Music as Catharsis

Music has always played an important role in my life, as I’m sure it does to many others. It becomes an escape and sometimes the lyrics can really relate to you and what you are going through in good times and in the not so good times.  

I have casually shared over the years that sometimes I cry to certain songs – especially in the car. After having a good cry and listening to a relatable song, I feel much better. I had also made a video of my son to a particular song about a month after he passed and realized how much I needed to let that out. And so every now and again a song will come on and get me, just as grief does in its sneaky ways.

So, this had me thinking about how music can be cathartic not only to me, but others as well. I googled “music as catharsis” and quite a few articles exist regarding research on the topic. I found one article here that cited this from a study in 2014 regarding 772 subjects listening to sad music:  

…The experience of listening to sad music usually offers multiple rewards to listeners. Sad music enabled respondents to regulate their emotions in a productive manner. By processing, rather than ignoring, sadness through music, listeners could achieve catharsis and improvements in mood. Respondents especially appreciated that they could engage in musical sadness without the typical consequences that would ensue from real-life sadness — a crucial factor in explaining the effectiveness of sad music in emotional regulation…

It is so refreshing to know that my moments of being in the car with my tears are a much needed release and I’m actually not alone in feeling these emotions toward music. So, if you find yourself wiping the tears away in the car, grocery store, wedding, or concert, know that you aren’t alone.