Connect with us

Anxiety

Reducing Anxiety And Improving Sleep Through The Power Of Music

Published

on

Reducing Anxiety And Improving Sleep Through The Power Of Music

Music has a significant effect on our minds. Music styles can be a big influence on a person’s mood quite easily. It can help them feel a range of emotions and various feelings, such as happiness, excitement, sorrow, and calmness.

Making music may also be as effective as listening to music. Music therapy helps people to make the music they find helpful to them consciously. It offers a simple way to improve sleep hygiene, improving the ability to sleep quickly, and feeling more rested.

Undoubtedly, music can help you feel relaxed and calm in bed. This article will explain what anxiety is, why sleep is important, music therapy, and soothing music for reducing anxiety and better sleep.

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a feeling of uneasiness, like fear or worry, which can be mild or severe. This condition is associated with the anticipation of a potential problem and demonstrates avoidance behavior.Fear is pretty commonly associated with a fight or flight reaction – either staying to fight or fleeing to avoid danger.

At some point in life, everybody has feelings of anxiety. In day to day life, sometimes things get difficult at work, school, or our personal lives. Because of this, we might become stressed and anxious. In situations like these, it can be perfectly natural to feel anxious.

It can be beneficial in some situations as well. Yet, some people find it hard to manage their concerns.

That is because their anxious feelings are more constant, and the feelings can also influence their everyday lives. Symptoms of anxiety disorders can interfere with your life in a variety of ways. It can get worse over time.

Why Is Sleep Important?

Sleep is essential for keeping well, for leading a happy and healthy life. Getting sufficient quality sleep during appropriate hours can safeguard your mental health, physical health, and quality of life. The sleeping requirements of each individual can vary. Most healthy adults are made for 16 hours of wakefulness and need 8 hours of sleep a night. Some people function fine without sleepiness or drowsiness after only 6 hours of sleep.

During sleep your body recharges, supports physical health, and maintains healthy brain functioning. For children and teens, sleep plays a major role in development, growth, and fitness. Sleep deficiency can harm you over time or cause severe physical damage. It can greatly impact the ability to think, respond, understand, work, and get along with others.

What is Music Therapy?

Music therapy uses music to help people achieve individualized goals within a therapeutic partnership through a certified therapist. The licensed music therapists are typically professional musicians with extensive knowledge of how music can help to calm or inspire people.

Music therapists use how a person reacts to and interacts with music to support positive emotional and mental improvements. Music therapy involves different ways of listening to music and making music from multiple instruments. Performance may include singing, dancing, or moving to music. It is useful in developing self-awareness, communication skills, autonomy, focus, and attention skills, as well as enhanced trust.

Music therapy can be used to treat all types of patients and people. Moreover, music therapy has proven benefits for memory, coordination, reading, comprehension, and math skills. It can also obtain lessons in responsibility, perseverance, and determination. On the other hand, music therapy helps people express themselves creatively, which can be more fun than voicing difficult feelings.

Using Soothing Music for Anxiety

Music may have an effect on the emotions as well as the body. Faster music will make you more alert and have better concentration. Upbeat music will make your life feel much happier and more positive. A slower tempo will silence your mind and alleviate your muscles and soothe you.

Recent research suggests that music written about 60 beats per minute can help people sync with the rhythm. It can cause the brain to produce alpha brain waves. Alpha brain waves can be seen when we are relaxed and conscious.

Many types of research show that music therapy may minimize anxiety. Some studies also indicate that music can reduce blood pressure and pulse rate. It has a direct effect on how anxious a person feels.

The number of stress hormones released into the body such as adrenaline and cortisol changes based on music. Some music can help reduce these hormones. There is also evidence that individuals attending music therapy directly after the session decreased anxiety. This suggests that music therapy may be a convenient way to alleviate symptoms rapidly.

Using Soothing Music for a Better Sleep

Parents know that lullabies and soothing rhythms can improve babies’ sleep. Science promotes that all ages, from premature babies to elementary school students, sleep better after listening to calming music. Luckily, kids are not the only individuals that can benefit from lullabies before bed at night.

