I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks what can you recommend for me?
I suggest trying to identify what triggers your panic attacks and anxiety. When you feel anxious or sense a panic attack approaching immediately begin to focus on slow, deep breathing. This sends more oxygen to your system and physically helps your body to relax. If you are comfortable closing your eyes, picture a pleasant memory or place. Music can be used to signal these steps.
Choose from a variety of music on the internet or local library that feels calming to you, i.e., piano, strings, orchestral, hymns, etc., This will vary for everyone, but you pay attention to the tempo – moderately slow, no huge contrasts in volume or dynamics. If you are an outdoors person, you might like music with environmental or nature sounds (birds, ocean waves, rainfall, breeze).
Some people respond to progressive muscle relaxation, slowly tensing and releasing each major muscle group from head to toe; others prefer guided imagery with music, or simply music alone. You can create your own personal script of what relaxes you, then record someone reading it over calming music of your choice. When you identify which music and relaxation techniques are most effective for you, practice them regularly. This way you help to condition your body to respond to these cues more quickly and easily.
I work with students. What music would be great for my classroom?
The music you choose depends on their age and what you want to accomplish. For younger children you can use music as an auditory cue and to set time parameters to begin an activity – to line up, move to the circle, to gather for math. Use the same music each time until they are familiar with it and respond knowingly. Instruct the students they must do so BEFORE the music ends. You can determine how long that should be and the consequences if they do or do not comply.
Test-taking is a good time to play soft music with a predictable, steady rhythm. Your class can vote on what they find most calming. Ask them to bring in their selections (if you dare). Know that music in the background for some may be distracting, while for others it may help them focus.
What music is good for female suffering with dementia who is 87 years old?
Most people will respond best to the music they like most – especially the music of their late teens and 20’s. Identify music that she likes or listened to during her early years, i.e., oldies, big band, Sinatra, spirituals, etc. Long-term memory is sometimes accessible and can be triggered with a song.
If eating, taking meds or sun-downing are anxious times for her, you might try playing recorded music that is familiar and rewarding to her during these times. I have seen seniors stay longer at the dinner table and eat more, or become so engaged with the music that it is pleasantly distracting.
Dr. what about music therapy for someone with a lot of foot pain and respiratory issues? If they’re coughing a lot how do we calm them with music therapy?
Decreasing pain with music can occur in several ways. Music that you enjoy, that has special meaning or evokes fond, euphoric memories, releases your body’s natural opiates such as endorphins, dopamine and serotonin. So simply by listening you stimulate your body’s immune response.
My research with hospitalized patients found that after one 30-minute music therapy session (listening, singing, instrument playing, creating) that salivary IgA (an antibody in the saliva that fights bacteria) was significantly increased. Check with your doctor to see if elevating your foot, warm soaks and/or gentle foot massage to increase circulation complimented with pain medication is advisable.
I have found that a recorder, kazoo or harmonica can be helpful instruments to maintain or expand lung capacity as well as increase oxygenation. Singing and humming can encourage respiratory function.
How can one implement music therapy with a loved one if their healthcare provider doesn’t agree?
Your healthcare provider may not be familiar with the evidence-based research of music therapy, or he/she might believe music therapy is contra-indicated for your loved one’s specific circumstances.
I have worked with patients for whom music therapy is not appropriate, i.e., it proved over stimulating, increased agitation, greatly distracted them from the intended purpose, etc.) You might refer him/her to the literature on music therapy research and to contact our American Music Therapy Association (www.musictherapy.org)
Dr. Lane, I’m working on removing “stinkin’ thinkin’”. I have cancer and this thinking is interfering with me continuing on accomplishing my goal…any suggestions?
If you are one to express yourself in writing, or who likes talking with someone or a small supportive group, or finding solace or encouragement by learning new techniques, by all means do so. Perhaps allow yourself a designated amount of time (not a lot!) to air your ‘dirty laundry’ – alias, stinkin’ thinkin’, will allow you to at least to release what is going on inside your head. Then move on.
I had difficulty with worrying about the future when I was diagnosed with cancer – both times. One morning I took my hymnal and found many songs that redirected my thinking, reminded me of whose I am and that pointed me in a positive direction. Write your worrisome thoughts on paper, acknowledge them then ball it up and throw it away.
You could take a familiar/favorite tune, remove all the original words and replace them with your own. There are CD’s now with affirming words, scripture, the Spoken Word, etc. that may be helpful. Singing in a group has been shown to improve mood and quality of life.
What type of music has been good for people with mental illness like schizophrenia?
The most helpful interventions I used with mentally ill patients included lyric analysis, creating and composing music, singing, instrument playing, dance and movement, story-telling, poetry writing, drumming, and the use of online self-assessment tools (free!), i.e., Dr. Gary Chapman’s 5 Love Languages.
I suggest calling your local mental health agency to determine if music therapy is a part of their offering. If not you can call the American Music Therapy Association (301 589-3300) to determine if there is a music therapist in your area with this kind of expertise.
I am a Case Manager at a therapeutic foster care agency in Richmond, Virginia. For my teens that use rap music, writing and listening, as a form of therapy, do you have any recommendations or resources?
Rap is a language with which youth identify and express themselves. Music therapists use rap as a tool for teaching, recall, as a platform for affirming positive thinking, memorizing, goal-setting and for extinguishing negative, anti-social behavior.
You will find the names and contact information for music therapists in your area by contacting the American Music Therapy Association or going online to www.musictherapy.org. Radford University and Shenandoah University have premier music therapy programs with excellent professors and budding music therapists who could be most resourceful.
Deforia Lane serves as Associate Director of the Seidman Cancer Center, & Director of Music Therapy at University Hospitals of Cleveland, Seidman Cancer Center and Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. With early intentions of pursuing a singing career, she completed her Bachelor Degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and began graduate studies at the Curtis Institute of Music.
She attended Cleveland State University for her Masters Degree and earned her PhD in Music Education from Case Western Reserve University. She holds board certification as a Music Therapist and is certified by the American Music Therapy Association for Faculty Authorization.
Dr. Lane has designed and implemented music therapy programs for such diverse populations as the mentally handicapped, abused children, geriatric clients, behaviorally and psychiatrically disturbed, adult and pediatric cancer patients and the terminally ill. Among the institutions that she has served as consultant are the Ohio Department of Mental Health, Mayo Clinic, Ohio Hospice Organization, the National Department on Aging, and Sesame Street (Children’s Television Workshop).
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