Can a song really reset your nervous system?

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I’ve been reflecting on the way music doesn’t just shift our mood, it can completely change how our body feels. Think about it: one moment you’re tense, spiralling in stress, and then that song comes on. Suddenly your shoulders drop, your breath slows, and you feel human again.

That’s not just a nice distraction. It’s biology.

Here’s what actually happens:

Dopamine (the “feel-good” chemical) is released when we listen to music we love.
The vagus nerve, which runs through the body, responds to rhythm, syncing our breath and heart to a slower beat. That signals safety to the whole system.
Cortisol (stress hormone) drops, while oxytocin (love hormone) rises.
Even our brain waves shift. Slow rhythms can bring us into calmer states of mind.

No wonder hospitals use music therapy before operations, NICUs play music for babies, and athletes pump themselves up with playlists before competing. Music changes the way the body responds to stress and even to pain.

The key is to create your own music toolkit.

If you’re frozen in overwhelm, you may need upbeat, joyful songs that lift you out.
If you’re anxious and wired, you’ll need slower, calming sounds that bring you down.
For me, chanting and yoga music are my anchors, they vibrate through my whole body and instantly settle me.

It’s not one-size-fits-all. The songs that work for you are the ones tied to your memories, your teenage years, those moments where music left a mark on your heart.

So yes, music can reset your nervous system. In fact, you’re the DJ of your own nervous system, you hold the power to shift your state with a single track.

✨ I’d love to know:

What’s your go-to song when you need to calm down or when you need to be lifted up?

Let’s start building a community playlist together.

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