jimtrue.com : school : MUH1110 : Assignment One: Music & Healing
Posted by Jim True on September 5, 2004 11:06 AM. Last Updated October 22, 2006 9:23 PM
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Music is the universal language. Even if we are not able to understand the lyrics of a song, the tone of the music, the rhythm and melodies and how the music is played can release emotions within us and cause us to experience sadness or joy, or even anger. It is this quality of music that has made it an excellent tool in the healing therapy of people where verbal communication is not possible.
Children who have been victims of extreme early childhood abuse and neglect often become victims of a mental coping mechanism, dissociation. Faced with extended periods of abuse and trauma without the capabilities to defend themselves, the child seals the pain and emotions up within a part of their mind, and they separate, or dissociate, away from the memories of the abuse as if it didn't happen to them. The problem this causes is that the abuse was real, they did experience it and by not acknowledging the trauma, the painful emotions remain bottled up within them, even into adulthood, and are often released in unhealthy ways that can threaten to overwhelm them as adults. To properly deal with the pain and trauma, these victims of early childhood abuse need to be able to process these bottled up emotions, realizing it can no longer harm them, so they can begin the healing process.
This is where music can play an important role. Since music is such a good non-verbal communication tool, creative music therapy can give these victims of abuse an outlet for their pent-up emotions through the simple action of pounding on drums and expressing their emotions through the action. By then discussing with their therapist how it felt to play the particular music and discussing the emotions it helps them express, they can begin to realize that it is okay to feel their emotions of anger, fear and sadness. In becoming comfortable in expressing these emotions, the therapist will be better able to help them access the past memories of abuse in a safe way and music therapy can facilitate in the verbal and non-verbal communication of these memories.
In much the same way that abuse survivors are too afraid to access their memories, elderly patients stricken with Alzheimer's disease often suffer from a condition where they can no longer recognize their loved ones or access memories of their own lives. This continued lack of a connection to the people around them gives them feelings of isolation and fear and increases the tragedy of the disease. Their loved ones also suffer, as they are unable to communicate with the people they love and must sit by helplessly as they regress into unresponsiveness.
Music therapy can play an important role in the treatment of these Alzheimer’s patients. In an episode from the 'Curious World: Music and Healing', a story was presented about a man stricken with Alzheimer’s who looks at his wife day in and day out without a hint of recognition. The music therapist who is treating him confers with his wife and gets a recording of the music played at their wedding. As the song begins to play, the patient looks upon his wife with recognition, starts to smile and a tear courses down his cheek. This powerful connection between memory and music is due to understanding that when music plays, it stimulates both the thinking and feeling sides of the brain. Music associated with specific life-events can be played for these patients and by listening, the patient will feel more calm and soothed, it will help focus their attention and possibly stimulate their cognitive memories.
By recognizing music can be used to assist in non-verbal communication and that music can build an important bridge between emotion and memory, therapists can realize a healing way to communicate with their patients where communication at first did not seem possible.
"An Overview of Dissociative Disorders". The Cleveland Clinic Information Center. Accessed 8/31/2004. http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/28 00/2819.asp? index=9786
Lindberg, Kathryn. "Music Therapy with Abused Children and Adolescents". Updated 9/28/1997; accessed 8/31/2004. http://members.aol.com/kathysl/abuse.html
Kirkland, Kevin, MA, MTA. "Music Therapy in Alzheimer and Dementia Care". Music Therapy Association of British Columbia. Accessed 8/31/2004. http://www.mtabc.com/alzheimer.html
"Curious World: Music & Healing", Science Channel Broadcast, 08/31/2004.
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