There is a reason why those born in the ’80s or ’90s love listening to songs from that era even today. Those are the songs they have grown up listening to. And there is a deep sense of nostalgia attached to it. Nostalgic music is the music that we connect to a point in our lives. It triggers an emotionally charged time travel, offering a ways to relive key life experiences that may have shaped our sense of self. It may remind us of graduations, celebrations or a special relationship. In retrospect, nostalgic music mostly has a happy effect on us. On World Music Day, let us tell you the psychological and mental health benefits of nostalgic music.
Nostalgic music is a phrase used to describe songs or compositions that evoke sentimental nostalgia for the past. This happens when listening to music generates an emotional recollection of past events, encounters or periods of life. Neurologically speaking, listening to nostalgic music stimulates the hippocampus, striatum, and prefrontal cortex — areas of the brain connected to the retrieval of autobiographical memories and the processing of pleasure and reward, explains psychotherapist and life coach Dr Chandni Tugnait.
Here are certain key psychological benefits of listening to old and gold music for health:
Dopamine and other feel-good neurotransmitters can be released in response to nostalgic music, elevating mood and boosting emotions. Negative thoughts are countered by the good emotions connected to happy memories.
Stress and anxiety levels can be reduced by the soothing familiarity of nostalgic music. Reconnecting with happier moments gives one a feeling of stability and safety, says the expert.
Music associated with one’s history frequently evokes memories of beloved social connections and associations. Loneliness is reduced by this feeling of connection with one’s past and sense of belonging.
Researchers found that listening to nostalgic music was positively associated with self-esteem, according to a 2021 study published in the Psychology of Music journal. Memories of significant life experiences that shaped one’s identity are evoked by nostalgic music. Re-establishing favourable memories of oneself from the past helps boost one’s self-esteem.
This kind of music offers a way to explore and experience challenging emotions, such as fear, guilt or anger, but in a comfortable setting. This supports coping strategies and emotional control, says Dr Tugnait.
Nostalgic music stimulates life review, which in turn helps people derive meaning from their personal recollections. This can strengthen one’s feeling of purpose in life, especially in times of change.
Nostalgic music stimulates intense memory retrieval. It works the brain’s recall, imagination, and ability to make connections between different events in a person’s life, says the expert.
Here are a few practical ways to enjoy nostalgic music’s positive effects on mental health:
The secret is to approach nostalgic music with attention and mindfulness so that you may really connect with the good vibes, meaningful relationships, and personal narrative that those songs represent for you, says the expert.
While nostalgic music has several advantages for mental health, there are also some possible drawbacks or side effects to be mindful of:
Nostalgic music may be healthy for you, as its advantages are around elevating happy emotions, and controlling negative emotions. But don’t make it a habit, as it may have side effects.
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