Singing for Improved Mental Health
Singing has been known to alter your physical and mental emotions. Many experts speak about how therapeutic it can be, as it soothes your soul and lifts your spirit. But what exactly happens to your body when you sing? Read on to discover some interesting ways that singing can be therapeutic for you.
1. Lowers Stress Levels
Singing has been proven to lower your levels of cortisol and cortisone, the hormones that regulate your stress levels. When you create vocal sounds, you contract the diaphragm and draw in more oxygen into the blood causing better circulation and reducing stress. So, don’t hesitate to belt out a good singing session to make you feel more calm and relaxed.
2. Releases “Feel-Good” Hormones
When you sing you also release endorphins and serotonin, two hormones which can elevate your feelings of pleasure. These feel-good hormones leave you with a natural high and feeling as if you are on top of the world.
3. Promotes Feelings of Trust and Bonding
Another hormone called oxytocin is also released when you sing. Oxytocin has been associated with alleviating anxiety and enhancing your feelings of trust and bonding. So just by singing you can gain more intimate and meaningful connections with other people. Those singers who exhibit feelings of strong social connectedness have been shown to experience declines in depression and loneliness, and enhanced immune function and longevity.
4. Improves Overall Mood
Whether you are watching a concert or singing yourself, the vibrations of the music can lead to decreases in negative moods, such as tension, fear, confusion, and depression. This in turn, can lead to a boost in overall health.
5. Releases Muscle Tension
You can avoid expensive trips to the spa and release that built up tension in your upper back, neck, shoulders and chest area with singing. As you sing, you naturally release the strain in these areas, alleviating the pain and allowing the tension to melt away which impacts your entire body.
The Takeaway
Experiencing music can really impact your health and wellbeing. Lowering stress and anxiety; increasing feel-good hormones and promoting connectivity are just some of the benefits that singing can bring to your life. Best of all, it doesn’t matter if you’re a good singer or a bad one. You can achieve therapeutic sensations just by emanating a vocal sound, so don’t be afraid to start singing today!
Are you interested in starting singing lessons? Book your free consultation today.
