Silence comes from the Latin word for the absence of noise. Silence as therapy can be truly healing.
As far back as we can remember, the concept of silence has always been important. For example, in classical philosophy, several thinkers preferred silence to speech. This was the case for the Stoic school.
Sometimes, talking about an issue can wear us down. For that reason, it’s better to stay silent. When we’re silent, we can keep things private that we don’t want others to know about because they may judge us.
However, every day it becomes more and more difficult to find a nice, silent environment. We’re surrounded by technological devices, noise in the streets, noise pollution and other things. All this prevents our brains from being able to rest and take a moment for ourselves.
Silence as therapy and the dangers of noise
What is silence good for? Why is it important and why do so many people flock to the outskirts of the city every day in search of peace and quiet?
First, it’s worth noting that the World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that a large part of the population is exposed to potentially harmful noise levels.
The figures WHO arrived at are staggering. By 2030, they assume that more than 500 million people will suffer from hearing problems.
Second, it’s important to mention that the brain needs silence to make decisions and to feel calm. That’s because noise activates our fight or flight mechanisms in the brain, which produces stress.
Benefits of Silence
When the noises around us are very loud, our cortisol and blood pressure levels increase. This can trigger an episode of chronic stress. Therefore, it’s important to remember the benefits that silence can bring. With silence therapy, we can:
- Reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases
- Children can experience less stress and learn faster.
- Reduce anxiety and depression levels in adults.
- Sleep peacefully and with less difficulty.
These benefits of silence are scientifically proven, so there’s no question that you should start taking a few minutes out of your day to relax in silence and enjoy the benefits of doing so.
A study confirms the benefits of silence
In 2006, a doctor and musician named Luciano Bernardi conducted important research that shed more light on the importance of silence.
In this study, Dr. Bernardi analyzed the relationship between the effects of music, the circulatory system, and the brain. In his findings, he learned that the brain’s stress levels decreased during the breaks between songs.
This confirms the notion that we should start using silence as therapy as a way to relax and live with less anxiety.
How can silence help us?
If you’re wondering how you can incorporate more silence into your life, start by trying to find a relaxing, quiet place. Then, start some routines that will help you connect with yourself, like meditation.
When we meditate, our stress levels decrease. Also, there are other benefits of silence at a psychological level since it also improves our quality of sleep, improves our memory, relaxes the mind, and decreases muscle tension, among other things.
By meditating, we can experience the therapeutic scope of silence, among other benefits. These include the regeneration of neurons, something that many people doubted until now.
In cities, it may be difficult to find a minute to relax, especially since traffic creates noise all around us. However, there are other forms of escape that could work. That’s why so many people prefer to vacation in places far from the city.
Some recommendations
Follow these suggestions so that you can live your life with a little more peace of mind:
- Enjoy breakfast. It’s the first meal of the day and you deserve to enjoy it without having to think about any problems in your life, or about what you have to do after you leave home. Just enjoy the moment.
- Practice breathing exercises. You can do this in the office or anywhere else. Just focus on your breathing and it will make the sounds around you slow down.
- Find peaceful places. Sometimes, you can find them inside the city, but we may not notice them because of the constant hustle and bustle. Try out some churches, squares, or parks. These are places where you can distance yourself from all the noise for a few minutes, and let your brain rest. In addition, try some activities that will help you feel calm.
- Disconnect from the outside world for a second. This means not answering messages, phone calls, or attending to any of your obligations. nomophobia that so many people suffer from and turn off your phone. Those minutes alone will really help you.
If you try these tips out, you’ll be able to connect with yourself and enjoy the true essence of silence as therapy. Keep them in mind from now on!
