Seeking a song for anxiety attacks? Press play on this (science-approved) tune, and you may experience more relaxation than you would during a massage!
Music can get our feet tapping, hips swaying, or even head banging. Play songs from your wedding day or the one you heard from your raging teens, and they'll trigger specific emotions or feelings. Like most people, you probably have playlists for various scenarios: road trips, work focus vibes, energetic Sunday morning tunes for tidying your home, or relaxing music for dinner parties. Throw in some effervescent girl-power music, and you'll slay that workload!
Scientists have found the perfect melody to bring you into a mental space relieved of stress. While our tastes may differ from our partners, friends, or teenage relatives, one song seems to have the same effect on everyone. Press play on Weightless by Marconi Union, and you will experience more relaxation than you would during a massage or by listening to other relaxing tunes on your playlist.
A U.K.-based band, Marconi Union, worked in collaboration with Lyz Cooper from the British Academy of Sound Therapy and Radox Spa in 2011 to create what would gain a reputation as "the world's most relaxing song."
The track includes calming melodies, mellow synths, chimes, and a heart-beat-like tempo. With guitar, piano, and field recordings, the band formed a song that now helps insomniacs and anxiety attack sufferers.
Yes, it is! The Sussex Innovation Centre in Brighton conducted a study to verify the effects of the song's claim.
Dr. David Lewis, the author of the One Minute Stress Manager, said of the experiment: "The study confirmed certain music can lower heart rate, slow breathing and decrease levels of the stress hormone 'cortisol' in the blood. Other researchers have reported that music can also speed recovery from surgery and help overcome anxiety and depression."
Twenty people participated in the study, with each connected to bio-monitoring equipment. Heart rate, skin conductance (EDA), and respiration (breathing) rates were recorded, as well as participants' subjective opinions.
Below we'll highlight what the study found out about the anxiety song, Weightless by Marconi Union.
Compared to a massage, the song induced greater relaxation by 6%. It was the only song in the soundtrack mix that was more relaxing than an oily rub-down.
The 10-minute massage, given by a fully trained and qualified massage therapist, focused on pressure points that ease tension and boost relaxation. Even though everyone said they enjoyed it, tests showed heightened stimulation during a massage due to unsteady breathing rates and skin response (also known as Electrodermal activity or EDA).
Weightless showed 11% more relaxation in the participants than all the other relaxing songs in the testing playlist. Other songs were chosen by online rating polls and music critic blog sites.
Listeners rated each song on a scale of -5 to +5 for relaxation. This subjective rating showed a preference for Weightless as a song to promote peacefulness.
Scientists looked at other relaxing activities such as drinking a cup of tea, taking a walk, and playing video games. This is what they found after participants had undertaken stressful activities:
A relaxation score is based on the changes in the biometric measures of heart rate, respiration (breathing) rate, and EDA during activities. These measures reflect on mental and physical relaxation and stress levels.
The relaxation score of Weightless is 73%. The ability to de-stress with Weightless in your ears is 11% more than any other song.
Weightless by Marconi Union outshone the other songs and induced the greatest relaxation. Could this be the anxiety attack music relief that could bring you down from a panic?
Being able to still your mind in a world that offers constant bombardment is possible. It may not be easy, but you can do it!
Are you stressed? Here are some signs of anxiety to look out for:
Budgeting for the medical care you need is the greatest gift you can give yourself and your family.
Long-term stress can have detrimental effects on your body. But the first step to healing is awareness and seeking help. Increasing self-care habits can create a safe space to fill your cup; however, if you're showing high-stress symptoms or struggling with anxiety attacks, seeking professional help and guidance is the best solution.
Taking care of your mental well-being is an essential aspect of being able to live your life happy. So next time you need to relax, kick back on the couch or in the bathtub with the background tunes of Weightless by Marconi Union.
At Save, we want to encourage you to embrace your life and live it fully - without allowing a tight budget to constrain you. We have some suggestions on prioritizing your mental health, from taking more time in the sun, tips for keeping the Sunday scaries at bay, and affirmations to get you through the work week.
And don't forget to check out our Coupon Book Finder for deals and savings on items that can help you with self-care.