Many people experience improved sleep while listening to relaxing music. Researchers found that adults who had 45 minutes of music played before bed reported better sleep from the first day. Using music can help a person fall asleep quicker. In a study, women with insomnia played an album of their choice for ten nights when getting into bed.

Before listening to music, the time taken to fall asleep was 27 to 69 minutes, but after listening to music, the time was reduced to 13 to 27 minutes. Playing music before bed helps with sleep, often leading to more time spent sleeping.

Improved sleep efficiency creates less disturbance during the night and more consistent rest. Several studies indicate that music impacts sleep by affecting levels of hormones such as cortisol.

Stress and high levels of cortisol result in low-quality sleep and alertness. Listening to music lessens the amount of cortisol in our bodies, making us feel calmer and less stressed out. Many individuals with poor sleep feel depressed and unable to relax in their bedrooms. Music can alleviate anxiety by distracting the mind from distressing thoughts.

Of course, music plays a huge role in calming the body and mind and helps people to fall asleep.

Thanks for reading our latest article on anxiety, Reducing Anxiety And Improving Sleep Through The Power Of Music.

Read our latest articles about anxiety, and depression,

If you have been considering going for counselling or therapy for a long time, you might be confused about what your options are. First, try this article on What Should I Look For In A Local Psychiatrist Near Me? from BetterHelp for a better understanding.

Photo by Vova Krasilnikov from Pexels

Image Editing Partner,

[embedit snippet=”canva-advertisement”]

I'm Sam, The main writer for boostupliving.com. So basically I'm a pretty simple person who loves to write about motivation, success, net worth and many to ensure the quality of people's life.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Anxiety

How Social Media Causes Depression And Anxiety – The Dark Side Of Social Media

Published

on

By

How Social Media Causes Depression And Anxiety - The Dark Side Of Social Media

Most of us feel a sense of freedom when spending time on social media networks in our leisure time. Are you also a social media user that spends too much time on electronic devices?

Then here is the scientific reasoning behind all the feelings and behaviour you experience while using social media. So, let’s get to know the dark side of social media.

Modern Life With Social Media

Nowadays, technological advancements have made our lives so much easier and faster. We seek technology to distract ourselves from our competitive and complicated lifestyles.In this case, social media is a significant culprit.

As we all know, it became an excellent platform to share our lives. Like any new technological development, social media gives rise to both positive and negative experiences.That may be happiness, joy, sadness, loneliness, or even anger.

Each popular social media platform has its unique qualities like interactivity, easy to catch up on, and also well-fixed to imaginary lifestyles. Here are some popular social media platforms that we all know with approximate numbers of users in the United State (US):

  • Facebook – 255 million users
  • Twitter – 36 million users
  • Instagram – 130 million users
  • Snapchat –46 million users
  • Tumblr – 32.6 million users
  • Reddit – 26.4 million users
  • YouTube – 126 million viewers

However, these platforms play a major role in entertaining and inspiring people, especially at a young age.

The Role Of Social Media With Mental Health

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 10-20% of children and adults in the US are affected by mental health problems. The alarming fact here is that 50% of these problems emerge by the age of 14 to 18. Most commonly, anxiety and depression symptoms are noticeable among young people.

This is calculated as a 70% increase over the past 25 years. The most applicable and related reason may be an addiction to digital media platforms like social media, video games, and websites. According to US research findings, there is an association between social media and mental health problems.

This is a growing concern and researchers are working hard to find the impact of digital technology on mental health.

The possible mental issues associated with social media are;

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Physiological distress
  • Sleeping disorders
  • Emotional well-being
  • Low self-esteem
  • Fear
  • Different types of social phobias

Reasons For Mental Health Problems

Numerous studies have focused on the impact of social interaction on mental health issues within the US population. The astonishing point was the total number of suicide cases per year is over 40,000 within the United States with most of the cases being related to depression and anxiety symptoms.

So, the public health institutions in the US focused on different arguments to understand the cause of depression. Their studies led to the same conclusion, social media addiction.

In 2017, a systematic review was conducted by Primack and a few other researchers concluding that social media has a direct influence on mental health problems.

Social media usage can be categorized into four groups.

