How Making Music Can Help With Depression

Depression is nothing short of an epidemic in the 21st century, and is something that huge amounts of people have to suffer at some stage in their lives. There are many ways that people can try and tackle their mental health issues, and new methods are always being experimented with. One way of helping those suffering from depressive symptoms is to get them involved with making music, whether it's strumming away at a guitar or producing music on a laptop through software and synthesizers. So how exactly can making music help with depression? Firstly, it can act as a distraction. People's depressive feelings often come from over thinking or not being able to control where their head wonders. Giving somebody an activity such as producing music to focus on gives them an engaging distraction that requires a lot of brain power, and is fun at the same time. Secondly, it means creating something. Since the start of the human race we have always taken great fulfilment out of creation, whether buildings, businesses or of course art such as photography, painting (which can also be helpful) but in our case, music. Stepping back having spent hours at a computer producing music and seeing that something has actually come of it and a product is there to show for it is a great feeling, that can really lift somebody's mood. Learning skills is another great benefit of getting into the art of music making. It can be tough for people suffering with depression to focus and learn new skills and gain new abilities. Having a skill can bring new career prospects or just give somebody the confidence to better themselves, their position, and ultimately, their happiness. Getting involved with making music can also be a very social activity. It doesn't have to be, and I'm sure many would prefer it not to be, but some of the greatest bonding exercises have involved the beautiful world of music, whether you join a barbershop quartet or a metal band, an orchestra or an electronica group, music can bring a whole new social life, and special connections with likeminded people, which can only help a state of mind. Of course, all of the above can work together to have one key benefit; boosting confidence. Being good at something, being part of something, creating something and feeling a sense of purpose can all work together to bring a sense of self worth that can be amazingly helpful in the world of mental health. As well as affecting people internally, it can also send out a message to those closest to the person in question, and family and friends can bond and encourage through their loved one's music. At the risk of sounding a little corny, music definitely has something magical about it, and has undeniably helped a great deal of people through some really tough times, myself included. Art and creativity truly are some of the best things about being human, and perhaps all people need sometimes is a push in the direction of sweet music.