Music and Grief
Everyone processes grief differently. Sometimes we deal with our grief in unhealthy ways, and other times we look to God, friends, family, or things we love for comfort. Music has therapeutic benefits to help during the grieving process.
Music Can Reduce Stress and Depression
Music therapy is an evidence-based therapy that involves musical activities like discussing lyrics or playing instruments. Music therapy has been formally introduced since 1945 by the U.S. military. In the many years of its usage, it has been applied to treat everything from depression to Alzheimer’s disease, making it a wonderful tool for improving mental health and cognitive function.
Songs Help Us Keep Memories Alive
Did you know that when we say, “this song reminds me of you,” there’s evidence of this happening in our brains? Music triggers neural pathways that evoke memories, so when we want to remember someone or something, music is one of the best ways to recall those memories and honor what we’ve lost.
Music Gives Us Permission to Feel
A lot of the time, we try to avoid letting ourselves feel negative emotions. However, music is a powerful outlet for letting us release and express pent-up feelings. Whether we’re playing a sad ballad or listening to a metal band singer shred their vocal cords, music is a medium made for catharsis. So, if we feel as if we’re forcing ourselves to play happy tunes, we should give ourselves space to properly embrace our grief.
No matter what we may be grieving, the best we can do to process our loss is to find better channels to explore our grief. Music is one of God’s greatest gifts to us: not only is it a way to express our joy and praise the Lord, but it’s also a way for us to explore and heal from grief we may not be able to express in words.
Listen to this week's podcast entitled:
Host Nicole Alfonso, LMHC, along with Gabriella Zelaya, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern.
Special Guests: Amy Sunyoung Lee and Carson Marshall
