WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MUSIC AND DEPRESSION

WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MUSIC AND DEPRESSION

Is it usual for someone experiencing depression to lose interest in music?

As a psychologist, depression can have varying effects on victims, with some experiencing more depressive symptoms than others. A significant number of my clients reported a loss of interest in music when depressed. Contrary to people who turn to sad music to improve their depression symptoms, these patients reported worsening the signs if they listened to music, forcing them to avoid or lose interest completely as they feel better without it.

Is this loss of interest the same thing as amusia? If it isn’t, can you explain what amusia is, please?

In my opinion, amusia, and loss of interest in music when depressed are different conditions. Depression lowers one’s desire or the thrill of listening to music. On the other hand, amusia refers to a mental disorder caused by a decline in the functioning of the auditory cortex and DLPFC, which makes it challenging for the brain to keep memories of music or process the different pitches.

Recommendations

To effectively improve your music listening skills when with depression, I recommend you try listening to non-lyrical or instrumental music, incorporate music in your workouts, write down your favorite songs and try to listen to them with friends or alone; opt for sad music, too, adopt mindful practices such as meditation, yoga, or any other habit that can aid lower the depressing signs to help elevate mood.

Effects of soft music

Listening to soft music without lyrics can calm the brain as it processes the varying pitches without causing any emotional or mental worries. People can adopt this strategy to help improve their music taste during the depression. However, nothing works for all people; whether soft, sad, happy, or informative, music affects individuals varyingly. It may work for some and fail for others.

Elena Ognivtseva
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Nutritionist, Cornell University, MS

I believe that nutrition science is a wonderful helper both for the preventive improvement of health and adjunctive therapy in treatment. My goal is to help people improve their health and well-being without torturing themselves with unnecessary dietary restrictions. I am a supporter of a healthy lifestyle – I play sports, cycle, and swim in the lake all year round. With my work, I have been featured in Vice, Country Living, Harrods magazine, Daily Telegraph, Grazia, Women's Health, and other media outlets.

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