Listen and Relax: Managing Stress With Soothing Sounds
We all know and have felt varying levels of stress throughout our lives. We have both learned and deep-seated responses to stress. From all the layers deep down at the bottom innermost pathways of the limbic brain to the more easily accessed conscious layers, we are still subject to “fight or flight” as well as the daily pressure from work, traveling and the many things piled on by modern existence.
Managing this is crucial for the preservation of our emotional, mental, and physical health. Casual levels of stress are natural. For example, you are running late to a meeting or are nearing an important deadline. So, your body reacts accordingly by sweating, raising your pulse, or giving you an adrenaline shot. Once the stressful situation has passed, you go back to normal and are able to relax.
Yet, high levels of stress can break havoc in your emotional and mental equilibrium, as well as your physical health. When you are under constant stress, you are unable to think clearly, function effectively, or enjoy life. Evidence suggests that chronic stress can lead to life-threatening health issues such as cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal problems, obesity, and mental health problems such as anxiety disorder and depression.
In this article, we will explore how soothing sounds for stress can make a positive difference in your life, as proven by scientific evidence.
Music and beats
You might have noticed that, after a long and stressful day, listening to your favorite song or band has a therapeutic effect. You feel relaxed and at ease. There’s a strong connection between music and relaxation. No wonder relaxing music and videos have millions of views and searchers on YouTube and Google respectively. In fact, several scientific studies demonstrate this relationship.
For example, a study by researchers at the University of Vienna looked at the effects of drumming and repetitive beats on cortisol (the stress hormone) levels. Participants listened to shamanic journeying and relaxation instructions. Researchers measured the concentration of cortisol in saliva before and after each session. They discovered that 15 minutes of either repetitive drumming or instrumental meditation music is enough to decrease cortisol levels. What’s more, those participants who listened to repetitive drumming and shamanic instructions experienced decreased heart rate and had dreamlike experiences.
Managing Stress With Meditation
Anecdotal and scientific evidence demonstrates a strong link between meditation practices and stress management. When you meditate, you focus your attention on an object or sensation, eliminating a stream of unnecessary and pessimistic thoughts that cause stress. Regular meditation can enhance your physical and emotional well-being. In more detail, meditation can help you:
- Increase self-awareness
- Gain a new perspective on stressful situations
- Build skills to successfully cope with stress
- Focus on the present moment
- Increase patients
- Reduce negative emotions
- Manage anxiety
- Promote better sleep
Studies on Soothing Nature Sounds for Stress management
Why is it that the gentle flow of water, the burbling of a brook, or the sound of the wind in the trees have such a relaxing effect on us? According to recent research, natural sounds affect the bodily system in charge of the flight-or-fright and rest-digest autonomic nervous systems.
An experiment studied soothing sounds for stress. Participants listened to sounds recorded from natural and artificial environments while their brain activity and heart rate were monitored. When listening to natural sounds, there was an increase in rest-digest nervous system activity (linked to the body’s relaxation) and better performance at attention tasks. Interestingly, those participants who were especially stressed before starting the experiment showed the greatest bodily relaxation when listening to natural sounds.
Here are some of the most relaxing nature sounds:
- The rain
- The ocean
- Thunders
- The wind
- Cats purring
Managing Stress With Synctuition’s 3D sound journeys
Imagine if you could combine all the above to ensure complete relaxation and better stress management. This is exactly what Synctuition does. Our program is the perfect mix of binaural beats, sound meditation, and recorded sounds from nature. As you listen to one of our 25-minute sound journeys, the sounds will bring your mind into a deeply relaxing state, just like a mental spa. The sounds of singing birds, flowing waters, and musical instruments will stimulate your mind, helping you visualize relaxing and vivid images. This is the perfect antidote to quiet unnecessary and negative thoughts, which cause you stress and anxiety.
