Music Therapy

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calli66
calli66 Member Posts: 5
edited June 2014 in Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment

I have heard that listening to music during treatments can help with making the treatments not be so painful. I wonder though if it is just the distraction of the music that makes it easier to cope or if the music has theraputic properties. Any thoughts?

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  • CrunchyPoodleMama
    CrunchyPoodleMama Member Posts: 1,220
    edited November 2009

    I think it's a little of both. I brought my iPod to my core biopsy and told them it was my "mental anesthesia" (the louder the music, the higher my pain threshold -- if it's GOOD music!). I'm okay with pain, but I tend to be a big baby when it comes to thinking about what is actually going on (sort of like when you have to hear the dentist's drill even though you can't feel physical pain)... so for me, I need music as a distraction.

    As for therapeutic properties, I firmly believe music has them. During many late nights when I have laid awake crying over my babies, music was very therapeutic and healing (during times of depression, certain Christian music has been VERY healing). Even aside from treatments or surgery, I know how music can instantly change my mood... Christmas music (usually!) puts me into an instant good mood... great 70's and 80's rock gets me in the mood for housecleaning (LOL!)... Mozart's Requiem (performed by Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music) is very soothing when I'm feeling down... etc. Music is very powerful and if I had treatments that involved *waiting* for any length of time, I wouldn't be without my iPod loaded up with some great tunes!

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  • BFidelis
    BFidelis Member Posts: 156
    edited November 2009

    There is something to it (I actually have an undergrad degree in it but you sure can't make any decent living in the field.)  There are 2 parts to it:  the first is the "idea distraction" that by paying attention to the music distracts your thinking from treatment.  The other part is that physiologically, the musical stimulation increases blood flow to the auditory areas of your brain, slightly lowering it in other parts (like pain/anxiety areas.)  Most studies have been done with dentistry (which also carries "physical" as well as "psychological" components, like BC treatment.)

    Peace,

    Beth

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