How Music Helps us Process Grief

By: Matthew Funeral Home
Monday, August 7, 2023

Music can play a big role in the way we work through our grief. Music has a way of connecting us to our past emotions and memories. Overall, songs can help us work through feelings and give us a space to express our feelings. 

Music as a Safe Space

Songs can provide us with a space to release emotions and process our feelings. An emotional song can give you a place to process emotion. Whether you are singing along or crying it out, a song can let you express your feelings in bite-size pieces. Belting out your emotions during a 3-minute song can be a lot more cathartic than keeping them bottled up.

Music and Directing Emotions

Different songs can bring up a variety of emotions. Listening to songs about loss and grief can make us feel sad, but they can also help us process our feelings. Likewise, happy songs can help get us in a better mood, and lift our spirits. Using music to direct our emotions and help us get through the day can be a good way to work through our feelings in a healthy manner. Consider making playlists for different emotions, and listening to them to help direct your emotions.

Music that Moves Us

For many people, music can affect us in different ways. Music can motivate us at the gym. And it can get us dancing, singing, or shedding a tear. When music gets us moving, whether emotionally or physically, it can help us keep going.

Music and Connecting With Your Loved One

Music is a big part of our identity. Consider listening to some of your loved one’s favorite songs. Listening to their favorite songs can help you connect with them in a different way. Check out their favorite albums or playlists.

Music That Calms Us

Music that calms you can be important when it comes to grief. Grief can be nerve-wracking, so finding your peace and comfort in music can be healing. Consider making a playlist of music that you find peaceful and calming. 

The author of this post is not a professional therapist or counselor. For assistance in finding a grief counselor that is right for you, there are a number of resources out there. For our Grief Resource Center, written by Dr. Bill Webster, click here. 

For over 50 years, Matthew Funeral Home has been serving the Staten Island community. We can help with almost every aspect of your loved one’s memorial service. Our family is here to serve yours, every step of the way.

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