Music Therapy for Addiction Recovery

Music brings people from all corners of the world together regardless of culture, belief, gender, and ethnicity. It’s the only real universal language and a powerful tool for treating people throughout communities and perspectives. 

What is Music Therapy?

Music is a major aspect of most people’s daily lives. People use it to boost their mood, for entertainment, and motivation or relaxation. Music is often related to the development of emotional states, and the results will, based on the music and individual, enhance their emotion, make them feel better or even sad. The use of music to promote connections, find healing, and achieve therapeutic purposes is clinical and evidence-based therapy. This is an expressive therapy that uses all aspects of music to help patient’s blossom. Clients do not need to have the artistic talent or skills to benefit from it. Music therapy is frequently used to support the elderly, for people Alzheimer’s, special needs, in childbirth and in hospital settings to aid in healing patients.

How can music therapy help with addiction?

Through the incorporation of music, patients enjoy a wide array of advantages. When people are actively addicted to drugs or alcohol, defense mechanisms like streamlining, minimizing, negating and lying are established to continue their behavior, and hide their emotions. Music therapy can help people explore emotional problems and understand a broad range of emotional signs through music and lyrics. Indirect access to emotions by music may offer a better starting point for experiencing and accepting a variety of different feelings.

Encourages self-expression

Self-expression frequently precedes self-consciousness and both are necessary for long-term recovery. Music, writing or hearing various songs can assist people to express their emotions in sobriety, rather than trying to escape those sensations by using drugs and alcohol. The ability to express helps to create knowledge about oneself. This will allow clients to gain a clearer understanding of how addiction disease has affected their lives and the choices they have for their recovery.

Increases self-confidence

Many addicts struggle with low self-esteem after in early recovery. Finding ways to increase self-worth will significantly improve  recovery and help prevent a recurrence. Music therapy contributes to feelings of relationship with others that make us aware that we are not so different and alone.

Reduces stress 

Stress is one of the worst enemies of a newly recovering addict. Stress management and coping skills are some of the reasons why drugs and alcohol are first and foremost used. Music helps calm nerves and offers relaxation, the trick is to find music that is relaxing for you. Heavy metal might not be the best choice at this juncture.

Things you can do while attending therapy

Although music therapy is a special type of treatment provided by licensed music professionals, other individuals utilize music as a way to make their lives happy and healthy even without any professional assistance. Many well-known musicians have used their music for being motivated by their sobriety and expressing their thoughts and feelings about addiction. 

Here are some ways in which you can use music to help you healthy in the long term:

Ever wanted to learn how to play an instrument? One of the best feelings, when you are in the healing period, is learning new things. It means a lot to a person because it implies their life is about to change as they continue their rehab. In music therapy, it is best to concentrate more on instruments, for example learning drumming. Drumming is one way to create music that has shown to give numerous benefits for addict rehabilitation, including stress reduction and enjoyment sensation. With others in a drum circle you will feel connected to others.

Create your playlist

There are many music applications today that you can create your playlist depending on your choice of music. It’s easy and simpler to build playlists of tracks, including soothing tracks, and videos, which will inspire you to exercise.

Meditate with music

Use your playlist while meditating. Meditation has been demonstrated to help people recover, but at first, it can be very difficult. Hearing certain music can help you calm your mind and act as a meditation buffer when you start your meditation.

Write your song

Writing your song is one way to release burdens from within, you can write it for your own consumptions only or if you want other people to listen to it then you may do it too. Writing is another coping method that is beneficial for many people to express their thoughts and feelings.  Many people have used music and music treatments to assist them in their long-term rehabilitation and addiction. Whether you use music therapy or you use your music, music is undoubtedly a powerful instrument for growth and healing in the recovery of dependence.

Content for Scottsdale Recovery Center and Arizona Addiction Recovery Centers created by Cohn Media, LLC. Passionate and creative writing and broadcasting, covering the following industries: addiction rehab, health care, entertainment, technology and advocate of clear communication, positivity and humanity at its best. www.cohn.media

Talk to Someone Who’s Been There. Talk to Someone Who Can Help. Scottsdale Recovery Center holds the highest accreditation (Joint Commission) and is Arizona’s premier rehab facility since 2007. Call 866.893.6816 or visit www.scottsdalerecovery.com