G6. Music & Movement

Music is said to be able to soothe the savage beast; and movement has been found by research to help reduce the negative effects of oxidative stress - the inflammatory condition that results from emotional or or other physical stress on the body. Listening to some types of music has been found helpful for relieving chronic pain and symptoms of depression. 

• Read More: “Listening To Music Can Reduce Chronic Pain And Depression By Up To A Quarter” (G6.7) 

Add music and movement together for a fun way to soothe or stimulate your way to less stress. 

A variety of tips for reducing levels of the inflammatory peptide called Substance P are included in the article Trichodynia, Pain, and Substance P, drwardbond.com: (G.23). Three types of movement were mentioned to have been found to help reduce excess levels of the inflammatory peptide:

1. Exercise - aerobic type activities that are repetitive such as walking, jogging, or bicycling.
2. Hobbies that use Repetitive Motions of the Hands - such as drawing, knitting or sculpting; or giving a massage, or petting or grooming an animal.
3. Stretching Exercises - such as yoga, calisthenics, or dance. (G.23) 

Sounds and motions that stimulate our brain rhythmically, first one side and then the other for example, such as the motion of rocking a cradle to help a baby fall asleep, also help calm our brains.

     Music designed with sound and brainwave specialists can help a person reach a deeper more relaxed and meditative state for soothing or for reaching that nonverbal area of the psyche for the purposes of cognitive therapy. BrainSync.com is a company with auditory products designed for cognitive therapy. The meditative cognitive therapy messages are set to music with a rhythmic background sound, like a heartbeat, "binaural beats." It is recommended to listen with headphones to gain the full effect of the sounds that are heard first in the right ear and then in the left ear in a rhythm. The binaural beats are incorporated into the background music of CDs that include a guided meditation session by Kelly Howell a pioneer in the field of binaural brain stimulation. 

• Many topics are available by the BrainSync company, specific topics like quitting alcohol or smoking, but also for general health and exercise topics as well. I've listened to several and found one particularly helpful with my own problems with emotional over eating which made it difficult for me to lose weight. Weight Loss; Unleash the Power to Slim Naturally and see other Brain Wave Audio Technology CDs by Kelly Howell: BrainSync.com  (G6.1)
• The counseling therapy EMDR also uses right/left brain stimulation to help the patient reach a deeper state of relaxation. EMDR therapy information: EMDRnetwork.org (G6.2)
• Guided Meditation about OM, available online: (G6.3) An excerpt from summer seminars in Strilky, Guided meditation with Swami Gajanand, by (yogaindailylife.org) and (swamiji.tv).

Other Cognitive Therapy Resources to "retrain your brain":  

• What to Say When You Talk To Yourself, 1991, by Shad Helmstetter (G6.4)  

Research on the health benefits of chanting performed by different types of religious groups has also been found beneficial for health and the research may have helped lay the groundwork for the more modern brain wave audio technology. Research on the brain activation caused by chanting "OM" as compared to making the sound "ssss" found that the chanting did reduce activity of the amygdala. While making the "ssss" sound had no positive or negative effect. (G6.5) 

     Background on the Amygdala: It is the brain's emotional center which can become overactive during fear and anxiety conditions. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be a result of severe or chronic trauma leading to the amygdala, hippocampus, and medial prefrontal cortex areas of the brain to become overactive when reminded of the trauma. (G6.6)

See a healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

• Disclaimer: Opinions are my own and the information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.
• The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has a service for locating a nutrition counselor near you at the website eatright.org: (eatright.org/find-an-expert)