  • Time spent
  • Activity
  • Investment
  • Addiction

Time Spent And Activities On Social Media

Unlike the olden days, now, we have the chance to access social media through smartphones and tablets. So, this accessibility increases the time spent on social network sites significantly. Psychologists have noticed a relationship between time spent on the internet and the increase of mental health issues.

On average, 90% of the young population in the US are using social media day and night. There was an evaluation forum for social media usage in the US in 2020. The forum says that each social media user habitually visits these digital platforms at least once a day with an average of approximately 2 hours and 24 min per day by a single user on different social media apps.

But in most cases, this value can vary according to the preferred group of people. As an example, the highest average time spent on social media is for the age group between 16-24 which goes up to 3 hours per day. The shocking report is the estimated value of spending time on social media by a single person within his/her lifetime.

On average it will be near to 6 years and 8 months. But for sure, activating several social media platforms at a younger age may improve multitasking ability. But it can also cause negative consequences like poor academic performance, reduced attention span, decreased level of well being, high level of anxiety, and depression.

Relationship of social media with mental health

We all need to talk to someone especially when we are sad. From experience, we know that socially connecting with others can relieve our stress, loneliness and anxiety. That brings back happiness, joy, and boosts one’s self-value of life.

But the problem is searching for happiness solely from digital media and disregarding the real world. One study was conducted to scientifically evaluate the relationship between social media use time and mental health stability in the US population.

The study shows that depression and suicide deaths became a more widespread problem among American adolescents, especially among women after 2010. The researchers evaluated young adolescence in the US as two sets. Individuals that spend more time on social media and electronic devices and those that spend more time on non-screen activities such as exercise, sports and have in-person social interactions.

The results show that symptoms related to depression were higher in the group who spent more time on social media while the other group who prefer outdoor activities showed a negative interrelationship with depressive symptoms.

Thus, the truth is social media has different uses within the community. That said, it can never replace the real-world experiences of people.

Steps to control social media addiction

Here are a few tricks to control social media usage which can improve your mental wellbeing and bring happiness to your everyday life.

  • Reduction of social media time

In 2018, a study led by Pennsylvania State University found that social media time reduction to 30 minutes can considerably improve the mental health of people. That can also recover your mood and focus you in an upright way. Tracking your time spent on social media may surprise you. Being away from a phone, tablet, or laptop for a certain time may release pressure in a stressful mind.

  • Change your focus points

Keeping realistic targets to achieve in life may change your focus on social media. That may save time and avoid being addicted to it.

  • Spend more time amongst nature and the real world

Saving a few minutes of a busy day to spend time with the nature around you will make you more relaxed. Additionally, spending time with family, offline friends, or maybe your neighbour may increase your mental stability with happiness and cheerfulness.

  • Adding new habits to a daily schedule

Exercising, drawing, reading, writing, or any other kind of a hobby of your preference could help you spend your spare time more effectively.

Thanks for reading our latest article on anxiety, Reducing Anxiety And Improving Sleep Through The Power Of Music.

Read our latest articles about anxiety, and depression,

If you need professional counselling, you will find these articles worth reading for sure. They are about how psychiatry works, what is used for treatments, and the ways it can help people with mental health issues. Along with the knowledge, you will get a complete Psychiatry guide from BetterHelp.

Photo by Prateek Katyal from Pexels

Image Editing Partner

[embedit snippet=”canva-advertisement”]

Continue Reading

Anxiety

How To Help Someone With Depression During COVID-19

Published

on

By

How To Help Someone With Depression During COVID-19

Depression can be a life changing condition for those who experience it, as well as those trying to help them. There is no doubt that COVID is playing a significant role in mental health among the general public.

The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown are causing stress to people with depression. They must maintain a proper treatment plan. During this pandemic, hopelessness and desperation can feel overwhelming. It might be hard for friends and relatives of depressed people to know what to do for them. To understand how best to help those who might be feeling depressed during this challenging period, keep reading.

