Two reasons why classical music is said to help prevent and alleviate depression
Depression is a mental illness that robs you of the energy to carry out your daily life, and it is said to be more likely to develop if you suffer from lack of sleep or nervous exhaustion.
If you've been having trouble sleeping at night lately, or if you're feeling excessive fatigue or guilt, it's possible that you may be suffering from depression without even realizing it.
Classical music is said to be effective in this regard. In this article, we will explain two reasons why classical music is said to be useful in alleviating and preventing depression.
1. Classical music has no lyrics, so you can give your tired left brain a rest.
The left brain is responsible for logical thinking, such as when considering cause and effect relationships or when explaining things to others in an easy-to-understand way. For this reason, it is said that the left brain has a lot of work to do in everyday life, making it prone to fatigue.
If you continue to overuse your left brain, blood flow will deteriorate, your nerves will weaken, and you risk worsening your symptoms of depression, so it is important to take appropriate breaks.
A survey conducted by an independent administrative institution under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on multiple patients with depression showed that blood flow to the left brain tends to be reduced during periods of depression.
This is where classical music comes in. Listening to classical music stimulates the right brain while relaxing the left brain, making it ideal for left-brain relaxation.
Basically, songs like rock and pop have lyrics attached to the melody, and when you listen to them, your left brain is constantly busy trying to understand the meaning of the lyrics unconsciously.
However, because classical music has no lyrics in its melodies, it activates the right brain, which is responsible for artistic activities such as playing an instrument or drawing, while giving the left brain a rest.
Classical music also contains a lot of "1/f fluctuations," which has the effect of inducing alpha (alpha) waves, the brain waves that are produced when you are relaxed.
1/f fluctuation is a frequency found in irregular sounds created by natural rhythms, such as ocean waves and wind. It is also used in music therapy because of its high relaxation effect.
2. Mozart's music stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system!
Helps relieve insomnia
According to a study by the Chief Researcher of the National Institute of Public Health, chronic insomnia symptoms are associated with various physical and mental illnesses. [Note 1]
So, for those who suffer from insomnia, I would recommend Mozart's music.
Our minds and bodies naturally switch between two autonomic nervous systems, the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system, in a balanced way.
The sympathetic nervous system is an autonomic nervous system that is in a state of tension and is dominant during daytime activities, such as when working or doing housework.
In contrast, the parasympathetic nervous system is a relaxed autonomic nervous system that becomes dominant when we sleep at night, and it promotes hormone secretion, helping to cure diseases and boosting immunity.
However, when emotions are high due to stress or other factors, this switching process becomes difficult. If the parasympathetic nervous system is not dominant at night, it becomes difficult to fall asleep, which results in insomnia and prevents the body and mind from resting properly.
Mozart's famous pieces, such as "String Quartet No. 17, K. 458, 2nd Movement" and "Violin Concerto No. 4, K. 218, 3rd Movement," contain a lot of high frequencies around 4 kHz that stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system.
Therefore, listening to it before going to bed at night can help activate the parasympathetic nervous system and relax the mind and body.
Insomnia is a major enemy that can erode our mind and body, and can even lead to depression. Listening to Mozart's music on a regular basis can help relieve insomnia and prevent a decline in energy.
Choose the song that suits your mood!
There are many different types of classical music, so it can be hard to know what to listen to. In that case, it's best to choose a song that matches your mood at the time.
For example, if you're feeling depressed and want to lift your spirits, it's said that suddenly listening to a song with a bright atmosphere isn't effective. If the atmosphere of the song doesn't match your mood, it may actually make you feel stressed.
When you're feeling down, we recommend listening to a dark piece first, such as Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 18, 1st Movement, followed by a bright piece, such as Dvorak's Cello Concerto No. 1, 1st Movement.
Why not try listening to classical music to suit your mood at the time to help combat insomnia and prevent and alleviate depression?
