Sound and Music for Anger
Table of Contents
Conceptual Framework & Theoretical Basis for Approach
Create Peace with Sound, Voice, Instruments, Music and Vibration
Self Discovery and Transformation
Higher Perspective & Intuition
Practitioner Preparation and Guidelines
Preparation and Guidelines for Each Issue
Create Peace with Sound and Music
Self Discovery and Transformation
Higher Perspective and Intuition
Listening and Playing Sound and Music
Ideas for Research and Projects
Medical Details
This section provides information about the issue, known causes, common signs and symptoms and current treatments.
Definition
Anger is an emotion, a natural, instinctive response to threats. Some anger is necessary for survival but it can become a problem when you have trouble controlling it, or it causes you to say or do things that you regret. Anger isn't considered a disorder, but anger is a known symptom of several mental health conditions. A 2010 study found that uncontrolled anger is bad for your physical and emotional health.
Anger and health risk behaviors - PMC
Causes
Triggers such as stress, family problems, or financial issues
Taking on someone else’s anger
Learned behavior from parents and culture
Feeling tired, stressed, hungry
Underlying condition such as:
- Depression
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Alcohol abuse
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
- Bipolar
- Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED)
- Grief - anger is one of the stages of grief
Signs and Symptoms
Anger may be expressed in three ways:
- Outward
Yelling, throwing things, verbal or physical abuse
- Inward
Negative self-talk, denying yourself basic needs such as food, self-harm and isolation.
- Passive
Giving the silent treatment, sulking, sarcastic remarks and side comments.
Anger affects the wellbeing and function of the heart, brain and muscles
Increases testosterone
Decreases cortisol
Increases blood pressure, heart rate and muscle tension
Emotional irritability or frustration
Anxiety, stress, guilt, or feeling overwhelmed
The scientific literature makes the distinction between hostility, anger and aggression. Hostility is typically described as a negative attitude or cognitive trait directed toward others, anger as an emotional state that consists of feelings that vary in intensity from mild irritation or annoyance to intense fury, and aggressiveness as a verbal or physical behavioral pattern manifest in yelling, intimidation or physical assaults.
Current Treatments
Counseling and Therapy
Support groups
Self awareness, learning your triggers
Self care and regulation techniques
Meditation and breathing techniques
Prescribed medications
Conceptual Framework & Theoretical Basis for Approach
This section provides the theoretical basis for using specific sounds and music for the particular issue. It is the “why.” Why do we think our approach makes sense for the particular issue? This theoretical framework will likely be refined over time as we learn more and do more research. There are a large number of ways to use sound, music and vibration to create treatments based on this overall framework. The section below, “Treatments with Sound,” provides many options with much more detail.
Create Peace with Sound, Voice, Instruments, Music and Vibration
Peace and harmony are the basis of health. When we experience a state of peace, body and mind are relaxed and the natural healing response kicks in.
(This section is good for all issues except where people are extremely fragile – CLICK HERE to see more detail)
Listening
- Frequencies
- Coherent vs. Chaotic frequencies
- Archetypal Frequencies
- Low Frequencies
- Frequencies for Specific Parts of the Body
- Frequencies for a Person’s Whole System
- Sounds
- Consistent Stable Sounds
- Warm Sounds
- Sounds for Breaking up Energy
- Dissonant Sounds
- Odd Harmonics
- Rhythms and Binaural Beats
- Musical Intervals – Harmonious
a. Unison
b. Octave
c. Perfect 5th
d. Perfect 4th
e. Major 3rd (especially descending) for love
- Musical Flow
a. Smooth Flow
b. Slow Fade
c. Home note of the key of the song
d. Dynamics that Slowly and Smoothly Get More Calming
e. Slow Rhythms
f. Music Tuned to the Breath
g. Musical 5th Melodic Intervals
h. Musical 3rd Melodic Intervals (for love)
i. Sweet Melodies
- Energy and Intention
a. Stable and Consistent Peace
b. Soul Energy
c. Universal Love
d. Source
Having Them Play Instruments
Voice Work
- Toning
- Chant and Mantra
- Voice Healing
Sounds on the Body
- Tibetan Bowls, Tuning Forks, Frame Drums
- VibroAcoustics: Sound Tables / Sound Lounges / Sound Vests / Sound Pillows / Sound Dolphins
Brainwave Entrainment Tuned to The Person
Self Discovery and Transformation
Expressing and Transforming
Latest science says expressing anger does not release it. In fact, it could just bring it up and make the person feel worse. The best way is to express it and slowly shift to a beautiful sound.