Identifying Depression

Stress, concern, and the overwhelming loss of work, money, and health can cause depression for the first time. Those causes can worsen depression if you have a preexisting condition. If you’re depressed, life can seem sad and hopeless. It can make you feel weak, drain your energy, and make it hard to get through each day. Depression may contribute to low motivation to look after ourselves. It can cause unhealthy behaviors such as skipping meals, not doing any exercise, using alcohol and cigarettes, and sleeping inadequately. Regardless of the difficulties you’re facing, these techniques will help you relieve negative thoughts, boost your mood, and cope with depression symptoms.

How Is The Pandemic Affecting Those Suffering From Depression?

According to scientific research, outbreaks of contagious diseases have a significant influence on mental health. The fear of the unknown surrounding coronavirus will indeed result in people facing a pandemic without vaccination. The fear is leaving them nervous, stressed, and depressed.

Clearly, during pandemics such as SARS, people’s mental health was seriously affected. Study findings from Wuhan, China, suggest that the incidence of depression in the COVID-19 outbreak increased by 7%. 17% of participants from another Wuhan study indicated mild-to-severe symptoms of depression. Like coronavirus, the pandemic’s psychological consequences may be more dangerous for people dealing with depression. Having affection, encouragement, and close contact withdrawn from you may lead to depression or exacerbate symptoms.

Months of social distancing and staying at home may make you feel lonely and isolated. Healthy relationships are critical for mental health. Being forced to spend several months in a troubled, miserable, or abusive relationship is worse than being single. It’s normal to think about all the fear and confusion regarding COVID-19. During periods of crisis, these worries can trigger panic and anxiety. Similarly, anxiety and depression arise from the same biological weakness; one may sometimes contribute to the other.

These tips will be beneficial for you to help someone suffering from depression to manage it during COVID successfully:

Evaluate The Risk Of Suicide Or Injury

If they are having a panic attack, suicidal thoughts, or other crisis, confront the situation first. It is not an issue to complete the evaluation by email or even over the phone. If someone’s life is at risk, call the emergency contact.

Support, Reassure And Provide Information

Your support will give people a purpose in their lives. Educate them that they are having normal emotional responses to the situation. Remind them that help is available, and that they won’t be alone.

Talk, Be Open

Those close to the people struggling from depression need to be prepared to discuss any challenging issue. It is important to emphasize that mental health issues do not prevent a person from loving, caring, and respecting others. Consulting on how to better help people with mental health issues can be challenging for anyone. Suppose you can select the best time and place for the conversation so that everyone is relaxed, calm, and unrushed. Understand that depressed people cannot get over it quickly and be patient.

Prepare The Individual To Take Action

Encourage people to ask for support from friends, relatives, and experts. Healthy eating is beneficial, but you cannot always do it during a pandemic. Help people find the nutritional foods they need. Physical exercise may benefit people with depression, but it cannot be done in isolated areas. Suggest doing some activity together, take virtual walks, or do other things that might appeal, at least a little. Prepare a list of providers for clinical support, including ways to contact them. Many health associations and individual practitioners give online sessions during the pandemic. Speaking to your doctor before consulting with a professional may be a safe way to begin.

Promote Self-Help And Other Support Mechanisms

Self-help strategies and support of family, friends, and religious communities can make a difference to how someone reacts to depression. There are other self-care techniques besides medicine that can help with depression. Self-care strategies can help manage mental health during this period.

Listen And Offer Advice

Depressed people also experience feelings of self-doubt and anxiety and may even be defensive. If a person is trying to take care of someone with depression, they should expect to face many challenges. Explain that everyone is concerned about the pandemic, but show your concern for them and what has changed. Anybody with emotional or physical problems needs care, and an effective intervention decreases their negative effect on the system.

You can tell this if they say unwell people need support. Sometimes depressed individuals think nothing can be done about it. Tell them that it is possible to treat depression. There are many medications and therapies to cure depression, and they can benefit from them. If the person does not seem to be in mental distress, ask how they are and how long they’ve been like that. Make sure to listen without judgment and show that you care.

Most people are reluctant to get involved in a challenging situation. This is because of fear of doing the wrong thing or of coming across as insensitive. The most crucial thing someone can do on behalf of someone in a situation like this is to display compassion, empathy, and understanding. We invite you to concentrate on your mental health needs. It’s also essential to communicate with your loved ones and find help through technology every day.

