Describe How To Change Your Mood

Ever feeling down and turn to the one thing that is always there? Music. A lot of people for many different reasons run to music as an alternative to a person. With the right song it can change your mood for better and sometimes for worse. What happens in your body for something so simple to change your whole mood? Music is known to hit various parts of your brain including, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and the parietal lobe. A structure of the limbic system, the hippocampus, is responsible for navigation, spatial orientation, and the consolidation (make something stronger/more solid) of new memories. It also brings back emotional responses. Meanwhile the prefrontal cortex is in control of extreme impulses and emotion. It enables you to make good and appropriate calls so no inappropriate behaviors go on, that is why it is known as the ¨seat of good judgment.¨ Last but not least the parietal lobe is the information processing, cognition, and along with the hippocampus, in charge of the spatial orientation.

You can listen to music in three different ways, conceptual, perceptual, and physical. Conceptual listening focuses on the meaning and intellectual construction. It’s how we see ourselves in the patterns of the music relating to our feelings or emotions. Perceptual is how we see ourselves in the music. How we reflect on things moments or years before, and how the current is expressed through the song. Physical, also known as sensual, is the big primary part of it. It’s the way our bodies react to the music around us.
Because music affects many parts of the brain, it is often used in many therapies. It has been known and used for centuries that music has a way of restoring energy, improve mood and even help you body heal naturally. Mainly on people with depression and anxiety. Whatever mood you are in, you generally listen to music that is similar or based on your mood. For example, if you’re sad you listen to sad, slow songs that might “speak” to you. It may not exactly put you in a go lucky kind of mood but it’s sort of relieving to know that at some point someone understood what you’re feeling right then.
Music also creates a sense of comfort.

In a way, it's telling you that the song understands you. People turn to music for everything, whether that being a relationship break up, friend break up, you just won the championship, or even lost a family member. In every single genre of music there is a song to compliment a mood. Generally when you’re in a specific mood, you lean towards the music that suits that mood. For example, if you’re sad, you go for the slower songs. If you are happy then you’re most likely listening to upbeat music that you can smile and laugh with friends.

Some people can utilize music for an “escape.” Reasons ranging from mental health issues, home issues, or just for fun. People feel that once you plug in your earphones, the world has gone silent and they can “escape” whatever problem they’re facing currently. Music as an ability to take you back to a memory or past event, whether you wanted to remember it or not. Music also has its

stereotypes.
When you think of a certain genre of music, you associate that with a type of person and how they act, dress, look, and think. A big stereotype is screamo, rock and roll, or heavy metal. The stereotype of being an ¨emo¨ person is, dressing in all black, bracelets to their elbows, heavy eyeliner, always has earphones in, walks around with sagging shoulders or head, has mental health issues and a bit more gruesome things. Another big one is country music listeners. The thought of country brings the thoughts of, wearing cowboy boots, a strong and thick southern accent, the cowboy hat, old trucks, slurring words, always has a beer, hunting and etc. Many more but those are two big ones.
Previously mentioned that each mood can tie to a song. If you’re in a happy mood, a good song to listen to is Happy by Pharrell which is considered a pop song. One band (a personal favorite of mine) that has a song for every mood is Twenty One Pilots. Two boys, who sing a little bit of everything and you’re guaranteed to like at least one of their songs.

Struggling with hope/faith? ¨Implicit Demand For Proof.” Trying to fit into society? ¨Fall Away.” Feeling you’re in a constant battle with your own head? ¨Addict With A Pen.¨ Trying to stay alive? ¨Friend, please,¨ ¨Guns for hands,¨ or ¨Johnny Boy.¨ Thoughts leading to a dangerous place and tearing you apart? ¨Oh Ms. Believer.¨ Pretending everything is fine? ¨Trapdoor.¨ Self hate? ¨Before You Start Your Day.¨ Every single emotion whether being general or specific, there is a song.
In some cases you can create an emotional attachment to an artist or band. Say you’re in a sensitive and vulnerable state, listening to a song that “understands” you usually leads up to an artist with a bunch of songs understanding you. You can grow an attachment to that band, artist or even song. Simply knowing that someone has been in your spot before acts as a sense of comfort even if you don’t personally know them. For example, I’ve grown attached to Twenty One Pilots. Two men that are adorable nerds but have many songs with a deep message. I feel like when no one is there for me, they always are and you can’t ask for something better.
All in all music is a stress relief, a therapy, a go to, a mood changer, and an escape from reality.