Maybe You Need a Concert or Music Festival
Healing through community and music
As concert and musical festival season is in full swing, maybe you’re on the fence about whether to buy the ticket, go to the rave, or go to the concert. Here are a few reasons why a music event can be beneficial for your mental health:
Movement, singing & dancing
From a somatic perspective, movement helps us release stored tension and stress. Whether it’s jumping up and down, dancing, or holding onto a loved one while listening to the music (or maybe a combination of all of those), movement helps us be grounded in the present moment and tune in to our physical experiences- something a lot of us tend to overlook or avoid (maybe because we feel too busy, it’s too overwhelming, or we aren’t sure how to).
The vibration from the speakers can help activate our vagus nerve (essential to activating our parasympathetic nervous system and helping our bodies and brains get closer to a regulated state). If you find yourself wanting to be barefoot on the grass to feel the vibrations more intensely, your body is intuitively trying to ground you.
Community and connection
Singing, being surrounded by others with similar interests, and having opportunities to show and receive care all help create a sense of community and connection. Our ancestors knew the power of community for mental and physical wellbeing. Overtime, things changed and many of us lost our meaningful connections with others. We aren’t designed to do life alone. Concerts, raves, and musical festivals might be one of the few ways you feel connected and rooted in community. So, give and receive the sprouts, make the bracelets (art therapy too? Love that for you) and embrace the experience.
Something to look forward to
If you’re stuck living in survival mode, it may feel like there’s not much to live for. Music events can give you something to look forward to. You can get creative when planning what you will wear. You become excited to meet/reconnect with people you’ve talked to online or seen at previous events. You play the setlist repeatedly to help you get excited for the event, giving you opportunities to dance and sing along even before the event itself.
Tip: Take a few pictures and videos while at the event. You don’t need to document everything (part of being present also means disconnecting from distractions) but take a few and add them to a “Glimmers” photo album on your phone. If you’re feeling low, visit the photo album and be reminded of some of the things that give your life meaning and bring enjoyment.
Build tolerance to uncertainty
Do you usually look up the parking situation well in advance? Spend hours online reading other people’s experiences to try to mentally prepare yourself? You aren’t alone. Our protective parts often try to reduce feeling out of control by fortune telling, overplanning, and seeking reassurance. This can keep you stuck in a cycle that reinforces the belief that you need to extensively plan/prepare to feel safe. Music events can help build tolerance to uncertainty. You can have it all planned out, but unexpected things will still happen. How you respond to those unexpected changes can help build tolerance to uncertainty that can be transferred to other unexpected situations in life.
Tip: Practice opposite action (ex: you have a strong urge to research extensively or plan every detail, then let other’s make the plans or only do minimal research prior)
If you feel like you’re just going through the motions, try something new. Healing can happen even outside of therapy. Move your body, connect with others, and find things to look forward to. Your anxiety and trauma will try to keep you doing what is familiar, but they don’t have to run the show.
If this kind of healing and encouragement is what you’re looking for, fill out the contact form so we can start working together in a way that works for you.