Depressed, Anxious, or Angry? Try Listening to Rock ‘n’ Roll!
THE POWER OF MUSIC TO SHIFT YOUR MOOD
2020 has been a difficult year. If you’re feeling frustrated, angry, or depressed right now, you’re not alone! All over the world, people have been trying different strategies to cope with their feelings, including yoga, meditation, exercise, binge-watching their favorite TV shows, and even baking banana bread. But perhaps the most universal outlet and cure for pent-up emotions is music. Do you remember the clip that went viral in March of Italians in quarantine, singing together from their balconies? If you do, that’s probably because it made you smile. TIME heralded it as proof that “the country’s spirits are still strong,” and it’s just one small example of how music uplifts people. This isn’t just an anecdotal effect, either. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, music can help us process emotions and fight mental health conditions like anxiety, dysregulation, depression, trauma, sleep disorders, schizophrenia, and more. So, how can you take advantage of music’s power to turn your mood around? One option is to create music of your own, but another is simply to listen. When it comes to flipping a bad mood on its head, a survey conducted by the Family
Center for Recovery (FCR) suggests that rock is the genre of choice.
“During any given year, depression affects approximately 5%–8% of Americans,” FCR reports. “According to our survey participants, the vast majority — around 89% — turn to music in order to feel better. The top genre for depressed listeners is rock, followed closely by alternative, pop, and hip-hop/rap.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the blues came in last on the list.
To put the power of music to work, create playlists for each mood that you want to turn around, like “Anger,” “Frustration,” “Sadness,” “Anxiety,” or “Grief,” and fill them with songs from genres associated with fighting that feeling. According to FCR, rock is the most popular antidote to sadness and anxiety, and it’s also high on the list for anger, along with pop and country. Frustrated people opt for variations of rock, pop, punk, and heavy metal, and those stricken by grief turn to soft rock or soul. The artists are up to you, so fill up your lists, press play, and let the music do its work.
Planning for the Future Over the course of our lives, we make many decisions. Everything from the career we want to what we eat for breakfast boils down to a decision. But what happens when we are incapable of making a decision for our health or well-being? Can you trust your family to know what to do? Let’s put it this way: Would you know what to do if a loved one falls ill or is incapacitated?
WHY YOU NEED TO DESIGNATE A POWER OF ATTORNEY
Upon executing a power of attorney and nominating an attorney in fact, you can also list out your wishes and demands. Do you want life-saving measures in the event your treating physician determines that you are in a permanent vegetative state? Do you have important bills that need to be paid? Do you have religious beliefs that bar you from certain medical treatments? The best way for your family to know and understand your wishes is by executing a durable power of attorney outlining your wishes and nominating someone to be your attorney in fact.
Clarity in these situations is what makes the durable power of attorney designation so powerful. Under Tennessee law, a durable power of attorney allows you to designate a loved one, referred to as your attorney in fact, with the ability to make decisions on your behalf should you become incapacitated or unconscious. If you execute a power of attorney, you can designate your attorney in fact to take over almost immediately upon the diagnosis of a major illness, when you lose consciousness, or after a certain amount of time after the diagnosis of an illness. You also have the right to determine what your attorney in fact controls. You may just want your attorney in fact to make medical decisions for you, or you may choose to have him or her assist with financial or business matters too.
That’s a lot of trust to bestow on someone else, and selecting the correct attorney in fact for yourself boils down to who you trust the most. This person should be someone who can act upon your best wishes and someone you know will ultimately follow your wishes. Be sure to have an honest conversation with the person you choose before executing a power of attorney. Probate attorneys can help you find the best person for this designation. They have knowledge of the necessary paperwork, can offer expert feedback, and are a reasonable third party to help you make tough decisions. If you would like assistance in naming your durable power of attorney, our team at Douglass & Runger can help. Visit DouglassRunger.com to schedule an appointment with our team for this and other legal matters.
2 • DouglassRunger.com
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