How many people suffer from stress these days? Experts tell us that in the west it's the majority of people! That probably accounts for the fact that stress relief programs appear like mushrooms. Some are useless, but many work - and one of the best has proved to be music therapy. It works not only in reducing the stress of grown-ups and kids - but even pets!

Music has always been used for its power to heal. There are stories about it in Greek mythology, and in the Bible there's the story of David soothing the king's depression by playing on his harp.

Some Facts About Music Therapy

There are different types of music therapy. Some involve playing music, but we'll focus on the type that involves listening to music for the purpose of helping the listener to relax and be calm, and so gain anxiety and stress relief.

This is often coupled with meditation, and the listener is encouraged to also use correct breathing techniques and guided imagery. We now know that music affects the deeper reaches of the brain and can radically change hormonal imbalances, thereby promoting healthier moods.

What Makes Music Work In This Way?

Psychiatrists are of the opinion the beat or rhythm of the music penetrates deeply into the subconscious, and there it triggers associations of safety, warmth and security. That's because before birth a baby is surrounded by the security of the womb and the predominant sound is the mother's beating heart.

The slow, rhythmic pulse of relaxing music may reflect the feelings first enjoyed when our lives were stress and anxiety-free. Thus we can withdraw for a while from the causes of our stress and anxiety to an imaginary place of refuge and safety.

When choosing music as therapy, either for yourself or others, you must choose carefully. Music can be a great stress reliever or a great stress producer! Avoid the tendency to pick music just because you like it. This can have a value, but for deep relaxation and stress relief you need to be more discriminating. And picking 'relaxing' music you hate because you think it will be good for you can have the opposite effectK

Luckily there are music therapists who have covered all the bases. Their research and experience indicate that music with a beat of just under the regular heart beat - that's 72 beats a minute - is the most effective stress reliever. Even more so if it has repeated patterns.

Examples of the best music for stress relief are:

* Classical pieces

* Celtic

* Native American rhythms

* New Age recordings

Bear in mind that different styles of music can affect the mind differently:

When you're lonely and blue, steer clear of weepy country songs!

If you're stressed and your brain is over-active, hard rock could be the last thing you need. On the other hand, if you've had a particularly boring day at the office, heavy metal could be the best music therapy for you - provided you like it, of course!

When you're facing a challenge and no one else can help, putting on your favorites from the 'old days' of your youth can have a very encouraging effect.

Natural 'music' - such as the sound of rippling water, birds chirping or children at play - can promote relaxation, as can the sounds of bass drums and flutes.

How To Make The Most Of Music Therapy

Try these tips for great music therapy time-out:

* Aim for sessions of at least 20 minutes and ensure that you will not be disturbed, either by people or by external noises.

* Sit or lie in a restful state

* Or you may choose to stroll in a secluded place and listen to your mp3 or CD player; this way you get the additional benefits of fresh air and exercise

* Remember, select your music wisely; you may even choose to invest in some commercially produced relaxation CDs or mp3s. These are available on meditation themes such as mind power, weight loss, pain relief - and many more

* The more often you can do this the better; every day is ideal

Once you discover the benefits of music therapy, your health will improve, your emotional life will be more stable and your relationships will improve. You'll wonder how you ever managed without it!