Benefits of Singing for Health P1

As many have said before me with research to prove singing is good for you. It has many properties and benefits to enhance your wellbeing, physical and mental health. I want to explain a bit about the how’s and why’s and how we can get the most from the amazing properties that singing has. 

Well-being

Most of us know that singing makes you feel good especially when with a group of people we feel comfortable with. But why? Well this is because when we sing it releases feel good hormones in our brain known as endorphins,serotonin and dopamine this in sequence brightens our mood and adds a spring to our step. This got me wondering how long do we have to sing for until this reaction in our brian takes place and how long will the effects last? 

Through independent research I have found that endorphins take seconds to be released leading me to believe that how fast they are released as a result of singing is individualized but can vary from second to minutes. However another hormone called dopamine is released upon the endorphins signal. This is like a reward signal to tell us that something good is coming which has many effects on the mind and body. Dopamine can affect many parts of our behavior such as:

• Motivation

• Mood 

• Attention

• Pain processing 

And so much more but the above can all be used not only as a response from the endorphins and dopamine but an incentive to continue. In my mind making the activity of singing more pleasurable and desired by the brain and allows the process of the hormone release to continue. 

As to how long the effects of the hormones last I don't know but from experience once you start singing the desire to continue grows stronger meaning the process of feeling good hormones can go on as long as your lungs can manage. (maybe not quite but as long as you continue to sing)