If you’ve ever lived with chronic pain, you know how quickly it can rob you of the energy required to complete tasks, the ability to concentrate, and even the will to live. Yet, like a seriously spoiled child, the more attention you give pain, the louder it screams.
Have you noticed how pain tends to escalate when you’re trying to sleep? That’s because, with your eyes closed and your body mostly unoccupied, pain is pushed right into your brain’s spotlight. If you can distract yourself with a movie, a conversation, or a meaningful project, the pain seems to diminish because the spotlight is aimed elsewhere. The trick, then, is to keep that spotlight focused on other things.
Knowing this, I was intrigued to hear about some scientific studies done on the health benefits of singing. An article on Healthline.com, written by Rebecca Joy Stanborough, MFA, and medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, lists the top ten benefits of singing for your physical, emotional, and mental health. Here are only some of them.
Singing can relieve stress—provided it’s not in a situation that makes you uncomfortable. If you’re belting out a tune in the privacy of your home or car or singing with a group of people you know and love, Cortisol samples from your saliva taken before and after the activity will most likely reveal a drop. This is a clear indicator of less stress.
Singing may boost your immune system. Don’t we all need that these days? A 2004 study showed singing raises your levels of Immunoglobulin A, an antibody your body secretes to help you fend off infections.
Another benefit is where the pain relief comes in. When you sing in a group, your body releases endorphins. Endorphins can help promote positive feelings and change your perception of pain. Singing with a group may not be an option for you right now, but if you crank up your favorite recordings and sing along, maybe your brain won’t know the difference.
Singing can even help decrease snoring. In a 2008 study, researchers interviewed the spouses of choir members and the spouses of people who don’t sing. Guess what? Significantly fewer choir members snored.
Another good reason to take up serious crooning is to improve your lung function. Because singing involves the controlled use of muscles in the respiratory system, it can help people living with lung issues like asthma, COPD, and more.
I’m sure you know singing in a group contributes to feelings of well-being and belonging. I’ve found this true at church. When I view the live-streamed service from home, I can sing along with the worship leaders, sure. But it’s not the same as being present with others—masks and all! Could it be because one of the neurochemicals released when people feel bonded together is oxytocin, also known as the love hormone? Worship singing, in private or in groups, is all about giving God glory. But in his irrepressible love for us, he also makes our worship beneficial to us.
Did you know singing can soothe your grief? A 2019 study conducted among grieving people, revealed those who sang in a choir saw their sense of well-being remain stable. Over twelve weeks, the singers felt a gradual improvement in self-esteem, causing researchers to conclude group singing can provide wonderful support during times of grief.
Most of us instinctively know singing makes us feel better mentally and emotionally. Now Science reveals our bodies respond as well—which makes perfect sense when you begin to understand how our minds, bodies, and spirits all work together.
So, how do you sing when you’re in pain? It may mean opening a hymn book and forcing yourself to start. Push through. Stay focused. Don’t worry about how good or bad you sound. Just sing. Then try again tomorrow. See what happens.
At the very least, it can’t hurt.
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