Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in America. They affect 40 million people every year aged 18 or above. That means about 19.1% of the American population battles anxiety every year.
Science has clear evidence that everyday stress and burnout can lead to severe anxiety. That way, your mind, and body must be appropriately rested to function adequately. Listening to songs for anxiety is an easy way to take some pressure off the emails, deadlines, and assignments that stress you out.
Read: Is Anxiety Disorder A Mental Illness? Myths And Facts
But, how does listening to music help in reducing anxiety?
Music has been found to mitigate the effects of stress and anxiety. A study by Plos One found that listening to music affects the autonomic nervous system and has a calming impact on the mind. It also lowered cortisol levels which are associated with reduced stress and anxiety.
When you are anxious, your nervous system shifts outs of creative mode and moves into the reactive mode. This is to either fight or flee the situation or perceived threat. Listening to or creating music is associated with increased creativity.
Here is a list of five songs for reducing anxiety that we believe might help you:
1. “Human” by Christina Perri
When Christina says, “I can do it, I can do it, I’ll get through it,” the world should listen. This song is your perfect go-to if you feel you lack the strength to get through your anxiety. It tells you to stop beating yourself up because of falling short of the benchmarks the society has set for you. It helps make you feel that the real strength is reaching out to yourself and pushing yourself to heal.
2. “You’re Not Alone” by Saosin
This number by Saosin is for when your anxiety skyrockets and you feel stuck. It is for all the times when the way forward gets unclear and hazy. The song speaks to people feeling trapped to get up and know they can make a difference. Despite the overwhelming judgment and stigma around you, it tells you that you are not alone.
3. “Someone Like You” by Adele
Although this superhit song by Adele deals with the issue of loss, the slow tempo will surely make you feel calm. The rhythmic and harmonic support is found by many to offer a sense of reduced stress and reflection. It is claimed that this song’s emotional strength is due to small but unexpected changes in the melody that appeal to the listeners’ minds.
4. “Mozart” by Canzonetta Sull’aria
For some, classical music might be more relaxing than other forms. Listening to this song for reducing anxiety has credible scientific backing. There is evidence that listening to Mozart increases brain wave activity. It also promotes problem-solving and high retentivity.
Read: Natural Remedies To Stop Anxiety
5. “Weightless” by Marconi Union
Marconi Union, a group of singers, teamed up with sound therapists to create ‘Weightless.’ The song was designed to reduce anxiety and did precisely that. Dr. David Lewis-Hodgson of Mindlab International researched to find the most relaxing piece of music. Listening to ‘Weightless’ led to a 65% reduction in participants’ anxiety. It slowed the listener’s cortisol levels and heartbeats, leading to a feeling of calmness.
Takeaway
This dialogue from Strangers Things can beautifully sum up the effect of music on your mind. It says, “music can reach parts of the brain that words can’t. So maybe that’s the key, a lifeline. A lifeline back to reality. It’s worth a shot.”
We hope this list of songs is helpful for reducing your anxiety and bringing you back. Tell us about your favorite piece of calming music in the comment section.
Taking this further, read about the mind-blowing mental health benefits of attending a concert here.
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