How Music Therapy Is Revolutionizing Treatment For Disabled Veterans – – VENTS Magazine

As of 2018, astaggering 4.7 million veteranshad a service-related disability. Thats a quarter of Americas veterans. Readapting to civilian life is difficult enough, but armed forces members who have acquired a disability during their service facea myriad of new challenges. Music has a history within the US military dating back to the civil war. It featured prominently in the first and second world wars, during which live performances were used to boost morale among troops. Post WW2, the positive effects of community music on veterans affected by physical and emotional trauma led the military to integrate it into their reconditioning program. It is from this that the music therapy profession was born.

How music therapy works

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a popular method for therapists in the treatment of PTSD, but it is not always effective. Research suggests that for many of these cases, music therapy presents aviable and effective alternative. Music is a universal human language, spanning all age groups and cultures across the globe in its diverse forms. Considering the extent to which music pervades our lives, it is unsurprising that it can have such tangible benefits for patients.

Music therapy works to treat and alleviate the stress and anxiety affecting many veterans, as well as reducing the pain of physical injuries. The therapeutic benefits of music on the body and mind are well documented, and research has shown that it affects various stress response systems, acting to bothreduce stress and improve a subjects recoveryrate post-event. It has also been shown to reduce both chronic and acute pain in patients affected by a wide range of illnesses and injuries.

Benefits of music therapy on mental health

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) have profound impacts on the lives of servicemen and women who live with them. Drumming in particular has been identified as aneffective outlet for veterans, reducing PTSD symptoms and fostering a sense of control in patients. Furthermore, it has been shown to improve a patients sense of belonging and their ability to share. Returning from the military presents many hurdles for disabled veterans, from adjusting a home for accessibilityto reconnecting with family and friends. Because ofthe way it is calculated, the process of applying for 100% VA disability compensation can seem unnecessarily complicated and become a source of anxiety for veterans and their families.

In these cases it is important to take advantage of the many resources available to veterans, such as Disabled American Veterans (DAV), an organization which offers help at no cost to veterans applying for benefits. Music therapy has the potential to reduce the impact that mental health challenges like these can have. An important part of music therapy is accessing traumatic memories that need to be processed while healing in a safe manner. Music has the power to evoke these memories without invasive and uncomfortable discussion.

Quality of life for disabled veterans can often spiral negatively, as the stress of adapting to civilian life and finding purpose outside of the service are compounded by injury. Often perceived as an alternative treatment, music therapy is anything but. It has a scientific basis in neurology and psychology, shown to reduce perceived pain, stress and anxiety, as well as alleviating the symptoms of PTSD. As a treatment for wounded warriors, it is shown to be effective in cases where other methods fail to improve mental health, and as a result, it continues to grow in popularity.

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How Music Therapy Is Revolutionizing Treatment For Disabled Veterans - - VENTS Magazine