It’s not just in your head.

by Rachel Linder

We can’t be the only ones who turn to music when we’re having a bad day. There’s just something about listening to your favorite artist that brings this sense of calm and happiness. It can be an escape from your own world and your own problems. But, have you ever wondered exactly why you start to feel better after you put your headphones on and begin to listen to that song you love? We turned to the studies and meta-analyses to explain exactly what goes on in your body when music starts to play.

According to Harvard Health, listening to music has this ability to make you feel a range of emotions, from energetic and happy to calm and relaxed. This is due to the effect that music has on the brain, and ultimately your emotions.

Beginning in 2006, two University of Central Florida professors, one a neuroscientist and the other a renowned violinist, came together to investigate how the brain responds to music. Through their course, these professors analyze the ways in which music impacts all parts of the brain and human behavior—we’re ready to go back to college and sign up for this class. The impact that listening to music can have on your life, according to these professors, is truly life-changing.

Now, let’s get into some specifics. There have been many recent meta-analyses that look specifically at the connection between music therapy and depression, many of which have seen the positive effects of music in this capacity as well. According to a PLOS ONE 2020 meta-analysis of 55 randomized controlled trials, music therapy significantly helped to alleviate depressive symptoms in those suffering from depression compared to a control group.

A review and meta-analysis conducted in 2015 also found similar results as far as the benefits of music when it comes to anxiety. The study looked into the effects of playing music before, during and after surgery and it’s impacts on the patients recovery. Results indicated that compared to a control group, who did not experience any music, participants who did listen to music reported less pain and overall anxiety.

So when we say the benefits of listening to music when it comes to improved mood and mental health are truly endless—we really mean it. Everything from just making you smile to lessening symptoms of depression or anxiety, your favorite song has got you covered. And the best part? It’s something you can start trying today. So, go grab your headphones and start listening to more music as soon as you can.