Yesterday Once More by the Carpenters means the world to Trevor.
"For me, the song is a hymn of thanks for everything good that life has
gifted me". Trevor had recently changed jobs and relocated when he
started to get delusional. He was prescribed antipsychotics and on the
day he took them started to hallucinate.
He took an overdose and ended up in hospital, where he was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and started on long term treatment. The Carpenter's version of the song, tinged with sadness acts as a coping mechanism for Trevor, reminding him that he has a lot in life to be grateful for. Several years on, Trevor says that he can now manage all his symptoms. For ages, music has touched fundamental aspects of human existence and has been an essential part of healing.
It is only in the past few decades that neuroscientific and clinical studies have started to shed light on the mechanisms of music as a means of therapy. Although a lot still remains to be unraveled, one thing is for certain, music for mental health isn't just a passing fad.
Mental health centers that use music as a clinical tool have consistently reported that music is especially helpful for low functioning clients. There are anecdotal reports from all over the globe that music can strengthen the ego, increase socialization, decrease psychotic symptoms and increase activity. The question of how music produces these benefits remains largely unanswered, but the good news is that the clues are gradually adding up. Studies have demonstrated that music when used in the two month phase following a stroke enhanced the recovery of verbal memory and focused attention, and also prevented depressed and confused mood. Investigators report that music aids in increasing the capacity to form neural connections within an interconnected network of brain regions in brain damaged individuals.
This translates to faster and lasting recovery. The arousal and mood hypothesis suggests that music induces positive mood and heightened arousal which can lead to improved performance on cognitive tasks. Perhaps the most widely held theory is that listening to music releases the neurotransmitter dopamine. This release directly augments alertness, speed of information processing, attention and memory in healthy humans as well as in patients with mental health conditions.
The conclusion, music is good for you. Whether you've had a hard day at work and are looking for a performance enhancer or feel low and require a mood boost, there's music to suit your needs. Not only is music a powerful tool of expression, it is a means to explore and heighten personal well being and development. Make music a big part of your life and chances are, you'll reap rich dividends!
He took an overdose and ended up in hospital, where he was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and started on long term treatment. The Carpenter's version of the song, tinged with sadness acts as a coping mechanism for Trevor, reminding him that he has a lot in life to be grateful for. Several years on, Trevor says that he can now manage all his symptoms. For ages, music has touched fundamental aspects of human existence and has been an essential part of healing.
It is only in the past few decades that neuroscientific and clinical studies have started to shed light on the mechanisms of music as a means of therapy. Although a lot still remains to be unraveled, one thing is for certain, music for mental health isn't just a passing fad.
Mental health centers that use music as a clinical tool have consistently reported that music is especially helpful for low functioning clients. There are anecdotal reports from all over the globe that music can strengthen the ego, increase socialization, decrease psychotic symptoms and increase activity. The question of how music produces these benefits remains largely unanswered, but the good news is that the clues are gradually adding up. Studies have demonstrated that music when used in the two month phase following a stroke enhanced the recovery of verbal memory and focused attention, and also prevented depressed and confused mood. Investigators report that music aids in increasing the capacity to form neural connections within an interconnected network of brain regions in brain damaged individuals.
This translates to faster and lasting recovery. The arousal and mood hypothesis suggests that music induces positive mood and heightened arousal which can lead to improved performance on cognitive tasks. Perhaps the most widely held theory is that listening to music releases the neurotransmitter dopamine. This release directly augments alertness, speed of information processing, attention and memory in healthy humans as well as in patients with mental health conditions.
The conclusion, music is good for you. Whether you've had a hard day at work and are looking for a performance enhancer or feel low and require a mood boost, there's music to suit your needs. Not only is music a powerful tool of expression, it is a means to explore and heighten personal well being and development. Make music a big part of your life and chances are, you'll reap rich dividends!
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