For so many people music for depression therapy is a positive distraction that improves their mood.  A song can mean so much to one person yet so little to another. Music can make us happy, sad, energised, and tired. So, is music good for our mental health?  

Yes, but the notes that make up a musical melody have this incredible ability to reach places of our brains that make us who we are. How we respond both mentally and physically to a combination of these musical notes is what makes us unique.  

An ex-Disney employee once shared how Walt Disney World utilises music therapy to both stimulate and de-stimulate our minds. They discovered that visitors who were exposed to the music of a fast tempo would naturally walk around the parks faster, so when they wanted visitors to disburse from busier areas, they would play fast-tempo music and when they’d like visitors to stay longer, they would play music of a slower tempo. The team at Walt Disney World fully understood that music sends signals to our brains and our brains send signals to the rest of our body. So, if you want to control your body first you need to control your brain.  

Let’s give it a go.. think of somebody or something that made you extremely happy, maybe it’s the birth of a child, graduation, or something else like a gathering with friends and family. Think of the song that was playing at the time, the music that you relate that memory to the most. What was the song? Now sing that song under your breath or out loud for thirty seconds. How do you feel now? Hopefully, that was a positive distraction for you that helped give you joy, even if was only for a few seconds. The point is, that we can all harness the power of music to positively stimulate our minds. We just need to understand what makes our brains tick and expose ourselves to a song, or specific genre at the right time.      

If listening to music isn't the activity you need right now, then maybe you'll find what gives you joy here.