Depression and Sound Therapy

Depression is considered to involve a lack of neurotransmitters which create a sense of upliftment and happiness, such as dopamine or serotonin.

Depression can also be viewed as a lowered energy state where neurological responses become sluggish and one's life force is diminished.

A long term study specifically testing Tomatis Sound Therapy showed improved mental health and self actualization for both anxious and non-anxious people as compared to a control group (Du Plessis, 1982).

How Sound Therapy may help Depression

Research on the effects of meditation has shown that prolonged practice of meditation stimulates certain centres in the left brain that stimulate feelings of happiness and peace (Davidson et al, 2002). Thus, specific stimulation of the left brain may play an important role in treating depression.

Sound Therapy's direct stimulation of the left brain through the increased sound input to the right ear may have a similar effect; it is possible that Sound Therapy may stimulate the brain to begin producing some of the neurotransmitters that create positive emotional states. Sound Therapy listeners commonly report greater states of wellbeing, happiness, and an end to depressed feelings.

Since Sound Therapy bombards the ear and brain with large doses of high frequency sounds, it may also help to lift the listener's state of vitality.

References

Davidson, R.J., Kabat-Zinn, J., Schumacher, J. et al. (2002) Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation. Psychosomatic Medicine [online] 65 (4), pp. 564-570.

Du Plessis, W.F. (1982). Beangste en nie-beangste eerstejaardamestudente: ‘n psigologiese verkenning. Paper presented to the annual conference of the Psychological Institute of the Republic of South Africa, Sept.