Might build up slowly to expressing it (like with a gong), then slowly mellow out to a place of peace and stillness.
If the person is shut down and not feeling anything, it is important to do exercises to express it:
- Do call and response over a long period of time to get them comfortable making sound.
- Voice – make the sound of it, scream
- Rattles, hitting sticks, gong, growling, dance it
- Feel it completely and let it speak
- Scream – to empower
- Scream and slowly shift
- Scream with gong
Weeding - Finding the core of the anger
After doing sound to get to a peaceful place, discuss the triggers.
Don’t have to go into story.
Desensitization
Do the Holding Frequency class where we go through 11 techniques for being at peace in the midst of challenges and conflicts.
Higher Perspective & Intuition
Things don’t have to be fixed in this moment
Different Types of People
Information that can seriously affect the type of treatment provided (e.g.: Level of Severity; Adults vs. Children; Strong vs. Fragile)
The scientific literature makes the distinction between hostility, anger and aggression. Hostility is typically described as a negative attitude or cognitive trait directed toward others, anger as an emotional state that consists of feelings that vary in intensity from mild irritation or annoyance to intense fury, and aggressiveness as a verbal or physical behavioral pattern manifest in yelling, intimidation or physical assaults.
Triggers that are gone
Triggers that are continuing
Short term
Shutdown
Valid Anger
What if the reason for the anger is ongoing?
It is valid anger but then you are angry all of the time.
Anger that you forget about it completely.
Anger that is waiting in the wings.
Safety Guidelines
What practitioners should be aware of. What are the contraindications? This is critical not only for safety, but in order to help bring these treatment modalities into the mainstream (hospitals and homes).
Use detailed Intake to check for potential for:
- Self Harm
- Harm to Others
- Suicide
May need to get help:
- Don’t work with someone really in trouble and not getting counseling
- If someone is too fragile be careful
Critical to be able to hold your own space when someone is releasing emotions
No Labeling
Intake Questions
It should be noted that clients may be particularly adverse to questions that seem like interrogation. Although we are trying to help we must meet the client where they are, this might be in a very delicate and sensitive place. Speak softly in a warm, slow, calm tone. No matter their response, meet them with loving kindness.
Top Questions
- What brought you here?
- How are you doing today?
- Have you done any Sound Healing?
- You Ok to make sound?
- How long have you had this issue?
- What or who prompted you to seek help for your anger?
- What triggers it?
- What are the symptoms you experience?
- How often?
- How long does it last?
- What is the level of the issue on a scale of 1-10 now?
- Where in the body does it manifest? Scale of 1-10 intensity
- Was there a big event that started your issue?
- Is there anything that helps?
- What are the main stressors in your life?
- Do you have any other health issues?
- How is your diet?
- How much do you exercise?
- Do you drink alcohol?
- Do you have a support system?
- Are you seeing a medical or alternative physician now or in the recent past?
- Are you on any medication? How is it helping?
- How does sound and music affect your condition?
- Do you have anything you do now that helps when the issue happens?
- What are your goals in life?
Music and Sound
- What type of music do you like?
- Do you like to sing?
- Do you play any instruments?
Lifestyle
- Ask clients to rate on a scale how they feel about the quality of the following areas: (rate 1-10, 1 being very poor, 10 being excellent)
- Work/school
- Primary relationships
- Physical health
- Mental/emotional wellbeing
- Sleep, quality and consistency
- Overall Vitality / energy levels
- Depression level
- What is going on in your life today?
- In your average daily life, would you say you are more at ease or more stressed about life?
- What stressors are going on in your life?
- Did you feel safe in your home ?
