Supervised by Kara Grant, LPC-S, CDWF, SEP
Music surrounds us every day, whether we’re tuning in to the radio on a drive, listening to pumped-up sounds during a run, or hearing a catchy commercial—but have you ever stopped to think about how the music we listen to affects our thoughts and emotions?
How Does Music Connect Us to Emotions?
The sounds we hear are highly intertwined with the emotional responses we experience. For example, when a baby cries, most people immediately feel concern and wonder what the baby needs. Similarly, when a dog barks suddenly, we become alert and instinctively orient ourselves to see what is happening. In the same way our bodies respond to everyday noises, the music we listen to uses specific tempos, rhythms, lyrics, and harmonies which elicit emotional responses.
Positive and Negative Effects of Music
Since music taps directly into our brains’ emotional centers, it is a powerful way to feel and process emotions without needing direct communication. This is something that can both support and be a deficit to our mental well-being. Let’s say you’re feeling stressed after a long day at school. Listening to calming music can help slow your heart rate, reduce tension, and make it easier to process your feelings, providing a mental break and emotional release. On the other hand, if someone constantly listens to angry or sad music when they’re already upset or struggling with depression, it can amplify negative emotions, making it harder to feel better. In this way, music can be both a powerful tool for supporting mental health and a potential risk if it reinforces unhealthy emotional patterns. The key is being aware of how different types of music affect your mood and choosing what helps you feel balanced, energized, or calm when you need it most.
Music as a Support to Mental Health
There are many ways to use music as a positive coping skill when wanting to support your mental health. Some powerful practices that use music to support mental health include:
● Mood Matching/Shifting: Create playlists to either match your current mood (e.g., sad music when feeling down to feel understood) or to shift your mood (e.g., upbeat music to boost energy).
● Relaxation: Listen to gentle genres like classical, ambient, or nature sounds to calm the nervous system and reduce anxiety.
● Memory & Nostalgia: Play music that evokes pleasant memories to bring comfort and a sense of connection.
● Focus & Productivity: Use instrumental or lo-fi music to improve concentration during tasks like studying or working.
● Emotional Release: Sing along to songs or create your own music to express feelings, release built-up emotions, and healthily process difficult experiences.
Conclusion
Music is a powerful, everyday tool that can both enhance and challenge our mental health. To ensure you are using music as a resource in your life, ask yourself one simple question: “What am I doing for myself by listening to this?” Reflecting on this can help you understand if the music you are listening to is supporting you or keeping you stuck. When used mindfully, music is not just something we hear—it’s something we feel, live, and grow with, allowing you to make intentional choices that support your well-being.