What Types of Pain are Affected?
Many types of pain are heightened by anxiety. My experience has been that if something can be done to reduce patient anxiety and facilitate rest, their experience of pain often decreases. Distraught family members who are around a patient that is suffering can also benefit from the soothing sounds of therapeutic music. Occasionally I encounter a stressful situation where the patient is in a panic because they are having difficulty breathing. Family and staff are crowded into the room assisting the patient. I begin to play softly outside the room. After about 7-10 minutes a couple of family members (who looked fatigued) sit in the area where I am playing and close their eyes. I can feel the connection with them as they really let go and fall into a deep rest. Staff members calm down and often I hear someone asking the patient, “Can you hear the beautiful music?” “Do you hear the music?” After about twenty minutes as the situation improves the family members who have been sitting with me