- Are you financially secure?
- How much time do you spend in different activities throughout the day: Phone, TV, Outside time, Listening to Music.
- How much unstructured time?
- Do you drink alcohol?
- How much do you exercise?
- How is your sleep? Is it regular and consistent? Are you going to bed at the same time each night?
- What do you enjoy the most?
- What really makes you happy and feeds your Soul?
- When you visualize a safe place where does your mind go to first?
- What is your favorite activity? Sports, art, music, writing, socializing, spa treatments, etc..
- Do you have a spiritual practice?
- How much time do you spend on the computer?
- Do you have any current self care practices ?
- How does it feel when you look back at your life, present and future? (watch for black holes)
- What are some things you would like to change?
Specific Questions
- When did the issue start to manifest?
- On a scale of 1-10, how severe is the issue?
- What big life events happened around this issue?
- How are you coping with the issue?
- What are the subjects and key memories they have interest in?
- Are you on any medications? For how long and how do they help?
- What triggers it or makes it worse?
- Do you have a current strategy in place for coping with your anger?
- What kind of daily schedule are you on?
- What is your passion in life and are you taking steps to achieve it?
- What could give your life more meaning?
- If your anger had a message for you, what would it be?
- May I have permission to work with you?
Practitioner Preparation and Guidelines
Clearing in Advance
- Do your homework on yourself.
- Do your own centering first before the session.
- Clear your physical space as necessary - physically and energetically
- Call in guides
- Set out all Sound Healing Instrument sets (Crystal Bowls, Tibetan Bowls, Tuning Forks, Drums, etc.)
General
- Build confidence in these techniques by sharing previous successes, research, acceptance of Sound Healing in Integrative Therapy departments in Hospitals.
- Have intake questions ready for proper diagnosis and treatment.
- Listen and be present.
- Be ready to follow higher guidance.
- See them as pure spirit, allowing space for them to be honored as divine presence.
- Meet them where they are at.
- Understand how to establish trust in every opportunity that presents. Listen, empower, validate, non-judgment, no labels, authenticity is key, etc.
- Watch extremely closely for any negative reactions during the session
- Be honest with patient in advance regarding your qualifications and session goals
- Expand trust by demonstrating willingness to become vulnerable.
- Reflection - Use their exact words back to them so they know you have understood them
- Gauge how closed they are. Know how deep you can go?
- Reframe: See condition as a doorway instead of obstacle
- Hold deep acceptance: “It’s OK to be that way” “It’s Ok to feel what you are feeling”
- If they start crying don’t touch or talk to them. Let them know “It’s OK, Let it
out.”
- Disclaimer for any recommendations - especially herbal stuff and anything ingested.
- Explain to the client what they may experience during the session.
- Ask permission to work on the body with tuning forks and bowls and possibly hands.
- Keep track of which techniques the client likes the most and use the best in future sessions or homework assignments.
Chakra Questions
- Root Chakra – How grounded are you? How often are you in your body versus in your head?
- Sacral Chakra – How easily do you let go of emotions?
- Solar Plexus Chakra – Are you above others where you are frustrated, critical or angry, or below people where you feel insecure or not good enough? Or do you feel in your power equal to others?
- Heart Chakra – How open is your heart? How much love do you have in your life these days?
- Throat Chakra – How well are you able to express yourself?
Do you have any trouble or fear around making sound or singing? - Third Eye – How good is your intuition? How clear is your vision and clarity of mind?
- Crown Chakra – How often do you connect to Spirit or Source energy?
Do you have a spiritual practice?
Do you know how to open your crown chakra?
Preparation and Guidelines for Each Issue
Use the intake questions to connect to the person and develop trust.
Treatments with Sound
Detailed techniques using a wide range of sound and music, categorized based on the Conceptual Frameworks above.
