Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the increasing demands of life for a person suffering from Kidney Disease, and while some stress is good, a person with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) cannot stay in a perpetual state of stress and suffer the significant health ramifications of it. The result can be a range of problems from mental fogginess to autoimmune disease flare-ups to heart disease, which is why stress management is important.
Life with CKD can be extremely stressful and is avoidable, however, music is a great way to cope with the physical and emotional demands of the disease. Studies show that music is an effective stress-management tool. Listening to music has both physiological and psychological benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, calming nerves, and reducing the level of stress hormones.
Music has the power to influence mood and behavior in people and it is no secret that it is used at every available opportunity. We are introduced to music in our mother's womb even before we are born. It is used to soothe, hype up, educate, for entertainment, as a medium to remember information, for medical purposes, and so much more.
The music captures our emotions, thoughts, and feelings by putting them into lyrics. Music has the ability to bring a smile to our face, tears to our eyes, and even heal a broken heart.
We can all think of at least one song that, when we hear it, triggers an emotional response.
“I think music in itself is healing,” American musician Billy Joel once said. “It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.”
It is the universal bond with music that has led researchers across the globe to investigate its therapeutic potential.
“I think music in itself is healing,” American musician Billy Joel once said. “It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.”
Given the deep connection with music, it is perhaps unsurprising that numerous studies have shown it can benefit our mental health. A 2011 study by researchers from McGill University in Canada found that listening to music increases the amount of dopamine produced in the brain. Dopamine is a mood-enhancing chemical, making it a feasible treatment for depression.
Increasingly, researchers are finding that the health benefits of music may go beyond mental health, and as a result, some health experts are calling for music therapy to be more widely incorporated into health care settings.
When you feel as though you've reached you're breaking point, music can definitely get you through it. Why not try picking a few songs you really love and when you find yourself stressed out, play that song to help you calm your nerves. You can create a playlist of feel-good music, which can also help you past the time during your dialysis treatments.
KidneyWarriorstt.com would like to know what songs have helped you get through stressful events. Here's a few of ours:
Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Unsainted - Slipknot
Truth Hurts - Lizzo
Uproar - Lil Wayne
Comments