I Love Music

While lyrical music can easily hijack or worsen our emotional state, calm instrumental music can effectively soothe intense emotions. Music can impact our mood within seconds. It's so effective that researchers use it frequently to induce certain mood states. If you're trying to work on improving your mood regulation skills, see if you can become more mindful of the music you listen to. Do you have a melancholy playlist that you turn to when you feel lonely or sad? Do you listen to aggressive music and recount the ways you've been wronged? Do you listen to lyrics that tell the same old stories of heartache? While we can tolerate a range of music and a range of emotions, there are times when it helps to be more deliberate about our choices. If you're experiencing intense emotions, it's usually best to listen to instrumental music that's pleasant and calm rather than lyrical music. If you're feeling unmotivated and lethargic, it could help to listen upbeat music. If you're trying to change old patterns and the music you listen to is triggering the same old internal stories and movies, try something new. Experiment and see what works for you. -Dr. Anna Kress-