Order of treatment
- Opening / Invocation – Do sound to get them as peaceful as possible initially
- Do Intake questions
- Do a sound session based on the information and energy from the intake questions
- Discuss how effective it was for releasing the issues
- Visualize the issue completely gone and do sound to resonate it
- Make the sound of the new life, completely healed and then do celebration
Opening the Session
- Set sacred space if you like
- Call in helpers, guides and higher beings if appropriate
- Do 3 OM’s or 3 breaths with the client to start
Develop Trust
Create Peace with Sound and Music
Getting into a peaceful space often allows one to see things in a different way.
- Play Sounds or Music - For calming
- Use the Voice - Do breathing
- Have them Play Sounds - For calming
- Movement with Sound
- Exercise with power sounds. Mellow exercise with sounds.
- Get them to move little. Get up and dance to their favorite music - discover new musical preferences.
- Play percussion or long tones on a synthesizer combined with their movement of stress releasing body movements from Chi Gong and other energy exercises.
- Sounds on the Body to overcome anxiety. Tuning forks, crystal or Tibetan bowls. Sound Lounges/Tables. Sound Pillows/Dolphins.
- Tuning Forks: Weighted tuning forks direct onto the bones. Use two for a full body binaural beat creation. Place 128hz on the third eye to vibrate through the head to stimulate nerves. Place a 64 hertz fork on the lower lumbar, which relieves tension and helps loosen the sacral ligaments. It stimulates and balances the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, relieving body tissue, muscle tension, spasms, pain, and improves blood circulation. These two forks used together also balance the hypothalamus, pituitary, and the heart.
- Tuning forks around the aura and also on the bottom of the feet.
- Go up and down the spine.
- Acupuncture / acupressure points with tuning forks
- Play a hand drum really close to the body
- Tibetan Bowls on the body – especially big ones.
- Brainwave CDs tuned to the person - Do an assessment to find Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta tuned to the person.
- Do an assessment to find their metabolism and have them listen to Binaural Beats tuned to them. Play it on a sound bed, if possible.
- Use ultrasound on microtubules on the brain for Oneness (Jeffery Martin).
- Brain Map entrainment. Use electrodes or Infrared light on different lobes to entrain the brain into gratitude, compassion, love and Oneness.
- Dynamic Curve - Mountain.
Self Discovery and Transformation
Expressing and Transforming
Latest science says expressing anger does not release it. In fact, it could just bring it up and make the person feel worse. The best way is to express it and slowly shift to a beautiful sound.
Might build up slowly to expressing it (like with a gong), then slowly mellow out to a place of peace and stillness.
If the person is shut down and not feeling anything, it is important to do exercises to express it:
- Do call and response over a long period of time to get them comfortable making sound.
- Voice – make the sound of it, scream
- Rattles, hitting sticks, gong, growling, dance it
- Feel it completely and let it speak
- Scream – to empower
- Scream and slowly shift
- Scream with gong
Another meditation after you find it to release it.
Weeding and Alternative Behaviors
What is the seed
After doing sound to get to a peaceful place, discuss the triggers.
Don’t have to go into story
If you hold it in, it can kill you, or explode
Ways to express anger positively
- Non-violent Protest
- Take action
- Art
- Music
Practice Non Violent Communication – Marshall Rosenburg
Bring them into an awareness of their body
Once the emotion is pictured, imagine it gone and ask the client to make the sound of it, and then the sound that is left after it's gone.
Learn how to set boundaries
Desensitization
Do the Holding Frequency class where we go through 11 techniques for being at peace in the midst of challenges and conflicts.
Higher Perspective and Intuition
Non-Attachment
- Create a Ceremony together
- Chinese lantern floating away
- Find the sound/energy and put it elsewhere. Visual that goes away.
You are not your anger. Make the sound of who you are: point of awareness, love, pure spirit.
The ho'oponopono prayer: “I'm sorry, Please forgive me, Thank you, I love you.”
When you get angry, you are just hurting yourself.
- "Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die." -Buddha
Explain how to do Compassion - Ask yourself why they are doing what they are doing. Because we have been entrained in the craziness of our society (selfishness and greed) since the beginning of time.
Dalai Lama says when someone hurts you, they are hurting themselves and giving you an opportunity to practice compassion. They are sacrificing themselves for you. Therefore, you can be grateful to them instead of angry.
Fear is underneath all anger.