Thanks for reading our latest article on depression, How To Help Someone With Depression During COVID-19.

Read our latest articles about anxiety, and depression,

If you are looking for clear guidance to boost your mental health, you should follow psychiatry articles from BetterHelp. They explain How Much A Psychiatrist Costs as we know how valuable money is to you in this time of uncertainty.

Photo by fotografierende from Pexels

Image Editing Partner,

[embedit snippet=”canva-advertisement”]

Continue Reading

Anxiety

Working From Home And Depression: How To Maintain Your Mental Health?

Published

on

By

Working From Home And Depression: How To Maintain Your Mental Health?

WHO announced COVID-19 as a pandemic on 11 March 2020. It was causing more than 85.9M (Jan 2021) cases in more than 110 countries around the world. Because of COVID-19, many are remote working full-time for the first time, separated from colleagues, friends, and family.

Our daily routines are interrupted, triggering increased anxiety, tension, and strain—physically, emotionally, and financially. It is very typical for this disturbance and confusion to lead to anxiety and stress—the regular journeys from the bedroom to the home office and social interaction mostly restricted to video calls. Lack of mobility is affecting physical and mental health issues among employees.

What is Depression?

According to the American Psychiatric Association, depression is a common and severe psychiatric condition. It can be negative depending on the way you feel, the way you think and behave. It is treatable. Feelings of sorrow and a lack of interest in things you once enjoyed are characteristics of depression. It may cause emotional and physical issues and decrease the ability to function at work and home. A medical condition can cause symptoms of depression, so it is essential to point out potential illness.

Depression is most often first diagnosed in the late teens and mid-20s. Women are more likely to be depressed than men. When the first-degree level relatives have depression, there is a high degree of heritability. Being sad isn’t the same thing as getting depression. The grieving process is regular and unique to each person and has some of the same characteristics as depression. Both grief and depression may include extreme sorrow and detachment from daily activities. In distress, upsetting emotions come in waves, frequently intermingled with unforgettable memories of the deceased.

Major depression can be characterized by mood and interest, which decreases for two weeks. In grief, self-esteem is retained. Feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing are typical in major depression. In despair, thoughts of death may arise when contemplating or thinking about the deceased loved one. In depression, people take their own lives because they feel useless and unworthy of living. When depression and grief are combined, the symptoms of distress are more severe and last longer.

Does Working From Home Cause Depression?

It is not clear if working from home is linked to depression because the findings are mixed. Stress can affect depression. A study has been conducted by the European Foundation for the Development of Living and Working Conditions in 2017 regarding work stress. It showed that 41% of remote workers face higher anxiety levels than 25% of office workers. Certain studies have proven that people prefer to work from home and that working from home reduces stress.

If you are willing to work from home but find it challenging because of depression, here are some tips to make things easier.

Develop a Regular Schedule

If you are not in the workplace, it can be easy to lose track of time. Establish a daily schedule, with a regular start time and finish time, and routine for your day, with breaks and exercise planned. A daily program lets you set a transparent barrier between work and home to minimize work intruding into family time. It lets you get some rest after a long day. Creating signs, like changing your clothes into work attire at the beginning of the day and removing them at the end, will help.

Establish A Particular Location To Work In Your Home

Working from home can interfere with sleep for people who find it difficult to sign off from work. If possible, try to work away from your bedroom. Otherwise, it becomes associated with being alert, awake, and connected.

Arranging a particular environment for work from home
Arranging a particular environment for work from home

Keep In Frequent Contact With Colleagues And Managers By Arranging Daily Virtual Or Phone Meetings

Meeting with colleagues isn’t spontaneous when we are working from home. We need to proactively plan meetings and communicate with others to establish positive relationships. Staying connected with others can help minimize stress levels and provide a feeling of togetherness and productivity. It also allows you to contact your boss or staff to keep them updated on what you do.

Try To Take A Break From Technology In The Evening

Technology has made it easier to interact 24-7, but the downside is the inability to withdraw from work and family life. Try a digital detox to free up time to get things done. Consequently, you will be able to spend quality time with family or do the hobbies you love.

