How Music Can Help Heal Addiction and Make Sobriety Fun

Whether you are listening, learning or playing, music can have a positive impact on addiction recovery and create some good times in sobriety…

More and more addiction recovery programs are using the power of music to provide hope and healing for individuals affected by addiction. In addiction recovery and sobriety, music has proved to help individuals better articulate their emotions and overcome psychological obstacles that inhibit healthy self-discovery. It’s success rate is improving annually as more addiction programs incorporate music into their treatment programs.

Music therapy is a method to shop increase motivation and engagement in treatment, provide emotional support and an alternative outlet for expressing feelings. It helps individuals, especially through music that is nostalgic to them, identify and cope with any past emotional trauma and process it with a group facilitator.

Ways Music Therapy Can Aid in Addiction Recovery

• Improves ability to recognize and accept different emotions
• Promotes self-expression and self-awareness
• Increases self-esteem
• Facilitates relaxation and stress reduction
• Empower themselves through success
• Increase attention and concentration
• Build coping skills and problem-solving strategies
• Enhance mindfulness
• Improve interpersonal skills

Many people have a particular song whose beat or lyrics they identify with clearly, but may not be able to come up with the words on their own. Being allowed to play the song in a group setting, not only allows them to discuss how they relate, but also are able to see that others have similar emotions raised. In this day and age, there are tons of songs dedicated to addiction and/or recovery. Others may write their own lyrics and feel free to play and/or sing what they have developed, thus providing another outlet for their emotions. There are those too, who simply listen to music and find it soothing.

Many alcoholics and drug addicts are often filled with shame and guilt and have years of built up blockages that prevent them from positively expressing themselves. Music therapy is a form of experiential addiction treatment that encourages individuals to identify and process subconscious issues through experiences such as this. According to the American Music Therapy Association, by participating in musical activities in a therapeutic context, “client’s abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives.” Most people enjoy music as part of their lives and now there is a way to incorporate it into recovery and sobriety.