Make It Small
Self Acceptance and Self Judgment
Gratitude
Prayer
What can you learn… What is its message?
Path to be aware and accept your own emotions.
- “It’s OK to be that way” “It’s Ok to feel what you are feeling”
- Remember the first time you were angry and send acceptance and light to it.
No judging or resisting sadness. It’s not all about being happy.
They could help others with anger as a career.
Affirmations the client can use anywhere for immediate effect. Create your own custom ones. Make them into a mantra - outloud or internal. For example:
- I am here in my body and all is well.
- I am connected to Source energy at all times.
- There is time, space and resources for everything I want to do.
- I belong.
- I have what it takes.
Know that you have the power to overcome it.
- Applying conscious language - Stopping the mind by saying stop.
- Do a loud “no” with full power. Don’t allow your lower self to do this. No.
Make a gratitude list and do the sound of it. How can you be grateful for the anger?
Connect to higher beings and Source.
Homework with Sound and Music
Ideas that the person can do on their own.
- Going to a place of peace over and over through the day
- Think about Sound Healing as a lifestyle
- Pets, comedy
- Zoom yoga and groups online
- ExpressionsWellBeing.com
Listening and Playing Sound and Music
- Find sound healing instruments you like, purchase them and play them daily.
- Acquire and play sound healing instruments daily – especially activating ones.
- Microdosing or assisted psychedelics with sound.
- Create an iTunes, Pandora or Spotify list of songs that are uplifting for you and listen daily.
- Pay more attention to detail with sound. Notice the frequency and rhythms of things around you. Use your own voice to express feelings and help resonate to a new level.
- Listen to music and create sounds as often as you can throughout the day. Voice and tone your way through periods of intense feelings. Reduce excess noise from TV, children, chaos. Try to find moments of complete stillness and silence. Dancing and humming.
- Go to a peaceful place with sound at least 3 times per day. Preferably 5 or more.
- Listen to brainwave CDs tuned to you: Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, Gamma.
- Do chakra treatment with Sound.
- Do a meditation with sound to get into a place of peace & power. From that place of power figure out your plan. Return to this place of power 1-3 times per day.
- Listen to the following CDs by David Gibson:
- Water of Life
- Unconditional Love
- Awakening
- Enlightenment
- Calm Sleep
- Chakra Journey
- Pachelbel Canon
- Anti-Dep
- Low Mood
- Listen to nature sound CDs or Youtube (crickets, waves, brook, etc.)
- Go to a weekly Sound Bath
- Take a class in Sound Healing
Sound on the Body
- Get a Vibroacoustic sound table, sound lounge or sound vest and go on daily.
- Learn acupressure points and use them…. Especially with tuning forks.
Voice Work
- Do toning daily. Even small 15 min three times a week.
- Do Chant and Mantras each day.
- Try the Chakra Tuner app.
- Give them a chart of the bija mantras or other tones that correspond to the chakras and suggest that they tone each chakra three times, and to do this practice each day.
Breath Work
- Meditation: Assign daily breathing exercises, encouraging time in nature and increased gentle movement practice.
- Put on 3 songs and breath to it
- Breathe to the rhythm of walking in nature
- Do Prana three part breath
Nature
Walk in nature and listen to the natural sounds.
Mental/Emotional
Enquire - what’s the worst thing about feeling angry? Then replace it with light filled, peaceful sounds. What’s the best thing about feeling happy? Make the sound of feeling happy.
Emotional Vocal Expression
- Use your own voice to express feelings and help resonate to a new level.
- Make the sound of how you are feeling and slowly transform it to love and light.
- Use Voice and tone your way through periods of intense feelings.
- Kindly acknowledge your condition, allowing it to be honored, heard and seen. Make the sound of it and move it towards a more desirable sound.
- What is the sound of compassion? Make it daily.
- Do ceremony / ritual practice to release with sound.
- Send love to your heart with sound (out loud or silently).
- Tone, Chant or Mantra 8 minutes 3 times per day -- or more.
Follow Up
- Let them know they can call or email anytime.
- Have them let you know how they are doing by phone or email.
