By waltersmith After returning from their military service, veterans who are suffering from mental diseases have found that neurorehabilitative music intervention has been of great assistance to them. In a given year, roughly twenty percent of veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as stated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
“Studies have shown that veterans who participate in music therapy have a reduction of 43% in symptoms of sadness and a decrease of 36% in anxiety levels. For veterans, music therapy plays a crucial role in the healing of their mental health. Seventy-five percent of veterans who take part in music therapy report an improvement in their ability to regulate their emotions and a fifty percent rise in their level of social engagement.”
Music intervention has been a significant factor in the rehabilitation of these veterans, in addition to other innovations that have been implemented. With the help of organizations such as Warrior Sprit Band, veterans are taking control of their life and attempting to keep the spark alive through the medium of music. In this article, we will investigate the effects that music therapy and intervention have on veterans.
On The Basis of Scientific Evidence: Musical Intervention
Each and every organ in the human body, including the brain, is profoundly influenced by music. According to the findings of the literature review, listening to music has the potential to reduce feelings of tension and pain, as well as to make the listener feel happy and improve their performance.
A variety of psychological and physiological diseases can be effectively treated via the use of musical intervention, which is a technique that is not only successful but also enjoyable and trouble-free for veterans. In a controlled manner, listening to music and making it can activate regions of the brain that are associated with feelings, memories, and the severity of the traumatic experience.
Rehabilitative Physical Medicine
The tools are able to be utilized in the rehabilitation processes, particularly for those former combatants who have sustained physical injuries. Therefore, youngsters can improve their motor control and coordination, as well as strengthen their muscles, through the process of making music through rehearsal. As a result of the fact that it will provide an opportunity to shift attention away from the pain and guarantee that the patient is relaxed, music therapy may also be helpful in the management of pain during treatment.
An Expanded Perspective on the Role of Music in the Intervention Process to Improve Mental Health
The creation of music has been shown to have a beneficial effect on the mental health of veterans, according to the available research. With this in mind, it is absolutely necessary for clients to attend music therapy sessions on a consistent basis in order to reap the benefits of reduced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety.
As a result, it helps veterans deal with difficulties such as stress and mood swings, and it also helps them improve their general emotional well-being. Music and its influence on the enhancement of the quality of life of certain veterans produce a potent healing process not only in the lives of the persons themselves but also in the connections that they have with one another.
Encouragement of Reintegration within Society
The majority of these soldiers are forced to face one of the most difficult difficulties of their lives: the transition back into civilian life. When we talk about music as an instrument, it has the potential to become a kind of link to the social reintegration process. This implies that veterans will be able to continue their lives and form new social bonds through the use of music.
Through activities such as simulations, drama, group work, and collaborative plays, actors, particularly veterans, are able to demonstrate their capacity to articulate their experiences and be comprehended by the community. To put it another way, these kinds of activities help veterans feel valued, which in turn improves their feeling of place, or, to put it another way, their sense of belonging to the community.
Facilitating Recovery Over the Long Term
It is for this reason that music therapy is not a singular intervention that can be utilized as a standalone treatment, but rather a progressive process that adds to the gradual rehabilitation of the patient. People who are transitioning back into civilian life after serving in the military may also experience an additional incentive to explore the possibility of working together with musical interventional programs.
Those persons who engage in music as a pastime, a vocation, or just as a means of expressing themselves can benefit from music therapy. In the future, those veterans who participate in music parades for an extended period of time will experience an improvement in their mental health.
Instructions on How to Participate
It is not about providing treatment; rather, it is about assisting individuals who have served their country in locating a new purpose in life and integrating themselves into communities as well as doing artistic endeavors. Because of this, as more people become aware of the beneficial impacts that music therapy can have on injured service members, there will be an increase in the number of programs and facilities that are designed to assist service members in the process of having their recovery.
For those who have served
There are a great number of resources that are accessible to veterans who are interested in the reception of musical intervention. The provision of music therapy is offered by VA hospitals and clinics that are located in the surrounding areas. Music Corps, Operation Song, and Guitars for Vets are some of the other humanitarian organizations that are dedicated to assisting veterans. These groups are able to provide veterans with services that are either incredibly reasonable or even free of charge.
When it comes to overcoming a specific illness and finding a vocation, taking part in programs like these can be the first step toward successful completion. Therefore, the author recommends veterans to look for opportunities like this and at the very least start the process of introducing music into their lives.
For Those Who Follow
It is clear from the statistics presented above that providing financial support for music therapy classes for veterans is a very beneficial endeavor. Through the contributions of friends, non-profit groups are able to pay for the instruments, instruction, and recording sessions associated with their operations. In point of fact, the fact that individuals regularly attend veteran music events and performances is evidence that they are interested and supportive.
Contributing any amount of time or expertise, whether it be in the form of musicians, teachers, or a supporter, is a significant factor in the process of bringing about positive change in the lives of veterans. Consequently, individuals have the ability to offer support in these situations and contribute to the salvation of veterans through the medium of music.
Therapists and Musicians
For the benefit of veterans, musicians and music therapists could be of assistance by making themselves available and volunteering their services. The simple act of producing songs with veterans, composing with them, educating them, or even simply being able to listen to them might have a significant impact.
Professional music therapists have the option of either volunteering with the group or advocating for music therapy to be included in veteran health services. This choice is contingent on the nature and severity of the impairment. It is possible for musicians and therapists to assist in expanding the use of music therapy for veterans and anybody else who is in need of assistance in a variety of straightforward ways.
The Final Verdict
As an illustration, organizations such as Warrior Sprit Band and others like them are reclaiming the value of veterans and helping them find their voices, so transforming their lives. Consequently, by providing support for these initiatives, we are able to ensure that the veterans are provided with the appropriate level of care. Collectively, we need to make an effort to get back together and take action in order to honor the courageous efforts of our heroes who are working toward their recovery. We can accomplish this by employing the language that is understandable by everyone, which is the language of music.
