Massage produces marked reductions in anxiety and depression, and music connects people to their feelings, expresses thoughts, and overcomes isolation. Together they provide a powerful complementary therapy for depression.
by Daniel Kobialka, D.M.A.
The right kind of music can help the listener to relax and put aside daily stress and worries. For that reason, massage therapists have used classical and New Age music to help their clients be more open to their treatments.
It's interesting to note that clinical study has shown both music and massage therapy are effective in treating teenagers with signs of depression. Symptoms include changes in eating and sleeping habits; feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness; crying spells; loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities; social withdrawal; and thoughts of suicide or death. If several of these depression symptoms are present for two or more weeks, a doctor might diagnose depression.
Specifically, it is known that EEG asymmetry, specifically greater relative right frontal activation, is associated with negative emotions and depression, and examination of depressed adults invariably shows this phenomenon. EEG stands for electroencephalogram; electroencephalography is a test used to detect and record the electrical activity generated by the brain.
One particular study was developed to discover the effects of massage therapy and music therapy on frontal EEG asymmetry in thirty depressed teenagers, all of whom had abnormally high levels of activity in their right frontal brain areas.
Of the thirty teens, sixteen received music therapy and fourteen received massage therapy. EEG levels were recorded for three-minute periods before, during, and after each therapy session. Both groups showed improvement both during and after treatments, prompting researchers to conclude that these therapies should be studied further for inclusion as complementary treatments for depression.
Matthew J. Bush (1), licensed therapist, is not a music therapist but draws on his experiences and observations, recognizing that people (especially teens, perhaps) simply do not like to sit down and just begin pouring their hearts out to someone they don't know. His use of popular music to encourage teens to express their feelings offers powerful possibilities for healing depression. On his website, Matt suggests popular music with therapeutic messages, creative techniques for use in the therapeutic setting, and unique information about using music for healing. adds a voice of common sense and reason to the argument for music therapy.
Research by Tiffany Fields, at the Touch Research Institute (2) at the University of Miami School of Medicine in the USA examined the therapeutic value of massage in reducing anxiety and depression. The data from this study indicated that massage produced marked reductions in anxiety and depression in people who were massaged, but not in a control group who were not massaged.
Music therapy provides spoken words in addition to harmony in an effort to provide inspiration, motivation, and promote wellness. A patient will feel more adept to expressing emotion, which relieves stress and anxiety and provides release from depression. Music provides a powerful way to connect to feelings, express thoughts, and overcome isolation.
1. Matthew J. Bush, MSW, LSW is an experienced clinical and state licensed therapist who has successfully applied his techniques to countless children and adolescents in his work. Matthew also has a band, called Freudian Slip, and his website, Enter the Freudian Slip, offers information about his recent publication, "Utilizing Music as a Coping Skill: Featuring the Music of Freudian Slip" which was recently featured in an issue of Counseling Today.
2. The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
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