Silence As Therapy: What Are Its Benefits?
Silence is a word from Latin and refers to the absence of noise. Silence as therapy can be truly healing.
From memorable times, the concept of silence has been important. For example, in classical philosophy several thinkers preferred silence to speech, as in the case of the Stoic school.
Sometimes talking about an issue can wear us down; For this reason, it is better to remain silent, since in the silent intimacy we can preserve what we do not want to expose to the judgment of others.
However, every day it is more difficult to achieve an environment in which silence reigns, due to technological devices, noise in the streets, noise pollution and others. All this prevents our brain from resting and experiencing a true rest for a moment.
Silence as therapy and the dangers of noise
What can silence be for? Why is it so important and why do so many people flock to the outskirts of the city every day in search of tranquility?
In the first place, it is worth noting that the World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that a large part of the population is exposed to noise levels that are potentially harmful.
The figures that the WHO handles are staggering, because by 2030 it is assumed that more than 500 million people will suffer from hearing problems.
Secondly, it is necessary to note that the brain needs silence to make decisions and feel calm, since the presence of noise causes the fight or flight mechanisms to be activated at the brain level and this produces stress.
Benefits of silence
If the noise around us is loud, cortisol levels rise, in addition to blood pressure. This can trigger an episode of chronic stress. Therefore, it is worth remembering the benefits that silence brings us. If we take silence as a therapy, we will be able to:
- Reduce cardiovascular disease.
- Children can experience less stress and learn faster.
- Reduce levels of anxiety and depression in adults.
- Sleep peacefully and with less difficulty.
These benefits are scientifically proven, so there is no room for doubt to start taking a few minutes and enjoy all that we can gain if we enter the world of silence.
A study confirms the need for silence
In 2006, a doctor and musician named Luciano Bernardi, conducted an important investigation that shed more clarity on the importance of silence.
In this study, Dr. Bernardi analyzed the relationship between the effects of music, the circulatory system and the brain. In his findings, he realized that, in the minutes of rest between songs, the brain decreased stress levels.
With this, the need to get a little closer to silence as a practice, as a therapy, to live with less anxiety and more calm in our lives is confirmed .
How can silence help us?
If you wonder how you can introduce silence into your life, you may need to find an ideal space for it and start some routines that are helpful and connect you with yourself, such as meditation.
During meditation, stress decreases, in addition to other gains on a psychological level, as it also improves the quality of sleep, memory, relaxes the mind, decreases muscle tension, among others.
By meditating, we can experience the therapeutic scope of silence, among other benefits, such as the surprising regeneration of neurons, something that many doubted until now.
In cities, it may not be easy to find a minute to calm down, as traffic already forces noise around us. However, other forms of escape are also valid. This explains why many people prefer to vacation in places far from the city.
Some recommendations
Follow these suggestions so that you can live with a little more peace of mind in your life:
- Enjoy breakfast. It is your first intake and you deserve to do it without thinking about any problem, or what you should do when leaving home. Just enjoy that little moment.
- Practice breathing exercises, when you are in the office or anywhere. Just focus on your breathing and this will help the other sounds to slow down.
- Discover places that transmit peace to you. Sometimes, they are inside the city, but because of the speed we do not notice, such as the churches, some squares or parks. They are places where we can remove ourselves from all the noise for a few minutes, and allow our brain to rest. Some activities also help us feel calm.
- Disconnect from the outside world for a second. This is equivalent to stopping to answer messages, calls or attend other obligations. Simply avoid the nomophobia that so many people suffer from and turn off your phone. These minutes will be very helpful.
If you put these tips into practice, you can connect with yourself and enjoy the true essence of silence as therapy. Keep them in mind from now on!
