Does Music Play A Critical Role In Healing Your Ptsd?

[junglegirl]

I can say that throughout my experience with ptsd the single most iportant element in keeping me attached to my healthy self that existed prior to ptsd is music. The relief I got in the. Early days and most painful is immeasurable. Does anyone out there feel the same?

 

[franciemarnie]

Absolutely. I don't know what I would have done or would do without music!

 

[Springer80]

Two special ones, one old one new are: Nina Simones piano instrumental of Youll Never Walk Alone got me through being abused. Gorecki.s third symphony with dawn upshaw I only heard this year but it took me to a vulnerable place and comforted me.

 

[junglegirl]

Thank you franciemarnie and springer80. I held on through connecting with music I played on the stereo at a very young age and music I heard on tv and radio. I find that different songs and particularly lyrics touch me as I progress in my recovery. Right now toni childs is really soothing and a singer from the 80's rita coolidge's looking through the eyes of love.

 

[Springer80]

Oo Ill look them up. My sleeping album is currently a guy called Low Roar, full album on you tube :)

 

[junglegirl]

Thank you springer. I'll look him up.:)

 

[Rizen]

I agree. I would listen to songs like R.E.M.'s 'Find the River' and 'Aftermath' a lot.

 

[y5L]

I've always loved choral singing. Being able to sing in harmony with others, expressing together what none of us could alone, expressing through the sounds of our voices emotions and images that words alone fail to convey. Having the opportunity to sing my heart out- not just to sing with all I've got, but to express the deep things in a way that only God could possibly understand in full- even I don't always understand why a certain piece just pulled at my heart so much.

Not just choral music, though. There are so many songs in my library that pop up on shuffle that I just belt out in the car (or kitchen, or while running) because they speak to something in my life.

And I've often found it easier to express to others how I'm doing or what I'm thinking by making them a CD. For a while I was making a playlist of the month- 15 or so songs that really grabbed at me that month. Then if someone close to me asked how I was doing and I wasn't sure how to answer- or if I really needed someone to know where I was at and couldn't find the words- I could burn that playlist for them. Sometimes they'd understand on their own, but if not, it was easier to open up when I had the music as a starting point for the conversation.

 

[arfie]

Not so much listening, but most definitely playing. I consider voice to be an instrument, so singing counts. Allot. The fact that you carry your voice with you does not make it less complex and singing makes a terrific breathing exercise.

To play any instrument at all, even "badly," requires balancing energies and the song reaches places that can be reached no other way that I know of.

 

[Springer80]

Weirdly certain operatic pieces have had a peculiar effect. I know nothing about it and say 95% Ive come across Ive been ambivalent about but occassionally, a piece has been on the tv and ive been feeling sad or raw and the resonance of the notes hit me in a way that its like it a key opening a yale lock and a sequence of barrels being moved.

And I cry, alot.

And afterward feel like my whole musculator has been given a magical massaging reset.

Its just opera though, its certain pitches, duality of note, timbre at shifts. It hasnt made me research opera the stuff I dont like way out sizes the amount I do.

I sometimes wonder if I knew the exact works and sat down with a classical trained composer, that the devices could be technically identified and condensed into a seriously transformative body of work.

 

[Cinnamon4z]

oh wow this thread is a year old but I have a certain infatuation
with music - I normally would prefer techno, trance and possibly House.
yeah- used to go to couple of raves - before my auto accident
and the whole ptsd & pain debacle.

Now to quell my anxieties i have essentially replaced most of my trance & techno
library with piano guys and such. I still really need a bit of techno music
preferably the deus ex soundtrack when i need to really code & focus. But playing too
much of it really sets my nerves on fire and anxiety seems to go ballistic or symptoms start to show up.... its crazy

 

[holdenmonty]

Music is one of the things that helps me quiet the negative things that are floating around in my head. Plus it helps me to get my anger out without punching or yelling at somebody.