Let’s face it…stress is a part of every day life and has been since man took his first step. High levels of stress can result from a bacterial infection, when we face possible danger, a major life change, as well as, inner conflict, worry or physical trauma. However, research has proven that we live our entire lives in continual low level stress. For instance, you’re probably living with low level stress if your work requires you to meet several deadlines each week. Low level stress can either work for us or against us as it can help us accomplish our goals or suppress our immune system. It all depends on how each of us thinks and perceives the world around us. Stress occurs because our thoughts produce electrical impulses, which can be measured in both amplitude and frequency, so that extremely emotional thoughts can contribute much greater amplitude to the electrical energy produced by our brain. Therefore, the more powerful the thought, the greater the electrical stimulation of the body’s muscular system. Think about that the next time you have a strong negative thought as opposed to an empowering positive thought. What are the changes that you feel in your body? What do you do to alleviate stress? Do you head for the gym? Read a good book or talk to a friend?

All of these exemplify positive ways of reducing stress. Another form of stress relief that is gaining popularity is sound therapy and music is the most popular. After all, many of us listen to music while we drive, work, exercise, and as form of entertainment. Think about the music that you listen to. How do you feel when you hear a lullaby or hard-rock? What kinds of music do you listen to when you want to feel relaxed or motivated? Music therapy includes listening to music, creating music, writing songs, discussing lyrics, performing music, using music and imagery and learning about music Studies have shown that music therapy can reduce heart rate, blood pressure, pain and anxiety.  Hospitals use music to lessen pain, improve moods, block depression, promote movement during rehabilitation, as well as, calm or sedate, induce sleep, and reduce fear and muscle tension. And, when mothers during childbirth used music therapy, they did not require anesthesia. It has also been used to successfully increase the immune system in children who were diagnosed with cancer.

Relaxing music should include about 70 to 80 beats per minute, which is the same as a heartbeat.
The Tomatis method, another form of sound therapy, includes a wide range of frequencies and uses the electronic ear to stimulate the stages of listening development.  This type of therapy can help children with auditory processing problems, dyslexia, learning difficulties, attention deficit disorder, autism and damaged motor skills.  Adults can also use this method to relieve depression, speed up foreign language training and  improve communication. Many actors, musicians and singers use this method to improve their performance. Another type of sound therapy is the Berard Method, which uses electronically enhanced music to correct hypersensitive or distorted hearing, and is therapeutic for children with dyslexia, autism, attention deficit disorder, pervasive development delay, and central auditory processing disorder.

Spectral Activated Music of Optimal Natural Structure (Samonas) is another form of electronically created music that is used to train the auditory system and process the full range of sound without distortion, hypersensitivity or frequency loss. It has been known to improve overall function, and is recommended for use in children with many disorders including; hypersensitive hearing, auditory processing problems, autism, developmental delays, attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, learning disabilities, and cerebral palsy.

Sound therapy is an alternative method that can be used to correct many health and stress related problems. The next time you’re feeling blue, need to relax or escape the world around you, think about using sound therapy. It will do your body good!

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