Now Hear This: Several Sounds Can Support Your Mental Health

The world is full of sounds—many quite pleasant, many less than pleasant, and many that we generally don’t pay much attention to at all. 

Much of the time, it seems as though sounds happen all around us with a fair amount of randomness. The phone rings, a truck with a failing muffler rumbles by, the neighbor’s dog barks…and barks and barks. And the sounds just keep coming throughout the day. It can be difficult to find even a few quiet moments—and even when we might have that opportunity, we tend to fill up the quiet with background noise of one kind or another.

But it is, of course, possible to be intentional when it comes to the sounds we hear. In fact, we can choose to seek out sounds that can support our mental health. The key is to make good choices when it comes to creating our personal daily soundtrack of sounds.

We are going to provide some examples, but first, we want to note here that we are sensitive to the fact that not everyone hears well—or at all. But the central idea we intend to share—that we can take advantage of our senses to focus on things that support our mental health—still applies.

Music To Your Ears

Listening to your favorite music can have an immediate and positive effect on your mood. And that is just one of the benefits music can provide. Music can fuel your workout, help you fall and stay asleep, help you manage pain, and help address the symptoms of depression. Better physical health, sufficient restful sleep, relief from pain, and the alleviation of depression symptoms all support your mental health. 

You might also consider making music yourself. Whether you sing in a local choir (or along with the radio), take up a musical instrument (or dust off one you used to play), or try your hand at DJing (or even at beatboxing), the process of making music can be truly satisfying. Unlocking your personal creativity while enjoying an engaging hobby is a wonderful way to support better mental health.

Inspiring Stories and Ideas

Sometimes it can be truly helpful to hear from others who have experienced difficulties similar to your own. The sense that you are not alone in your struggles can be comforting and motivating. And there are plenty of options when you are ready to listen to someone else’s mental health story.

For example, there are any number of podcasts (including these two) devoted to mental health issues. Mental health podcasts run the gamut from the serious to the humorous, but no matter the tone, they offer a chance to learn from the experiences of others. It may take a few tries to find the perfect podcast for you, but odds are you can find one or more that really resonates with you.

Similarly, you can listen to the audio versions of books related to mental health to find inspiration and ideas for your own mental health journey. There are plenty of options including memoirs, self-help books, and fiction.

Mindfulness Mentors and Affirmations

Mindfulness practice helps us learn to stay present in the moment so that we don’t undermine our mental health by ruminating about the past or worrying about the future. There are plenty of online resources that can help you learn to practice mindfulness through a variety of exercises. The soothing voice of someone guiding you through a mindfulness exercise can help reduce stress and feelings of anxiety.

Sometimes, however, the voice you most need to hear is your own. Speaking affirmations aloud is a great way to build up your confidence, self-esteem, and mental health. Whether you develop your own set of affirmations or seek out some ideas that will serve you well, speaking kindly to yourself is a great way to support your mental health.

How Does Better Mental Health Sound to You?

At Peak View Behavioral Health in Colorado Springs, we help individuals who are struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma-based disorders, or other mental health issues. We listen intently so that we can personalize a treatment plan for your specific needs. You can count on us to provide care built on a foundation of expertise, experience, and empathy. 

Many people struggle silently with mental health disorders because they feel embarrassed about the challenges they are facing. But the first step toward improved mental health is to make a little noise on your own behalf. When you are ready to make a change, we are ready to hear from you.