We've all felt it—those moments when life throws more at us than we can handle, leaving us overwhelmed and stressed out. Whether it's the ongoing demands of work, financial pressures, or just the anxiety brought on by uncertainty, stress has become part of many of our daily lives.

With social distancing and lockdowns keeping us from activities like shopping, exercising, or going to the movies, it can feel like we're stuck in a pressure cooker.

But there's good news: music might just be the stress reliever we need. In ancient China, the poet Ruan Ji from the Wei-Jin period believed that music could calm the mind and body. Modern science agrees with this timeless wisdom, showing that listening to music can be one of the most effective ways to reduce stress and anxiety. But not all music has the same effect—some tunes can actually make things worse. So, what kind of music can truly help us relax?

What Kind of Music Can Reduce Stress?

Music can be divided into two main types based on its emotional impact: relaxing and stimulating. Relaxing music tends to be slow-paced, quiet, and with little rhythmic movement, like Chopin's "Prelude in D-flat major." On the other hand, stimulating music is faster, louder, and more rhythmic, such as Beethoven's "Appassionata Sonata."

Typically, relaxing music is better at calming us down and easing anxiety. However, as researchers found, it's not as simple as that. A study tested how different types of music affected people's stress levels by giving them a mental math test to induce stress. Afterward, participants listened to different kinds of music based on their personal preferences—either calming or stimulating music—and were then asked to rate their stress levels.

The results were interesting: while relaxing music did help reduce stress overall, individual preferences played a huge role. Relaxing music only had the most significant stress-relieving effect when the participants were listening to music they didn't like. When listening to preferred music, both relaxing and stimulating music had positive effects on reducing stress. This finding highlights the importance of music preferences in the stress-relieving process.

The Role of Personal Preferences in Music's Stress-Relieving Power

So why do our personal music preferences matter so much? The answer lies in how our brains react to music we enjoy. One study, published in Science, used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to track brain activity while people listened to their favorite music. The results were clear: when people listened to music they liked, areas of the brain related to reward—specifically the striatum and the nucleus accumbens—were activated, releasing dopamine, the "feel-good" neurotransmitter.

This activation of the brain's reward system is one of the reasons why music can be such a powerful stress reliever. When we listen to music we enjoy, our brains release dopamine, which not only makes us feel good but also helps reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. In essence, listening to our favorite music taps into our brain's natural reward system, making us feel better and more relaxed.

How Does Music Trigger and Regulate Emotions?

You might be wondering, how does music actually trigger these emotional reactions in the first place? The answer lies in the tension and release that music naturally creates. As composer Hindemith once said, "Music is nothing but tension and release." This constant back-and-forth between tension and relaxation is what drives the emotional impact of music.

Music uses various elements like rhythm, tempo, and harmony to create tension. For example, unstable chords or fast rhythms can create a sense of tension, while resolved chords and slower rhythms can release that tension, creating a calming effect. Even if we don't have formal musical training, we can still pick up on these subtle shifts and react emotionally to them.

Our latest research even shows that the brain responds faster to rhythmic elements than to harmonic changes. This suggests that rhythm plays a key role in how we perceive tension in music. This rhythmic tension can help us process emotions and can be one of the reasons music is such an effective way to regulate our mood.

Using Music to Cope With Stress and Anxiety

So, the next time you're feeling anxious or stressed, try turning to your favorite music. Whether it's classical or rock, the key is to choose music that you enjoy. Listening to the music you love can activate your brain's reward system, helping you feel calmer and more at ease.

If you're unsure where to start, consider listening to soothing music at first, and then gradually switch to more upbeat tunes as your stress levels decrease. Music can guide you through the emotional journey, helping you release negative feelings and promote a sense of well-being.

Conclusion: Protecting Your Mental Health Through Music

In these challenging times, it's more important than ever to take care of our mental health. Music can be a simple yet powerful tool to help us manage stress and emotions. By choosing music that we personally enjoy, we can activate our brain's reward system, releasing tension and fostering relaxation.

So, Lykkers, the next time life feels like too much, don't forget to put on your favorite tunes and let the power of music work its magic. With the right music, we can navigate these tough times with a little more ease and a lot more joy.

Stay safe, stay happy, and let the music help you through!