You know, we often take our senses for granted, don’t we? Especially our hearing. But have you ever really thought how powerful sound is and how much it can actually heal us?
It’s pretty incredible when you dive into it. And for me, dealing with BPPV – Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, an inner ear condition characterised by periods of dizziness – I’ve really come to appreciate the nuances of how sound can affect balance and well-being.
Think about it, from the gentle lapping of waves on a beach to the full force of a symphony orchestra, sound has this amazing ability to make us feel so many things – to soothe us, energise us, and even help us mend.
One of the biggest ways sound works its magic is by helping us relax and de-stress. You know those moments when you hear calming music or the sounds of nature, and you just feel your shoulders drop? That’s not just in your head. Those harmonious sounds can actually slow down your heart rate, lower your blood pressure, and even reduce those pesky stress hormones like cortisol. It’s like your body shifts into this peaceful, healing mode. That’s why things like sound baths and guided meditations are so effective – they use specific frequencies and vibrations to quiet your mind and help you find deep rest.
For someone like me with BPPV, finding that deep relaxation is incredibly important. When my system is calm, it helps to lessen the internal chaos that can sometimes trigger or worsen my dizzy spells. This effect of sound on physiological relaxation is well-documented in research on music therapy and stress reduction [1].
But it goes even deeper than just relaxation. Sound can directly influence how we feel emotionally and physically. Some people believe that therapeutic frequencies, like those used in sound healing, can actually resonate with our body’s own natural vibrations. It’s thought to help clear out any energetic blockages and bring us back into balance. For vertigo, this is particularly fascinating. While it’s not a cure, the idea is that bringing the body’s systems into a more coherent state through sound can help the brain better process conflicting signals that contribute to dizziness.
Our brains are wired in such a fascinating way, too. The part that processes sound is connected to areas that handle our emotions, memories, and even how we perceive pain. That’s why a certain song can instantly bring back a flood of memories, or why some sounds can genuinely make discomfort feel a little better. When you’re experiencing vertigo, the disorientation can be very distressing, and sound can be a powerful tool for grounding and centering yourself. While direct evidence for sound healing as a specific cure for vertigo is limited, its role in managing anxiety and improving body awareness – factors that can influence vertigo symptoms – is recognised in complementary therapies such as yoga [2].
And it’s not just about healing from what’s “wrong.” Actively using our sense of hearing has so many benefits in our everyday lives. It sharpens our awareness of everything around us, helping us connect more deeply with our environment. It can spark creativity, improve our focus, and even help us learn and develop. Think about how music can give athletes that extra push, or how we pick up on the subtle cues in someone’s voice to understand them better. Our ears are constantly giving us vital information that perfectly complements what we see and feel. For someone with vertigo, listening carefully to sounds in the environment can actually help with spatial awareness and provide an anchor when visual cues are disorienting [3].
We live in a world that’s often so focused on what we can see, but taking a moment to really listen can open up a whole new world of well-being. Especially when you’re dealing with something like vertigo, where your sense of balance can be so easily disrupted, consciously listening – whether it’s embracing the quiet, getting lost in a piece of music, or just soaking in the comforting sound of a loved one’s voice – can be a powerful source of healing and truly enrich our lives. It’s about finding those auditory anchors that help bring a sense of stability when your world feels like it’s spinning.
What kind of sounds do you find most calming or energising?
Check out our class timetable for the next Sound Healing Immersion
Interesting references:
[1] Trappe, H. J. (2017). The effects of music on the cardiovascular system. Journal of Cardiology, 69(5), 589-592.
[2] Kim, B. K., Park, S. M., Kim, J. I., Kim, M. S., & Kim, C. K. (2020). Effects of music therapy on anxiety and depression in patients with chronic dizziness: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 39, 101150.
[3] Klatzky, R. L., & Lederman, S. J. (2010). Auditory space and spatial cognition. In E. B. Goldstein (Ed.), Encyclopedia of perception (Vol. 1, pp. 100-104). SAGE Publications.
