This beloved and easy-to-learn habit helps people cope with anxiety

Many things claim to cure anxiety, but those struggling with the condition know that getting rid of it is not that easy. A new study shows that something as everyday and pleasant as listening to music can be very effective when it comes to treating anxiety, helping people relax significantly.

The study, published in the journal Plos One and conducted by a group of Canadian researchers from Ryerson University, used music and auditory beat stimulation (ABS), a sound that combines sounds and plays them into one ear or the other, causing the brain is stimulated. ABS is an interesting method that aims to relieve anxiety (a condition that is on the rise and affects people of all ages) in the least invasive form, independent of medication.

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Photo by Malte Wingen via Unsplash

The study looked at 163 patients who were already taking anti-anxiety medication. They were instructed to listen to relaxing music, ABS sessions, or both, or “pink noise,” a sound similar to white noise. Participants listened to these sessions for 24 minutes, with an artificial intelligence device selecting the music based on the participant’s mood.

The researchers found that participants with moderate levels of anxiety experienced the greatest benefits after listening to music and having ABS. Participants who experienced high levels of anxiety only benefited more from listening to music than the group who listened to ABS.

“The results of this research are exciting as they suggest that personalized music shows promise for effectively reducing anxiety in certain populations suffering from anxiety,” the researchers wrote.

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Music has long been associated with anti-anxiety properties, but there aren’t many studies that look at it through a scientific lens. Today, with so many options for remote and digital treatment, exploring tools to relieve hearing stress sounds like something worth investigating that could bring relief to many people.