Music to my Ears!

Music to my Ears!

Using binaural beats to reduce stress, anxiety and overthinking (and more!)

It's the holiday season! Time to decorate for the holidays, go shopping for gifts, sending out holiday cards, getting last minute work assignments done before going on leave, visiting family and friends and getting ready for the new year. Whew! The holiday season seems to have gone from joyful to stressful in the blink of an eye! All the things you need to prepare for before you leave work to go on holiday leave and then all the things you will need to address when you come back, not to mention the holiday stresses while you are on your holiday vacation or during the holiday season in general, can seem overbearing at times. How can anyone handle the stress during the holiday season? 

With the holiday season comes holiday music. Radio stations start playing holiday music as early as Thanksgiving, getting many people who enjoy music into the cheerful, holiday spirit. Many people may get stressed out during the holidays for a number of reasons, but sometimes, listening to music seems to make dealing with these stressors easier to manage. We know that to have music, there must be sound. Some of these sounds can elicit a meditative state with rhythmic and repetitive sound frequencies known as binaural beats. When these beats enter your ears, they produce a state of deep relaxation as your brainwaves adjust to the pace and rhythm of the sound[1]. When listening to these beats through headphones, a slightly different sound frequency is sent to each ear simultaneously. Through this process, the brain perceives a third sound frequency, based off the difference between the ones being sent to the left and right ear. [2] This third sound frequency creates a tone that can help with stress reduction, deep sleep, pain relief, stimulate energy, increase awareness and more. 

Sound interesting? (no pun intended)

There are five levels of binaural beats (sound frequencies) that are produced. Below is a chart with each level name and its associated benefit:

Why not give it a try? Please click here to go to a YouTube video with binaural beats to help alleviate stress and overthinking. It is recommended you do not listen to binaural beats while doing an activity that requires your full attention and alertness (such as driving) and you do the following [3]:

- Use headphones

- Dedicate 15-30 minutes of listening time

- Sit in a quiet, relaxing place to listen

-  Most of all: have patience

If you would like to learn more about binaural beats and the science behind it, or even in general, visit the links in the "References" section below. 

I end this blog with a thought to keep in mind: music can be a form of stress relief and provide feelings of happiness regardless of the type it is, whether it be classical, rock, rap, spiritual, country...whatever your preference. I leave you with a song that makes me feel less stressed and relaxed. Listen if you wish or play your own tunes! Regardless, enjoy the holiday season and best wishes for the New Year!

References

[1] "How to use Binaural Beats to LET GO of Fear, Pain and Overthinking" by Aletheia Luna; https://lonerwolf.com/binaural-beats-meditation/

[2] "How do Binaural Beats Work?" by Binaural Beats Meditation; https://www.binauralbeatsmeditation.com/the-science/

[3] "Binaural Beats Therapy: Benefits and How They Work" by Lori Smith, Medical News Today; https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320019.php

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The DNR Critical Incident Stress Management Team wishes everyone a safe and Happy Holiday and best wishes for the New Year!