Why Music Can Heal You… or Keep You Stuck

In this episode, we dive into the science and soul of music as a healing tool. What starts as a curiosity about goosebumps from music (aka frisson) turns into a deeper conversation about the nervous system, memory, and how sound can both regulate you or keep you stuck. We explore how music is stored in the brain, why certain songs bring you back to specific moments in your life, and how your body responds to rhythm on a physiological level. This is a conversation about how music interacts with your nervous system — and how to use it intentionally as part of your healing process.In this episode:What frisson is and why some people experience goosebumps from musicThe connection between frisson, HRV, and nervous system regulationWhy feeling “stuck” can limit access to pleasure and emotional experiencesHow music is stored in the brain through the hippocampus (memory) and amygdala (emotion)Autobiographical memory recall — why music brings you back to past versions of yourselfThe “good” side of music: regulation, connection, and emotional accessThe “not-so-helpful” side: how music can reinforce stress, heartbreak, or old patternsWhat an amygdala hijack is and how music can trigger itHow music therapy is used to retrain emotional responses in the brainRhythmic entrainment and how your body syncs to soundMusic in neurological rehab (Parkinson’s, stroke, speech, and movement)Osteopathic principles and the body’s inherent rhythmFrequency healing — what the research says vs. what we assumeBinaural beats, low-frequency vibration, and nervous system effectsWhy music is not passive — it’s something your body is constantly responding toIf this episode resonated, share it with someone who might need it.Continue the conversation on Instagram: @alannacrawford_