A Great Beat: The Basics of Drum Circle Therapy

I’m an advocate for exploring creative, community-oriented options for keeping strong in recovery. Self-expression and a proactive social life are essential for warding off depression and anxiety; your emotional health is a priority during the transition to a clean life. While journaling, meditating and exercising are vital freedom fighters, I urge you to explore as many methods as you can. I’d like to introduce you to the basics of drum circle therapy. It involves a group of people drumming in sync or at their leisure. It is an ancient practice that harnesses the power of rhythm and fellowship for emotional, mental and physical health.

Basics of Drum Circle Therapy

Drumming Circle Science

The drumming circle has been been embraced by many cultures throughout history for its therapeutic power; the benefits it offers to recovering addicts are bolstered by scientific evidence.

• Research from 2001 reports that drumming eases stress: it induces a sense of deep relaxation and well-being. The steady pulse of the beat balances tumultuous emotions and unwinds chaotic thoughts. Think of the drum mallets like oars; they’ll help you navigate stormy waters and keep going strong and stable.
• Happy hormone endorphins and endogenous opioid peptides, your body’s natural painkillers, are released when you make music. Not only that, the drumming delivers your thoughts beyond chronic pain so you can focus on recovery.
• The Stanford University School of Medicine found that drummers felt less depressed after weekly music therapy. This can be attributed to how it relieves anxiety and stress and how it is the perfect opportunity to unleash lots of feel-good creativity.
• Drum circles can boost the immune system. The rhythm aids in fine-tuning the cyclic flow of the body and soothing the impact of stress hormones. And of course, less stress means a more vigorous immune system!

Self-Expression Benefits

While you were struggling with an active addiction, you fell under the sway of drugs, alcohol and peer pressure. It is time to begin listening to yourself. The drum circle can be an outlet to express yourself, channel your inner voice, and share your emotions. You need not speak a word as you unlock your creative spirit, an aspect of yourself that may have been oppressed by addiction. You will become part of a collective beat that welcomes and needs you just as you are.

Emotional Benefits

Have you ever witnessed someone explode in anger? Have you been that person? Rage and resentment can pour out uninhibited when we’ve finally been pushed beyond our breaking point. That’s where drumming comes into play. As you drum, the physical motions resonate through your body and break up emotional blocks. Just imagine how satisfying it would be to pound away at the drum, giving a booming voice to your emotions without the hurtful edge. Like in kickboxing, anger becomes a driving force that is freed in a healthy, empowering way.

Community

You can never have too many friends on your recovery journey, right? When you join a drumming circle, you find like-minded individuals who wish to enjoy the same therapeutic benefits that you do. Everyone shares the uplifting rhythm, contributing their own unique touches to the healing song. There is such beauty in many different souls coming together to build music as it is a language we all love and understand. You can simply jump in and immerse yourself in the positive vibes of the community.

I hope you will try the ancient, practice of drum circle therapy. There are countless ventures you can take on your road to recovery, and I truly believe that this one has so much to offer for your emotional and physical health. Give us a call today at 855-631-2135 to learn more.

By Angela Lambert

Photo by: SL Ratigan (Flickr)