There are many different therapies designed specifically to help those with certain health conditions. Music and sound therapy are used in the treatment of conditions that include anxiety and depression as well as autism. But can music therapy help patients with cancer? According to the experts at Maloca Sound, many cancer patients find music therapy beneficial when it is used alongside their other treatments.
What Happens in Music Therapy?
Music therapy involves using music to promote healing and wellbeing. It might involve listening to music, or it could even mean dancing, singing, or actually making music. Sometimes music therapy includes things such as creating meaningful playlists or writing song lyrics.
Therapists work with their patients and use music in different forms,dependent upon the preferences of the individual. Some individuals like to sing and dance to musicwhile others prefer to listen to it or talk about it with the therapist.
Why is Music Therapy Used for Cancer Patients?
The reason music therapy has become a valuable toolin the treatment of various health conditions including cancer is because of the impact it can have on the mood of the patient. Music can instantly lift the mood and induce feelings of relaxation, which for cancer patients receiving difficult treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can be hugely beneficial.
There are many emotions associated with cancer including fear, anger, guilt, sadness, and even shame. Music therapy provides patients with a safe place to explore and deal with these feelings.
It is important to remember that music therapy is not a cure for cancer and is never used as a standalone treatment. However, when utilized in conjunction with other treatments, it can help patients to feel calm and relaxed.
The Benefits of Music Therapy
Music therapy is a powerful tool that is used as part of the treatment for a host of conditions.It has many benefits, which can also apply to patients dealing with cancer. For example, music therapy is commonly used to treat thosewith depression and anxiety, two conditions that arequite commonin those having been diagnosed with cancer.
Music therapy is also used extensively as a complementary treatment for those suffering with chronic fatigue and pain, also two common symptoms among cancer sufferers.
The appropriate music therapy session can invoke feelings of calm and relaxation and can encourage the brain to release feel-good hormones. Even something as simple as listening to a piece of music or an old song can stir up powerful positive memories, which has a massive beneficial effect on the mood of the patient.
Furthermore, music therapy is often used as part of a full treatment plan in cancer patients because it offers a distraction from other difficult forms of treatment. Music therapy is increasingly being used in hospitals and other healthcare settings as part of a tailored plan of care for cancer patients. It is completely safe, but it should always be provided by a qualified therapist.
Conclusion
While music therapy is never used as a substitute for other forms of cancer treatment, it can have several benefits for cancer patients when used as a complementary therapy. Because music therapy has the potential to improve the mood, it can be a useful tool in helping patients with cancer to deal with the variety of emotions that they experience when they are diagnosed and then during treatment.
Music therapy has been known to induce feelings of calmness and relaxation and as such can provide relief for both physical and psychological symptoms. As a non-invasive treatment, music therapy works well alongside other cancer treatments.