Music can have a powerful effect on people in recovery from substance use disorders. Whether you enjoy making music or prefer simply listening to songs by your favorite artists, there are at least eight ways music helps support your sobriety.

1. Music Reduces Stress

People with substance use disorders often rely on alcohol and drugs to relieve everyday stress, which means it’s important to find alternative coping mechanisms to promote a lasting recovery. Slow-paced sounds with light instruments and calming melodies can be particularly helpful for reducing stressful thoughts and the negative feelings associated with addiction. Researchers have found that listening to music can decrease heart rate, blood pressure, and levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

2. It Helps Improve Sleep Quality

According to a study in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, people in the early stages of recovery from a substance use disorder suffer from insomnia at a rate that’s five times higher than that of the general population. Listening to soft, peaceful music before bed can help you relax, drift off to sleep, and stay asleep. Music can improve sleep quality and duration by reducing the time it takes to fall asleep and increasing the amount of time spent in deep sleep. Getting the rest your body needs will positively affect your mood, energy levels, and ability to cope with cravings throughout the day.

3. Music Can Help Improve Your Mood

Have you ever gotten chills while listening to your favorite song? That’s because music has been found to increase dopamine levels in the brain, which leads to an improved mood and increased happiness, self-confidence, and well-being. Music can also activate the release of endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that can create feelings of euphoria.

4. Music Distracts from Negative Thoughts

A pattern of suffering from intrusive negative thoughts that you struggle to control is referred to as rumination. While this is not a mental illness, it does increase a person’s risk for substance abuse and related mental health issues. If you struggle with rumination, music can help to take your mind off destructive or triggering thoughts and memories. Upbeat and positive tunes can also be a tool for reframing negative thoughts into more positive ones—especially when you choose to use the lyrics of a favorite song as a sort of personal affirmation for your recovery journey.

5. Music Can Help You Connect with Others

Tunes can bring people together and help create positive relationships. Participating in music activities with others can be a great way to build meaningful connections with peers in recovery. If you sing or play an instrument, consider forming a band with the friends you’ve made in recovery. If you’d rather stay on the sidelines, simply invite a few friends to your home to enjoy a delicious meal while you listen to songs by some of your favorite bands.

6. Music Helps Express Feelings That May Be Difficult to Put into Words

Substance use disorders are often rooted in unresolved trauma, which means that processing the feelings related to the trauma you’ve experienced is an important part of your recovery journey. If you struggle to put your emotions into words, music can help you positively express your feelings. If your treatment team has recommended that you incorporate journaling into your recovery, songs can often serve as prompts for the writing process.

7. It Can Help You Connect with Your Higher Power

As a Christian, non-denominational residential addiction treatment center, we welcome people of all faith backgrounds and encourage our clients to find ways to incorporate spirituality into their recovery plan. Listening to uplifting spiritual tunes can help you connect with your higher power and renew your faith in recovery.

8. Music Can Keep You Motivated

Listening to music can be a great way to reflect on your progress in recovery and help you stay motivated to continue working towards your recovery goals. Our Building Your Recovery Playlist blog has some suggestions for songs that can help you confidently tackle the challenges of sober living.

Let St. Joseph Institute for Addiction Help You Begin Your Recovery Journey

Music is a powerful tool that can provide comfort, support, and motivation throughout the recovery process, but it’s not a substitute for evidence-based addiction treatment that is designed to build the foundation for lasting sobriety. When you attend St. Joseph Institute for Addiction’s Pennsylvania residential substance abuse treatment center, you will be surrounded by dedicated professionals who support your journey toward a happier and healthier life. Let us provide the care and support you need to gain control over addiction and create a life of lasting recovery.

Looking for addiction treatment near Altoona, PA? To learn more about SJI Pennsylvania addiction rehab, and our programs, please contact us at (814) 228-8881.