Music is medicine

As medicine, music is not without side effects – you can get addicted
and at the worst, be deaf. – Well, you have to take some chances in life, right?

Early on, I realized that music was VITAL for me, it comforts, calms,
and creates energy when you need it. In dark hours, music has been
a lifesaver, holding my hand, like a nurse or a napkin

Music is individual experiences, and music has a healing power for
many people. Music stimulates the mind so positively that in some cases,
music can cure depression. This case here is called Keith Moon –
the infamous, hyperactive drummer in The Who. He with the mildly
fluctuating mood. There could be a while between each time Moon
felt down, but if he first went down for counting, it was so serious that
he locked himself in a room to be alone. There he cured himself by
playing records with The Beach Boys until hi got his mood back.
Uplifting loss of people who commit suicide sends grief down to
a bottom level. Music has, with therapeutic abilities, prevented me
from going completely in black. In such periods,the strong forces of
music have taken control. When the mind rages with anger,
music has been a lifesaver to many of us.

“Since 1991, my husband and I has lost one brother each to suicide,
Knut Dagfinn, my older brother, a creative fashion-shop owner, died in 1991.
My brother in law, Gunnar, left in 2011, a musician with broad instrumental skills.
Two men, both intense passionate about music.
They influenced our direction and our platform of understanding music.
In 1991, when my brother left, the society where in a deep sense of shame,
associated with suicide. On our way from childhood to adulthood,
music was a «patch» that our family dysfunction needed. It took
me 5 years to find a inner forgiveness that I did not contribute
enough to his ability to live. Suicide relatives struggles heavely with,
many forms of guilt. I finally could let go of the burden, and the
worst grief in my life was over. The largest job was to forgive myself
for letting my brother down.

With very little openness, and deep shame, my grief consisted
mostly of letting selfforgiveness come throug.
When the pin hits the vinyl, and music flows out in the room,
you CAN reach a magic place,
where your insides* feel peace and comfort.»

I often use the «Moon method»,
especially in the winter, and I highly
recommend it. It is not crucial that you
choose Beach Boys (I prefer
Bryan Ferry or calm King Crimson,
but many other bands and genders work as
music therapy. The important thing is
that you resort to the music you want
to listen to). In other words, music picked
out with the heart, not necessarily by reason.
And then…let the music «wander into, or
through you.»

Experience says that it never takes more than five minutes before
the mood starts rising again. Should you get a relapse, just repeat the
treatment as much as needed.

Let’s not get hung up on the concept of quality. There is music for every
occasion, and there is good music in every genre. What is incomprehensible
or bad for some may be wonderful for others. That’s why I do not smile at people
who find joy in what intellectuals characterize as bad music. One of the worst things
that can happen to you is to know that the music you like is not worth
listening to. Let it be very clear: All music that you like and that gives you
something is worth listening to.

Brian Wilson has his own explanation for why music in itself has a healing power,
and why it is so important to listen to music. He says “The best music is the one
that gives you the feeling of being loved. Music that helps and heals.
” The explanation makes sense, and so did Keith Moon.

(Different guiltissues is a heavy weight on family members/relatives suffering
with suicide loss, an often need to seek proffesional help)