How to Deal with Pain? Get a Music Therapy!


MJ Gonzales │

To counter stress and loneliness, people resort to various diversions. Some individuals prefer engaging activities like kayaking or trekking, while others contented in reading and cinemagoing.  Of all these possibly the simplest form of diversion is listening to music.  Whether it’s standards, blues or trance; any music lovers would agree that songs are good company anywhere they go.

According to Elite Daily’s report listening to music, even those considered old and sad, can make people chill.  Based on the studies they gathered, ‘nostalgia’ and ‘connection’ are some of the factors why songs that soothe people.  Apparently, when the beats and lyrics one’s ears he or she may remember the happiness in the past and the person they become after those times.

“By identifying with the lyrics of a sad song, a listener can empathize with the vocalist and understand that others have shared experiences of rejection, loss, unrequited love, misfortune, or other themes characteristic of sad songs,” Krystine Batcho, Ph.D., a professor at Le Moyne College, shared on Psychology Today.

Around the globe there certified music therapists and health institutions that use music for their patients.  In Harvard Health Publication’s account, music therapists are musicians too who can jam with, perform for patients and be music teachers.  They also added that therapy do wonders  for  those suffering  from  dementia, side  effects of  cancer medication,  treating speech problem,  and invasive procedures .



Meantime, 14-year old leukemia patient Aniasyrara Anwar shared on Channel News Asia that music therapy, particularly playing Javanese music instt Kolintang, helps her to cope with her painful treatment.  She’s part of Ain Society’s program which facilitated by counselor.

“With Kolintang, I can’t feel the pain because it relieves my stress, and I didn’t think about the things that are upsetting me which is the pain from the treatment.”
