New Team Members at River Valley BHWC
Ashley Badjie - Administrative Assistant (Savage Location)
I was born and raised in Ocala, Florida. I am the knee baby of 4 girls. I've been working in the medical field for over 10 years now, I first started out in Primary Care as an Assistant Manager, and have had the privilege of being able to explore different types of practices throughout the years. I come from a large family filled with nurse, and law enforcement, so being able to have some part in helping others is literally in my DNA...find out more.
|
Wellness Strategy: Using Music Therapy for Your Mental Health
Research has shown that music can be used in a lot of ways to support your mental health and wellness. Sometimes it's as simple as listening to your favorite song, but there are many other ways you may not be aware of that you can utilize music as a form of therapy.
Music therapy can help with many types of mental health conditions including but not limited to: depression, trauma, grief, and anxiety. It can simply work as a calming agent or just brighten your mood! Here are a few ways to utilize the beauty of music.
Music Listening: This one is the obvious one that many of us practice right now. But let's break down all the different ways you can utilize listening to music.
-
Play Your Favorite Song or Artist: As stated by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), in the article "The Impact of Music Therapy on Mental Health", "... Because of its rhythmic and repetitive aspects, music engages the neocortex of our brain, which
calms us and reduces impulsivity." Everyone should have their own playlist (or mixtape depending on which generation you are coming from!). We have the songs we love and that doesn't have to change. Put on your playlist!
-
Play Your Somber Playlist: Sometimes, when we are feeling sad, we need to move through that emotion rather than around it. We can't simply skip past the sad feelings. It is ok to sit and sulk in those feelings (for a short period!) to acknowledge that you are sad. Eventually, you want to slowly shift the music to something more uplifting to pull you out of this mindset. Music can sometimes drive you out of a depressive state!
-
Listen to New Music: Surveys done by some of the largest streaming services available have found is that most people stop discovering new music by the age of 33. Check out the article here: "We Stop Discovering New Music by the Age of 30". This makes sense because the
music we enjoyed in our younger years, gives us a nostalgic and happy feeling, which in turn, releases dopamine. But what happens to our brain when we listen to new music? We find ourselves using more of the frontal areas of the brain which are activated when we encounter complex patterns. Your brain is also attempting to find elements that are recognizable in this new music; an instrument, a rhythm, a chord, or a similar melody. All of this combines to make for a much more active form
of listening. It's definitely exercise for the brain that we can all use!
Lyric Analysis: The lyrics of a song (similar to poetry) are oftentimes a very honest and vulnerable form of admission by the artist that wrote or sang them. When we relate to a certain songs lyrics, we can feel many different emotions depending on the content. When some feelings are difficult to talk about, lyrics can allow you to move through those feelings and/or allow the lyricist to explain and emote them without relying on you. Sad
lyrics can make us feel like we are not alone in our feelings. Deep or abstract lyrics can exercise our brain. Angry lyrics can help relieve those feelings without using aggression on others. Happy lyrics can solidify a happy state or bring us out of a sad one.
Playing or Writing Music: Playing or writing music is second to none as far as a way to use music to enhance your mental health. The physical movement combined with creation is something that has helped humans for centuries. You may have felt this when you are by yourself in your car and have sung along with one of your favorite songs. Other ways you may have engaged in music creation: tapping your foot, dancing, drumming on a table, bobbing your
head to the rhythm, or actually picking up an instrument and playing along. You do not need to be musically talented to benefit from this! Repeat: You do not have to be musically talented to benefit from this! Example: Some roles in African drumming circles take skills and practice, while other roles don't require any skill and are designed to incorporate everyone.
You can take this one as far as you like: start writing some music whether you plan to perform it for anyone or not, get lessons on an instrument, buy a hand drum to play along with the radio, join a drum circle, or just take some time to sing along with music.
|
|