Guitar players are some of the most passionate people on the planet. And for good reason! Playing guitar is a great way to express yourself and learn new things, all while having fun. But if you’ve ever struggled with getting out of bed or dealing with stress, this might be surprising news for you – playing guitar can actually help your mental health! This blog post will explore five reasons why picking up an instrument can be therapeutic.
#1 Guitar playing reduces anxiety.
Did you know that guitar playing can help alleviate or prevent axiety? It works by changing the activation of your brain. After playing guitar, there is an increase in alpha waves which are linked to relaxation and reduced anxiety.
#2 Guitar playing can fight depression.
What is amazing is that playing guitar can also fight off depression. Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act.
According to research, the emotional parts of the brain are affected and this includes feelings associated with depression. When you play guitar, it diverts your attention from these negative thoughts and releases dopamine which is a feel-good chemical that helps improve moods.
#3 Playing a musical instrument increases cognitive function in people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
“A recent study shows that playing a musical instrument helps make your brain operate more efficiently, an advantage that could help keep the mind sharper in old age and reduce the risk of dementia.”
Improved brain function can also help you avoid mental deterioration as you get older. Playing guitar can help relieve stress, according to a study undertaken by the Mind-Body Wellness Center and Loma Linda University School of Medicine and Applied Biosystems.
People who speak a second language have more efficient brains, according to the study.
The findings provide further evidence to back up what previous research has suggested: learning to play an instrument or speaking a second language may be two of the best defenses against cognitive decline.
(Source: nj.com) #https://www.nj.com/healthfit/2019/02/that-old-guitar-in-your-closet-may-be-a-better-defense-against-dementia-than-you-ever-knew.html
#4 Guitar playing can help those with addictions
Playing music can help those struggling with addiction because it changes brain activity from the default mode network to an activated state which encourages relaxation and reduces cravings for food, drugs, or alcohol.
#5 Guitar playing is good for your heart.
Researchers in the Netherlands found that those who played guitar had a drop in blood pressure and heart rate. This study shows that playing guitar can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Guitar players become more empathetic toward others than non-players. According to a University of South Florida study, those who play an instrument showed higher activity in their brain’s empathy centers.
Playing a guitar has many physical and mental health benefits. You can experience anxiety relief, fight depression, increase cognitive function in the elderly or those with dementia, help those who are addicted to drugs/alcohol by providing an alternative form of therapy as well as reduce your risk for heart disease. What other benefits have you noticed from playing guitar? Let me know!