Breathe Fresh Air At Least Once A Day

If you are not in self-isolation, go outside for a walk and fresh air. Keep away from crowds and ensure your protection by remaining a safe distance from others. If you are in isolation, go out into the garden or walk around on your driveway.

Focus On The Positivity

Working from home will provide you with several advantages. It helps to improve your performance, lower your stress, and improve your job satisfaction. Working from home makes it more comfortable to work in the morning and gives you greater control over the workday. It will allow you to avoid troublesome colleagues as well.

Exercise And Stay Fit

Exercising is necessary for one’s physical and mental health. Walking, stretching, any exercise best for you will reduce tension and improve endorphins. Many fitness centers will be closed during this time but if you can’t make it to the gym, you can try on your own. There are many free workouts online.

Do The Activities You Enjoy

Engage yourself in things that benefit your well-being, and distract yourself from your current problems. You can freely access yoga and meditation online. You may like journaling, cooking, listening to music, art projects, breathing exercises, etc.

Be Innovative To Keep In Touch

Share your achievements with co-workers and colleagues, and inspire them to do the same. Come up with something new such as planning a Video Chat to work out together or anything novell. You can share photos of meals you cooked and pictures of your pets loving the new routine.

Thanks for reading our latest article on depression, Working from home depression and prevention tips.

Read our other articles for better mental health,

If you are planning to meet a Psychiatrist, check out this article on Are There Different Types Of Psychiatrists? from BetterHelp. It provides better preparation before meeting a Psychiatrist.

Photo by olia danilevich from Pexels

Image Editing Partner,

[embedit snippet=”canva-advertisement”]

Continue Reading

Newsletter

Subscribe to our official newsletter for quick updates from our website.


More Content

Tips for Improving Your Food Processing Facility's Profits Tips for Improving Your Food Processing Facility's Profits
Miscellaneous11 months ago

Tips for Improving Your Food Processing Facility’s Profits

If you’re looking for ways to increase your profits in a food processing facility, then you’ve come to the right...

Sleep Guide1 year ago

Tips for Looking and Feeling Your Best Every Day

With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it’s easy to forget to take care of yourself. We’re constantly on...

Sleep Guide1 year ago

The Top 3 Things Every Man Should Know About Sexual Health

When it comes to sexual health, men are often overlooked. But the truth is, it’s just as important for men...

Fun Ways To Spend Time as an Adult Fun Ways To Spend Time as an Adult
Miscellaneous1 year ago

Fun Ways To Spend Time as an Adult

As adults, it can be hard to come up with fun activities that don’t involve spending money. But the truth...

Seven Psychology Secrets That School Never Taught You Seven Psychology Secrets That School Never Taught You
Personal Development1 year ago

Seven Psychology Secrets That School Never Taught You

hey everyone and welcome to boostupliving.com today we’re gonna learn about seven psychology secrets that school never taught you. Now...

Four Reasons Why You Feel So Alone Four Reasons Why You Feel So Alone
Personal Development1 year ago

Four Reasons Why You Feel So Alone

You are not alone. You might have heard or read this phrase somewhere before we say it to comfort or...

Seven Memory Tricks to Learn Anything Faster Seven Memory Tricks to Learn Anything Faster
Personal Development1 year ago

Seven Memory Tricks to Learn Anything Faster

Hey everyone, and welcome to boostupliving.com. Today, we will learn about seven memory tricks to learn anything faster. Now, let’s...

Four Steps To Stop Being Socially Awkward Four Steps To Stop Being Socially Awkward
Personal Development2 years ago

Four Steps To Stop Being Socially Awkward

It’s pretty common to feel socially awkward at times. Making conversation with strangers, trying to mingle, or going on a...

Ten Habits to Become Mentally Stronger Ten Habits to Become Mentally Stronger
Personal Development2 years ago

Ten Habits to Become Mentally Stronger

Most people find ways to become stronger, But there is significant value in discovering how to become mentally more robust...

Different Types of Fans for Bedrooms Different Types of Fans for Bedrooms
Miscellaneous2 years ago

Different Types of Fans for Bedrooms

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of fresh sheets and a cool breeze blowing through your bedroom on a hot...

Facebook

Trending