Music: The Other Mood Altering Drug

If physical exercise is like a mood altering drug, so is music. Think about your own musical experiences for a moment. Can you remember a time when you’ve been so totally mesmerized by the sounds you were hearing that you were swept away into another world by a melody, a harmony, and a rhythm?

Music can both create or reflect a mood. It also has a powerful impact in helping people manage stress. Sound can calm you down, wake you up, and stimulate your senses. If you’ve ever had a massage, you’ve probably experienced firsthand how music can also enhance a sense of deep relaxation. It is so effective as a mood enhancer that many people use music during meditation, relaxation, and visualization exercises. Music has such a profound effect that researchers are currently exploring whether music therapy could become a way of retooling brains afflicted with a variety of emotional disorders.