TheDrug Rehabilitation Centre in Mumbai and also the Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Mumbai talks about the basic problems and positivity about music used as a therapy. Also, the Drug Rehabilitation Centre in Mumbai has explained the need for addicts to use music as a therapy. We have all grown up listening to the tale of the Pied Piper. His soothing music had played tricks not only with the minds of the rats he was told to drive away but the children as well.

“Om” is one of the most powerful and important Sanskrit words in Hinduism and chanting the same is a form of meditation. The reverberations produced from the chanting are considered to have mental as well as physical healing properties. We can thus see that the effect of music on our minds has been well documented for a long time.

Music, or simple sound plays an important and constant role in our lives. Everywhere we go, we are surrounded by some form of music. It could be something as simple as the soothing hum of machinery, the twittering of birds every morning or the songs we play in our ears during our daily commute.

Music is often linked to mood. It plays with our emotions, allowing us a wide spectrum of feelings. Music also helps in releasing endorphins or ‘feel good’ hormones which makes us feel happy, relaxed and calm. Music affects the emotional, cognitive, sensory and motor areas of the brain. Since it is evident that music can cause major impacts on our neurological processes, it is also very commonly used in therapy.

There are two types of music therapy used:

The patient is made to listen to recorded or live music. This generally releases endorphins which helps in calming the nervous system and making the patient more relaxed and happier.

2. Active

This includes production of music either by singing or by playing an instrument. Active therapy is focused more on a form of physiotherapy. Playing instruments can free the joints of patients having muscular or bone disorders and vocal music improves lung functionality and helps to treat breathing problems.

There are a lot of psychological disorders that can be controlled or treated by music therapy:

Autism is a disorder which is characterised by difficulties with social interaction and communication and engagement with repetitive behaviour. Music helps to calm them down and avoid going into sensory overload. As a music student myself, I have seen tremendous changes in the autistic students who came to learn. Their focus and concentration increased, eye-hand coordination increased and they slowly became calmer and gentler in their interactions with others.

2. Dementia

Dementia is a loss of cognitive functions such as memory. In such people, music plays a role in mediating their emotions. It reduces aggression and agitation. It reduces the symptoms, improves coordination with daily tasks. Since it is successful in keeping people calm, it also helps in reducing the risk of heart or brain diseases

Depression