5 ways music can help us through grief and loss
How many times have you heard people talk about “the power of music” or how music can contribute to our overall well-being? If you are a music therapist like me, you know about its benefits and it’s likely you engage in conversations about this topic on a regular basis.
Music effectiveness has continuously been studied and its proven benefits have been found to be impactful in different areas such as our cognitive, social, physical, spiritual, and emotional domains. Regarding the latter, music can elicit different emotional states, it can influence our moods, and can be a tool for emotional regulation ((Thoma, et. al., 2012).
But, what role does music play in bereavement? What are the benefits of music when navigating the grieving process?
As a music therapist working with the bereaved, I’d like to share 5 ways in which music can help as we journey through grief and loss— that are also supported by research:
Music can help us find or redefine our identity: When we experience a loss, it can feel as though we’ve also lost our sense of self. We might ask ourselves “Who am I anymore without ______?” Music (and music therapy) can help us find or redefine our identity by exploring our personality, needs, and preferences through musical expression (Smeijsters & van den Hurk, 1999).
Music can help facilitate emotional expression and processing: Music can serve as a channel to access feelings we might have not been able to previously access. It can be a catalyst for the expression of emotions that might be otherwise difficult to put into words (Oliveira & Cardoso, 2010).
Music can bring us comfort: Not only can music help us relax and alter our mood states, but music can also be a source of comfort by decreasing emotional and physical distress. Grieving individuals can report emotional symptoms like anger, numbness, low self-esteem, and guilt, as well as physical symptoms such as tiredness, headaches, muscle tension, and chest pain (Kowalski & Bondmass, 2008). Music has been proven to be effective in managing emotional and physical symptoms by decreasing the perception of pain, increasing physical comfort, and relaxation(Krout, 2001).
Music can serve as a healthy coping tool: Whether engaging in music in a passive (listening) or active (playing an instrument) manner, music can help us feel validated, it can help us express, process, and manage difficult emotions and enhance our mood (Ter, et.al., 2011).
Music can help us feel connected with the deceased: Morrie Schwartz said “Death ends a life, not a relationship” and through music, we can continue to experience our bond or relationship with the deceased by utilizing music in ways that honor or commemorate their life (Patrick DiMaio & Economos, 2017).
Question for self-reflection: How do you use music in your journey through grief and loss?
Read more about some ways you can use music when coping with grief.
About me:
I’m a therapist (MSW) and music therapist (MT-BC) for women & teens at Transcendence Counseling Center in Vero Beach, FL and I am also available to provide counseling services via Telehealth across Florida. If you are interested in collaboratively working with me in therapy, you’re welcome to learn more about me and my approach here or schedule an appointment with me here.
References:
Kowalski, S. D., & Bondmass, M. D. (2008). Physiological and psychological symptoms of grief in widows. Research in nursing & health, 31(1), 23-30.
Krout, R. E. (2001). The effects of single-session music therapy interventions on the observed and self-reported levels of pain control, physical comfort, and relaxation of hospice patients. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, 18(6), 383-390.
Oliveira, A. P., & Cardoso, A. (2010). A musical system for emotional expression. Knowledge-Based Systems, 23(8), 901-913.
Patrick DiMaio, L., & Economos, A. (2017). Exploring the role of music in grief. Bereavement Care, 36(2), 65-74.
Ter Bogt, T. F., Mulder, J., Raaijmakers, Q. A., & Nic Gabhainn, S. (2011). Moved by music: A typology of music listeners. Psychology of Music, 39(2), 147-163.
Thoma, M. V., Ryf, S., Mohiyeddini, C., Ehlert, U., & Nater, U. M. (2012). Emotion regulation through listening to music in everyday situations. Cognition & emotion, 26(3), 550-560. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2011.595390
Smeijsters, H., & van den Hurk, J. (1999). Music therapy helping to work through grief and finding a personal identity. Journal of Music Therapy, 36(3), 222-252.
Wilson, S. J. (2013). The benefits of music for the brain. In From the Proceedings of the 2013 Research Conference: How the Brain Learns Australian Council for Education Research, Melbourne, Australia.