We've all probably said before in our lives that we were addicted to a song or an album at some point. Certain songs are so good that you really just want to put them on repeat, but at what point does the repetition get dangerous?
While music has healing powers, some consumers worry that, like most things, too much of it can be no good for you in the long run. But most people will tell you that music can be an exception to the rule that has no downsides. What's the truth?
Like many vices, including drugs and sex, music can release a chemical that drives your body to act out its pleasures.
"When you listen to tunes that move you, your brain releases dopamine, a chemical involved in both motivation and addiction," states music author Emily Sohn.
Other actions that can increase your dopamine without too much risk of being harmful include sleeping, meditation, and spending time with the ones you love. But what's the difference between a harmless addiction and an act that can lead to dangerous addiction?
While music shares some similarities with other activities that can be addictive, there is no medical classification for a music addition (unlike shopping or drug addiction, for example) since it can very rarely become a legitimate addiction that can cause harm.
Most harmful addictions fall within one or more of the three categories: behavioral addiction, impulse addiction, and substance addiction. If there were a category that would fit a so-called music addiction the most, it would be a behavioral addiction similar to sex.
What constitutes an act as an addiction, though, according to professional health sources like Synergy Wellness Group, can lead to a loss of self-control, priority shifts, increased tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, and risky behavior.
While it is rare, some music habits can lead individuals to priority shifts and risky behavior, but the repercussions are much less dramatic than those that can come from shopping addiction, sex addiction, and substance abuse.
According to a study done on the physiological effects of music consumption, Dr. Mas-Herrero wrote:
"Music can drive us towards activities at the expense of time, money, and effort - from waiting in line for hours in the rain or snow to buy a concert ticket to investing years of training to play an instrument."
The most common way you can cause harm to your body is by consuming music at a volume level that can lead to hearing loss after constant overexposure.
According to Dr. Kari Foss' recent quote in Science Daily:
"Noise-induced hearing loss results from damage to the hair cells in the cochlea that vibrate in response to sound waves. However, extreme noise may also damage the eardrum, and the small bones within the inner ear called the ossicles."
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While the withdrawals from music will rarely hit people as hard as the ones from hard drugs would, there are technically some that can come along if you make it a habit of listening to music and are then forced to go without for whatever reason.
Some consumers report light symptoms that include headache, irritability, and lack of sleep if they are forced to go without the music that their bodies have made a habit of consuming.
While these can indeed be annoying side effects, many of these types of listeners would be thrown off by any change in their daily routine.
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If you find that you or a family member is going through priority shifts, risky behavior, and what seems to be music withdrawals, consider that they are self-soothing from another issue with the help of music, as so many people do.
You may find that people rely on music heavier when they're going through periods of depression and stress, which can be mistaken for a music addiction.
The consumption of music by those who are going through behavioral sickness can often be accompanied by the consumption of drugs and alcohol.
While music is one of those hobbies that almost no one in the world would hate, it wouldn't hurt to switch up your entertainment options every now and then if you feel like you are in danger of having something like a music addiction.
You could easily rely on something just as addicting with the same amount of light side effects, like watching tv or playing video games, which are also practices that won't do too much harm.
But, the saying that too much of a good thing still holds true, so try to find ways to mix up what you consume.
Taking a break from the digital world as a whole can help you cut back from music and other forms of media that we could all take a break from to get in tune with our bodies and our minds.
But thankfully, music also heals our bodies and minds.
As quoted by Alex Doman, "Listening to music has a positive impact on our health, by helping us recover faster when we experience stress, and through the reduction of the stress hormone cortisol, to help us achieve a calm state or homeostasis."
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As a session singer, writer, and producer that has worked with over 300 clients to provide high-quality jingles, singles, and features, Yona spends her time creating and marketing new music and helpful resources for creators. Check out Yona’s latest releases on her Spotify, her Youtube and share if you like it!
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