- Check in on them weekly or more often.
- Schedule a followup session.
- Email a list of followup questions.
- Go through all of the things they are doing and how they are working.
Treatments Other Than Sound
Techniques that you might add to the treatment. These techniques might also inspire new ways that you might also incorporate sound with them.
Learn Non Violent Communication – Marshall Rosenburg
Support Groups:
- Find a support group like Facebook, Meetup, etc.
- Create their own support group
Be of service to others. Volunteer.
Sending light and love to others and/or doing something to help others.
Help Them Get Organized
- Set a detailed list of things to do.
- Set 10 easily achievable lifestyle change goals.
- Help them make a schedule daily, weekly, monthly.
- Suggest time and frequency.
- Give them a calendar.
- Clutter clearing
Body Work
- Stay active
- Exercise
- Exercise is so important. Yoga or meditation also. Boosts feel-good chemicals called endorphins. Regular exercise seems to encourage the brain to rewire itself in positive ways. How much exercise do you need? Work with what they do first and build from here.
- Do daily breathing exercises
- Work with Acupuncture / acupressure points
- Yoga Nidra - Bringing body and mind into centralized focus
- Attend to their posture, breathing, chin setting, walking. Mindful presence.
- Do hikes
Do barefoot walking to ground - Get hugs
- Stretch
- Get a massage or body work
- Craniosacral therapy
- Put feet in salt water. Rub feet with essential oils
- Take a soothing, atmospheric Salt bath
- Find a Sensory Deprivation Tank
Mental / Emotional Work
Use your favorite techniques to go to peace and stillness multiple times per day (10 or more is best)
- Current mainstream treatments include psychotherapy.
- Honor self and accept all the emotions they feel.
- Make their own personal self care list including all the things that could help when they are feeling unwell. Could include:
- talk to a friend
- have a bowl of warm soup
- a hot bath
- burn essential oils
- read a good book, etc.
- Do what they love at least once a day.
- Do mindfulness exercises.
- Applying conscious language - Stop the mind by saying stop.
- Journaling - Write down something they are looking forward to. Ask them to share so their own words can be reflected back to them.
- Write down things they are grateful for at the end of each day.
- Watch a movie:
- A movie they love
- Comedy or Hero movies
- Watch “Whose Line is it Anyway” (comedy)
- Do free association writing.
- Do Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tapping while holding acceptance of emotions.
- Do laughing yoga.
- Do guided visualizations.
- Do any type of meditation. Consider a meditation retreat.
- Do a vision board. Write down in detail what your life will be like once all effects of the issue are gone.
- Check out the book and do the exercises in “The Emotion Code.”
- EMDR - Free app to download! https://www.hereglobalrelief.org
- Consider seeing a naturopath, herbalist or acupuncturist.
- Check in on them.
- Have them let you know how they are doing.
Creative Work
- Be creative - drawing, painting, doodling, writing
- Draw it
- Find a creative project to do.
Social
- Stay connected with others socially.
- Find Support Groups - Facebook, Meetup, etc.
- Create your own support group.
Energy Work
- Reiki
- EMDR
- Create your own custom affirmations such as:
- I am here in my body and all is well.
- I am connected to Source energy at all times.
- There is time, space and resources for everything I want to do.
- I belong.
- I have what it takes.
- Cranial Sacral.
- Cut cords with anyone that you are connected with around the addiction.
Nature
Bring them into direct contact with nature
Spend more time with animals.
Perhaps a therapy dog or cat.
Color
Try visualizing different colors.
Crystals
Rose quartz crystal to carry or keep near bed, desk etc.
Black tourmaline also to dispel negative energy.
Encourage them to find a sacred object and imbue it with positive affirmation, such as a crystal or a deity.
Environment
A change of environment/ scenery and travel.
Nutrition / Supplements
Use Essential oils.
Service
Be of service.
Do something to help others (maybe grocery shopping, painting, cleaning, etc).
Volunteer.
Send love and light to others.
Ideas for Research and Projects
Do an Online version on zoom where people can come together for healing, fun and Spirit.
Volunteer Service