Mental health disorders not only impact tens of millions of Americans each year, but mental health conditions are also one of the leading causes of disability in the country. Mental health conditions can lower your standard of living and overall wellbeing. Symptoms may appear suddenly or slowly worsen as you age. So what is the fix? Do people find the benefits of music therapy helpful?
While mental health disorders are manageable, they require treatment because they are chronic and incurable. Unlike medical conditions, mental health disorders can’t be diagnosed with a blood test or MRI. Doctors diagnose mental health disorders based on verbal evaluations, such as asking patients about their symptoms.
This can make receiving a mental health diagnosis difficult, especially if you have difficulty communicating. Mental health disorders are highly treatable through methods like holistic therapy, medication, and therapies like the music therapy program at Northpoint Recovery. The benefits of music therapy include allowing you to creatively express emotions in a way that may be difficult to do orally.
What Are Mental Health Disorders?
Mental health disorders are conditions that cause significant mood and behavioral changes that impact the way you think, feel or act. Each year, nearly 1 out of every 5 Americans struggles with a mental health disorder. Mental health disorders not only cause significant behavioral and mood changes but can cause significant impairment in your social, personal, and employment life.
The alterations in thinking or mood can cause conflicts with others and make it difficult to manage your life. Mental illness can affect you regardless of your age, background, race, or gender, making it sometimes difficult to identify.
Some examples of the most common mental health disorders include:
- Depression, major depressive disorder, and post-partum depression
- Generalized anxiety disorder and panic attacks
- Trauma-related disorders, such as PTSD
- Mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder
- Personality disorders, such as borderline personality disorder
- Psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia
Most mental health disorders are treated with a combination of medications and therapy. At Northpoint Recovery, we understand that mental health issues can arise due to addiction and prompt a substance use disorder. We can use music therapy as part of our dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring disorders when this happens.
What Are the Benefits of Music Therapy?
Besides traditional treatment approaches like medication, more modern treatments like music therapy can also help treat mental health disorders. The major benefits of music therapy and a music therapy program include creatively expressing your emotions and thoughts and encouraging critical thinking. Music therapy can include making music, writing music, or discussing music.
Our music therapy program includes music-based activities that allow you to express your emotions in an alternative way. The music therapist will help guide music-based activities, but the decision of what music is made or discussed during a session is yours.
Music therapy has many benefits for those struggling with mental health disorders because it provides a nonverbal approach to treatment. Music allows for self-expression and exploration through sound, rhythm, tone, lyrics, and song composition which may be difficult through other types of communication. The music therapy program at Northpoint Recovery can help you manage stress, anxiety, depression and negative behaviors associated with mental health disorders.
The benefits of music therapy allow you to integrate a creative and fun activity into your treatment routine. Sometimes, certain feelings are difficult to put into words. Music therapy offers a different way to communicate your emotions and perspective if you struggle with communication. Music therapy provides you with a way to cope with your symptoms and introduce you to a new hobby.
Discover How Our Music Therapy Program at Northpoint Recovery Can Help
Finding ways to cope and manage your symptoms can be difficult when you struggle with a mental illness. Reaching out for help is the best way to start your recovery process. The benefits of music therapy, treatment programs, and medication can provide you with the support you need to start recovering. Northpoint Recovery provides you with the support, guidance, and compassion you need to overcome a mental health disorder. Call us today at 888.296.8976 to learn more about your treatment options.