Compare: Before and After

Therapeutic music reduces anxiety to the point where about half of the anxiety patients I play for fall asleep by the time I leave the room. And if I can tiptoe out quietly enough without banging into trashcans or chairs, they stay asleep. Compare patient condition before and after in the story below:

Taming Anxiety: From Agitation to Calm

A nurse rushed down the hall toward me when she saw me coming. “Please play for the man in Room 20. He needs you.” With that, I headed toward Room 20, not knowing what awaited. When I entered, I saw a middle aged man restrained in bed by a security curtain. He was disoriented and agitated. He swore and grumbled under his breath. He tried to pull his IV out as he struggled to throw off his covers. An aide stationed in the room told him repeatedly to not touch his IV.

For 20 minutes I played music designed to reduce anxiety. As I played, he began to relax. He stopped muttering. At this point, there was a shift change in aides. The new aide looked at me in surprise, so I chatted with him for a moment. I could tell the patient wasn’t as confused as he had been and was zeroing in our conversation. So I brought him into the conversation briefly and kept playing. He mentioned he was a veteran – navy – so I shifted music for a moment and played “Anchors Aweigh.” Very poorly, I might add. I apologized for playing the song so poorly, but the patient laughed and said that was alright, he appreciated it. I played a little more anxiety music before leaving. As I left, the patient thanked me for the music and said it was beautiful.

It Takes a Village

Please help us continue to deliver therapeutic music throughout Citrus County. It helps people so much. Your donation helps us meet our goal of sending another musician through training. Donate here.