep or during a lunch break while working from home. After some time, and somewhat organically, this became something I had to do every night.

It made everything feel less intense.

So, I went a little deeper. My therapist shared a form of music called Bilateral EMDR to help me redefine my depression and anxiety. She told me this is used as a therapeutic technique that combines elements of music and bilateral stimulation to help process and regulate emotions, reduce distress, and promote a sense of wellbeing. Originally this type of music was used in the context of trauma therapy, such as Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), however she said this can be used for everyone. Whenever you need a moment to just be.

This form of music allowed me to sit with the sadness. It helped me realise that my body was trying to tell me something.

I needed to tune in, and stop tuning out.

In this hybrid working world, I spend 8+ hours on a laptop every day whilst constantly second-screening with my phone. I had essentially disconnected from my body, but realise that everything, my body, my thoughts, are in fact connected.

This type of music has helped me tune into my body and thoughts and stop pretending everything is okay when it’s not. “Pretending to be okay” has been detrimental to my mental health.

And when I really listened to my body, along with deep breaths, I started to cry. My body needed to cry in order to get rid of whatever it needed to get rid of. I had to learn to accept that it is okay to just cry. To let everything out.

So, here is a song that helped me👇 : 

This version of Hold My Hand was performed at Medicine Festival. When you have a second, close your eyes, and breathe, and let whatever thoughts or feelings come to you.

If this type of music is not your jam, I have left a few other options in this breathe playlist 👇.

The idea for this week: 

Music can be used as a way to meditate, calming the vagus nerve, tuning into your mind and body, and let go. You can use any music that is best for you. So, if you feel up for it, this weekend I encourage you to take some time to slow down, listen to the music and breathe slowly. Four breaths in, hold, four breaths out.

Whether it’s going for a walk in nature, or lying in bed before you fall asleep, the additional oxygen you’d be circulating in your mind and body in combination with the music will have a beneficial cumulative effect.

Sending you all so much love,

Meg

(If you have any Qs or want to chat @megandtheboys)

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