In my other life for my years I have taught about treating and resolving all manner of problem behaviours including depression, anxiety, food disorders and phobias. I teach my own PCW model in 13 overseas countries and this week I’ll be teaching medics in Japan for 16th time, before heading back to the USA for the third time this year in September.
Creating CDs using music for a change in well being
As well as being a massive fan of listening to music, I have used music in my own work for almost two decades including releasing many spoken word music products long before discovering the mighty ukulele. Back in 2001 I recorded the CD “The Adventures of Well Being Now” which was specifically for clients with anxiety related conditions. Often such clients have hyperactive thinking which triggers anxiety and this usually leads to bouts of depression. This is unfortunately very common among musicians and over the years a number of high profile artists have been clients of mine. The Adventures CD used Ericksonian language patterns to assist clients in slowing down to discover a better sense of “Well, being now” which of course itself is a deliberate linguistic ambiguity.
It’s no surprise to me that music is now commonly accepted as highly useful in treated all manner of psychological conditions and especially those that involve memory loss as music is seen to stimulate the brain in useful ways. Other client conditions like anger issues usually are the result of too much hyperactive thinking. Of course, “hyperactive thinking” can be as useful as it is problematic depending on the context where this is taking place. Many such clients often speak at a fast rate which is a mirror image of their own internal thoughts. Such folks usually have problems connecting with work colleagues and become frustrated with other individuals, as everyone else seems “to be driving way too slowly” The upside is that the quick thinkers can usually multi task and problem solve in ways others can’t.
The introduction of music changes the way in which internal dialogue is being experienced and crucially addresses the issue of problematic speed. It’s like having a car that previously only has 6th and 1st gear; by involving music a person can discover “the others gears” essential for a healthier life. I have had many articles published on the importance of changing internal dialogue which in turn changes unhelpful states of mind. In these instances, music is mostly used to slow down a person’s thinking, but this is just one of many uses.
Working with athletes
In working with athletes’ music can be used to crank up states as well as slow them down. This of course is nothing new and it’s easy to spot all manner of professional sportspeople wearing headphones to block out external sounds and suggestions as well as focusing the mind and emotions. In my own work, I mostly focus on how a person processes information rather than on content which is usually not helpful. Here’s a testimonial from one of the clients I have worked with, where in this case we explored changing internal thinking with music and other elements. What I love about such client conditions is that its measurable.
“In the space of a month I met with Nick on three occasions and made instant improvements in my approach to competitions – I was happier, more confident, less effected by poor weather conditions and always ready to race. Each time I visited Nick I was able to tell him – almost unbelievably – that I had won another race. It was almost becoming boring. But only almost!
After a successful early season, the help Nick had given me really came to fruition on the day of the 2014 Commonwealth Games Trials. I was approaching the most significant race of the weekend, where the outcome would determine whether I would or would not be selected for Glasgow 2014. The pressure was intense, weather conditions were far from ideal and added to that I was tired having already run three top level races that weekend. I believe that ordinarily and without Nicks help I would have “gone to pieces” in that situation. Instead I ran a lifetime best time of 23.94, breaking through the elusive 24.00 second barrier to land on the podium.
Five days later I was officially selected for The XX Commonwealth Games – Glasgow 2014.”
Lucy Evans – International 100m, 200m and 4×100m relay athlete
Working with Alzheimers and other conditions
When somebody keeps thinking exactly the same way, they usually feel the same way as well and of course the exact same behaviours then follow. In conditions like Alzheimer’s music has been shown to usefully stimulate parts of the brain that allow for greater connectivity and expression. The “Alive Inside” movie in 2014 made some very useful observations which mirror my own longstanding experience of working with clients.
See https://youtu.be/CYMSK2T0T3s
Conclusion
Of course, the very act of physically playing an instrument can also be highly useful in changing a person’s feeling state as well as developing a sense of rhythm. Small instruments like the ukulele are often a good starting point for creating and exploring music. There’s also a community benefit to people playing instruments that is good for emotional well being. I have often lamented the fact that in “uke world” music comes second place to community gathering, but such gathering and sense of belonging to a tribe does have many benefits and of course from a psychological perspective communal strumming is a terrific way of creating group rapport.
We live in a world of sound and vision, so it should be no surprise that adjusting these elements will in turn adjust how we then experience life. I’m about to head to Japan where I’ll be running another 3 day conference on this subject and I continue to be inspired at how music can produce all manner of great therapeutic benefits as well as be a terrific amount of fun.
