I truly believe the worst kind of suffering is pain without purpose. To suffer for the sake of suffering is the cruelest state of being one can endure. People who experience sudden loss or trauma often seek to extract meaning from the pain, heal, and feel happy again. But when suffering becomes chronic or keeps you from moving forward, it’s time to bring on music for your mental health.
The Function of Negative Emotions
When we are lost in a cloud of grief or fear, it’s natural to edit parts of our life that brought us joy, This is because depressive feelings are essentially functional – helping our mind to problem solve. This slowing down, or reflective ruminating is meant to help us focus on the details, find the cause, and devise a solution.
Similarily, feelings of alarm or shock are meant to warn us of danger, keeping us alive. But again, left to spin out of control, fear can unravel us, leaving us in a constant state of anxiety.
Joy Amnesia
But life does not always serve up problems that are 100% within our control (hello, Pandemic 2020!) and very often we get trapped in this cognition, negatively affecting the wellbeing of our minds, moods and bodies.
These states of mind are meant to be temporary, allowing us to change direction and move on to a safer or more fruitful direction. But if these negative states become prolonged, we get joy amnesia. And it is this “forgetting” of our joyful state that compounds our feelings of grief, sorrow, regret, and hopelessness.
So where does music fit into this swirling tornado of physical, mental and emotional pain? As music lovers, we can drop the needle as a healthy way to medicate our minds and relieve stress. But, instinctively, we know there is so much more benefit, as we inject those soulful refrains into our heart and soul. Let’s begin …
RETRAIN YOUR HAPPY
Music can help you recall happy memories. Listen to a familiar song that evokes memories of joy, fun, togetherness and hopefullness. Immerse yourself in the experience, fully let go, and be in those ‘memories’. Intrusive thoughts will pop up, reminding you that this was in the past. This is expected and your positive feelings will ebb and flow. Keep focusing on the beauty of the musical strains and notice how the music plays without your effort. Be easy and know that just as the sun rises without your effort, so, too will good feelings rise.
As the song comes to a close, reflect on your experience. Those feelings you felt were real, were they not? Of course they were. Whether attached to current or past events – those positive feelings are REAL feelings. And they did make you feel better, even if they were fleeting. This is the process of retraining yourself to feel happiness. You are rewiring your brain through music to feel good.
Historically our ancestors would actively participate in music by creating tones and beats and dancing or moving while listening. History suggests that the right music can cure ills, defeat insomnia, and improve digestion. The effect of gentle music on the human psyche to promote healing and soothe the savage beast can be traced as far back as biblical times.
Another reason people enjoy sad music is because of the hormone prolactin. Apart from its connection to lactation, prolactin also has various psychological effects. It is released, both in males and females, in response to grief, sadness or other forms of stress to attenuate the pain through its analgesic effect. When you are in a state of grief, prolactin produces feelings of tranquility, calmness and consolation, thus preventing the grief state from escalating uncontrollably.
From: https://www.scienceabc.com/social-science/why-do-we-like-listening-to-sad-music.html
Indeed, many develop spiritual beliefs or seek a change of perspective to transform the emotional and physical pain into something of value – for themselves, their loved ones, and even the greater good of all.