Can Music Therapy Help with Addiction?
Music is a powerful tool. Not only can it help you get through long days, but it’s also able to change your thought processes. It may even help with addiction recovery.
Music therapy is one of the numerous types of holistic addiction recovery services we offer at Victory Addiction Recovery Center. Our drug treatment center in Lafayette is poised to give each person the type and level of care they need to see remarkable improvement in their future.
But why music? What can music really do for you?
The Science Behind Music Therapy for Addiction Treatment
Recent studies have shown that music therapy and music-based interventions could help reduce cravings in people who have a substance use disorder (SUD). It also creates a way for you to process your thoughts and feelings. Expressing yourself through music could be an incredible way for you to work through your pain and past trauma.
The brain is wired to seek out things that make it feel good. That occurs when a substance or experience creates the release of dopamine into the bloodstream. Addictive substances can also trigger that feel-good hormone. Over time, the more you use that substance, the more the brain associates that action with dopamine. And, you crave more.
The process of producing music or listening to it can trigger the dopamine release that the brain craves. If you take a moment to consider the science behind addiction treatment, you’ll see the goal is to break the dependency your brain developed on the substance. One component of that process is providing something else that causes dopamine release.
Music therapy is a type of alternative therapy that can support your addiction recovery. It’s not the only component of that process. You still need talk therapy and supportive mentors. However, music can be stimulating and healing.
How Can Music Therapy Help with Addiction?
Each person is a bit different. Yet, there are many ways that music can become a component of your recovery. It may help you with:
- Reducing triggers and cravings. Addiction trigger prevention is a critical component to avoiding relapse. It is the process of recognizing high-risk behaviors, thoughts, and experiences. Music facilities this by creating a distraction.
- Improved self-awareness. Addiction treatment can also provide benefits by keeping you grounded. It allows you to explore your motivations. It may help you understand more of what holds you back. The expressive benefits of music are a powerful way of navigating your thoughts and feelings.
- Coping skills. Music doesn’t take the place of a mentor. It can help you to manage stress, though. Some people find that it is one of the best ways to focus the mind.
- Processing emotions. If you’ve ever had a song that just spoke to you, you can see how music can help you express and work through those difficult emotions. Whether it’s guilt or anxiety, this can play a core component in your recovery process.
- Improving mood. Remember that dopamine release? Music helps you feel good and may even keep you from being bored. It creates a sense of connection for some.
There’s much to explore when it comes to music therapy. Nothing is more powerful, though, than simply experiencing it in your own way. Even if you’ve never really been a music lover, give it a try to see how it impacts your health and well-being.
How We Incorporate Music Therapy Into Your Addiction Recovery Plan
When you seek treatment for drug or alcohol addiction at Victory, we create a treatment plan that empowers you. Your plan is very specific to your needs and goals, and the ultimate objective is to create a strategy that helps you heal.
During residential treatment, you’ll have the opportunity to explore numerous types of therapy options. These include the use of holistic and alternative therapies like music. This program will incorporate support for emotional, physical, and spiritual health.
Music therapy could include any form that speaks to you. Some people enjoy music-assisted creative arts. Others enjoy writing lyrics or listening to music with an intentional focus. Once you explore one or more ways that music can help you, it’s possible to get the most benefit from our care. Coupled with individual and group therapy, art programs, fitness programs, and other holistic care, you can find the best way forward with us.
How to Get Started with Music Therapy and Addiction Recovery
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, afraid, or even ready to see remarkable improvement in your health and wellbeing, now is the time to take a moment to give us a call. At Victory Addiction Recovery Center, our team will work closely with you to create a plan that addresses your needs. Contact us now.