Classical music is truly beautiful. When listened to with intent, classical music evokes emotions of joy, peace, love and nostalgia. Classical music is woven into the very history of music itself, yet on its own lends itself to prestige and learning. Classical music takes you away from the stress of life. The arias of Leontyne Price, the allegro of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the mysteries of Beethoven gives the listener a unique sense of wonder and fantasy, leaving them spellbound almost forgetting any of the troubles, trials or heartaches they were thinking about or fears they were going through.
The capability to relax you when you hear the violin, the piano or the foreign languages in an upswept melody of an aria makes you travel to a place of enchantment. Classical music gives you the power to forget whatever bothers you and allows you to drift away. Your mind is clear, your ears are surrounded by a cadence of beauty and the body is carried away as you are no longer worried or upset because you are invited to a place of wonder. There are many different genres of music, but none of them can compare to classical music. Classical music is about respect. It is about love. It is about knowing who you are, and your first encounter with it can lead to healing and ultimate focus of the brain.
Depression over periods of time is more than sadness. It is a lengthened time of prolonged sorrow where the sufferer does not have interest in anything but sleeping too much or too little, or eating more or not enough. There is a constant bout of not wanting to do anything but cry. Depression can lead to many other symptoms like psychosis which is hallucinations and paranoia.
Depression when treated with antidepressants can help some symptoms. But how can a person find the interest in things they once loved doing? It takes persistence and thinking because concentrating and focus is not like it used to be. Because for me and so many depression sufferers, it is hard to focus enough to even read a book because the mind races and wanders all over the place.
This is where classical music comes in. Think for yourself for example. If you are listening to a popular song, with profane lyrics or certain negative implications, these things over time can make you feel and behave a certain way. These things can leave your mind in a different state. If you suffer from depression it can dump a load of emotions in your mind because songs that are overly negative and toxic can cause you to feel negatively, and after the song is over, you wonder why you are thinking certain things or conducting yourself in a certain way.
A study by Jie Liu at the Guangzhou Huali Science and Technology Vocational College in Guangzhou, China, showed that “classical music, characterized by its structured harmony and rhythm, has been shown to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing cortisol levels and promoting relaxation. Functional MRI studies indicate that classical music enhances connectivity in the default mode network (DMN), which is associated with emotional regulation and self-referential processing.”
If you are having trouble with your depression and are not seeing signs of getting better or recovering, sometimes it takes changing your lifestyle down to what music you listen to and what you allow into your spirit. Listening to classical music and discovering new composers, musicians and artists is an experience. It makes you excited and gives you the mind to want to create something yourself.
Classical music can sooth the troubled soul. The rhythms of each instrument in the orchestra plays an integral part in the entire piece of music. For example, the voice of Leontyne Price’s rendition of “Ave Maria” leaves you spellbound and allows your mind to calm down. Racing thoughts cease, as does the noise of a bad day. It can make a person suffering with depression feel so much better. Coupled with medications and other coping mechanisms, classical music is a must to add to your health and wellness toolbox.
Although you may not know what the words mean, your body can feel the emotions. I have experienced the beauty, magnificence and appreciation for music while listening to classical music. The time and preparation that is put into constructing a masterful aria or instrumental chorus is what makes classical music so precious. It is not about understanding the words, it is about allowing your mind to receive the music.
The main purpose of listening to classical music is opening your mind to new concepts to help your depression and to learn how to cope with it.. Classical music can ease every upset in your life. All it takes is to allow your entire body to enjoy the music. Close your eyes and open your ears because classical music is such a brilliant creative musical genre.
The study by Jie Liu states, “In the experimental conclusion, music therapy, especially classical music, has significant therapeutic effects on relieving anxiety and depression symptoms. After four weeks of intervention, the anxiety and depression scores of the classical music group decreased by 18% and 15% respectively, indicating its effectiveness in emotional regulation.”
Many other genres of music have the opposite effect on depression sufferers. The lyrics and music do not relieve cortisol levels but increase them. Jie Liu in his study found, “The predictability and stability of classical music align with the “entrainment theory,” which suggests that rhythmic patterns can synchronize with brainwave activity, leading to reduced anxiety and improved mood. In contrast, pop music, with its variable tempo and lyrics, may evoke stronger emotional arousal but less consistent relaxation effects.” (278)
As a person suffering from depression and schizoaffective disorder, I listened to classical music over several days because I was angry. When I did, my whole outlook changed. I listened to Beethoven’s “Fur Elise,” and I calmed all the way down. From that day forward I began to listen to many other classical musicians, notably, Leontyne Price, Mozart, Beethoven and Black Violin. I enjoy this genre of music because it does not stir up any toxic feelings inside me but it is pure to the core.
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