From losing my love of music during depression to rediscovering joy at a Talking Heads concert, I’ve learned how music can be a powerful tool for healing and balance.
“I think I should have no other mortal wants, if I could always have plenty of music. It seems to infuse strength into my limbs and ideas into my brain. Life seems to go on without effort, when I am filled with music.” ~ George Eliot
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Ever since I was a young child, I’ve loved music. And just like the 19th-century English writer George Eliot, music infuses me with strength and helps me gather ideas for my brain. When I’m listening to music — whether I’m working, driving, or even falling asleep — life seems to be just a little bit better.
There was a time, however, when this wasn’t the case.
A Renewed Interest in Music
It was the summer of 1983, and I was in the throes of a major depressive episode. It was around this time that I received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder type 1 with psychotic features.
It was the worst summer of my life. I no longer found pleasure in the things I typically enjoyed, music being one of the primary examples. Soon after, I was hospitalized, and eventually, I stabilized. I was discharged in October that year.
Funnily enough, one of the first things I did when I was released from the hospital was go to a Talking Heads concert at the University at Buffalo. The wonderful thing was that I really enjoyed the show, and my interest in music was renewed.
Some of the best moments in my life have been at concerts where I could not only hear the music, but could also see and feel the performers play. There’s something about live music that can accentuate the experience and serve as a healthy coping tool.
Bipolar, Music, and Creativity
What I’ve learned from living with bipolar disorder is that my condition doesn’t have to take the spark out of my creativity. I’m not minimizing the challenges of going through the depressive lows — as I said, I know firsthand how hard these can be. But what I also know is that for me, music is the one thing that can feel as therapeutic as other kinds of treatment.
This past February, bpHope published an article, “20 Musicians You May Not Know Have Battled Bipolar Disorder.” Included on this list were artists such as Chappell Roan, Selena Gomez, and Halsey. The common thread running through the lives of these musicians is that bipolar doesn’t stifle their creativity. What they’ve been able to do is harness their emotional energy and transfer it into musical form.
Harnessing the Power of Music in Bipolar Disorder
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), listening to music activates a range of structures in the brain that are involved in thinking, feeling, movement, and emotion.
These effects on the brain may have physical and psychological benefits. For example, music causes your brain to release chemicals that can stir up emotional reactions, memories, and feelings. It can also help us forge social connections.
So, how can you use music in your life to smooth out the highs and lows of bipolar disorder? How can it help you develop a more emotionally balanced lifestyle? Here are some of my top tips:
- Create playlists. I have several playlists saved on my phone, and I can easily pull up an upbeat set of music when I may be feeling down.
- Use music as a motivational tool. If you have a task that you’re procrastinating on, put on some music that will help you get going. For me, it might be something like Rush or Kendrick Lamar.
- Play classical music. There’s something about a really good piece of chamber music that helps soothe the mind. One of my favorite composers is Philip Glass. I find his compositions really appealing, and the way he writes can be entrancing.
- Share the experience with others. It can be fun to listen to music with friends or family. I have a group of friends I listen to music with. We usually play LPs, and the best part is getting to discover artists I never knew about and doing the same for my friends. I also have two daughters who love music, and we go to concerts together, which is very special.
- Use music when you exercise. I know how hard it is to get motivated to exercise, but when I play music, it makes the experience more enjoyable (mind you, I don’t listen to music when I’m riding my bike for safety reasons). This is another good place for a playlist. If you have some upbeat tunes, then the music can serve to energize you.
- Make sure that what you’re listening to isn’t heightening your symptoms. If you’re in a manic or depressive episode, be mindful that the music you choose doesn’t amplify your emotional state or make you feel worse in any way.
Music can truly heal. And while there may be times when it feels like nothing helps, know that when you open your heart, soul, and mind to music you enjoy, you might just feel a little bit better.
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