I often poke fun at myself for frequently choosing to listen to sad music when I am already feeling sad. So basically these memes are me.                                                                              But it turns out that listening to sad music can help make you feel a little better. A study published in Scientific Reports found that, “sad music can induce a pleasurable feeling”, which means you may be getting something positive from what most would view as a negative experience. Here’s the link if you want to look into it some more: https://www.nature.com/articles/srep46063

Music doesn’t just sooth you when you’re sad. Music can increase your dopamine levels and help you remember moments better. Music is currently being used to help Alzheimer’s patients. Playing songs that were popular when they were growing up or tied to a significant moment at some point in their life has been known to help trigger their memory. Often times you can see a physical response from patients because they are remembering what they could not without music.

Singing along to your favorite songs can also lower your stress levels. Singing releases endorphins and oxytocin. Releasing these hormones helps you feel better similar to how exercising typically makes people feel better by causing your body to release endorphins. So if you’re stressed out and have a minute to listen to your favorite songs or sing along to a song, go for it. You’ll most likely feel better afterwards.

 

Here’s another article to checkout regarding music and your brain if you want to know what else music can do for you :  http://ideas.time.com/2013/08/16/singing-changes-your-brain/