BAGHDAD- Yasmin Ahmed, a young Iraqi woman, used to live in the darkness, not only the darkness of the night scared her, but also the darkness of depression that overshadowed her life for years. Insomnia, fear of loneliness, hatred of life, and wishing for death to escape the torment were all feelings with which Yasmin describes her daily suffering.
When her therapist suggested that she take up music as a way out of this situation, she rejected the idea completely. “I considered it a kind of mockery of me or an attempt to keep me occupied with things that push me to overcome my state of depression and isolation,” Yasmine describes her initial reaction to Al Jazeera Net, as she had no desire to commit to the training dates at the music school, which she was supposed to attend three times a week, and she had no desire to commit to the training schedule.
But thanks to the encouragement of her older sister, who promised to accompany her and practice with her, she started attending regularly, gradually turning it into a form of entertainment.
For the first couple of months, she didn’t feel much of a change in her sleep pattern, which remained at two hours a day. However, her isolation gradually began to fade as she socialized with other music class participants and busied herself with looking at public places on the way back and forth.
The night is no longer accompanied by nightmares
Yasmin is no longer isolated and silent at night as she used to be, as she starts searching on her phone for ways to improve her playing, or playing on the small organ she bought, she says: “The night was no longer a nightmare for me, it was fun.”
This small step was the beginning of a radical change in her relationship with darkness and fear.
After four months of attending a music school in Baghdad and developing her skills significantly, Yasmin began to see life differently, “I started to see life as beautiful and have ambitions to improve.” Yasmin says she started going out regularly to attend music and art concerts and mingle with people, which clearly reflected on her psychological state.
The steady improvement allowed her to gradually reduce her sedative medications, stabilize her sleep and overcome the ordeal that had plagued her for more than five years, as she concludes her story: “I started to see that life is beautiful and worth giving it our best, and music is the beautiful face of this life.”
Yasmin Ahmed’s story is a testament to the power of art and music even in therapy, creating an invitation to think about alternative therapies and find the passion within us to overcome the most difficult challenges.
Music and art therapy is an unconventional method that is gaining increasing importance in the treatment of some psychological conditions. This type of therapy is often classified as a complementary therapy that supports basic therapies, as some centers for orphans and vulnerable groups incorporate it into their rehabilitation and psychological programs.
Tools for psychological recovery and emotional expression
Trainer Rana Jassim emphasized that music and art are vital non-verbal means of expression that enable individuals to safely release their repressed feelings, stressing that art and music therapy plays a complementary and profound role in the psychological healing process and is used in many modern psychotherapy programs.
Jassim told Al Jazeera Net that many people who have been traumatized or suffer from emotional disorders find it difficult to express their feelings in words, and this is where the importance of art and music comes into play.
“Art and music work through multiple psychological mechanisms that contribute to emotional discharge and emotional regulation, as well as encourage integration into the moment and retelling of the experience, all of which make them powerful therapeutic tools to confront psychological pressure and painful feelings,” she explained.
She also said that music therapy is an effective tool in supporting individuals who have experienced psychological trauma, as it plays an important role in reconnecting with the self and alleviating psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression, and contributes to building a sense of control, promoting relaxation and neuroregulation, and opening channels of expression.
As for the social perception of this type of therapy, Jassim explained that the adoption of these therapies may face challenges such as lack of knowledge, misconceptions or social stigma, recognizing that new therapies need strong evidence based on scientific research to prove their effectiveness and safety before they can be widely adopted.
Jassim emphasized that art and music also contribute to the development of skills, self-confidence, and a sense of community through group art events and can be used to celebrate identity and culture.
A holistic therapeutic approach
For his part, neuropsychiatrist Dr. Abbas Juma Hamdan Al-Sudani stressed that art and music therapy is an approved and effective method that relies on artistic media as a means of expressing feelings and psychological conflicts, under the supervision of a qualified and specialized therapist, under the supervision of a qualified and specialized therapist.
Sudani told Al Jazeera Net that this type of therapy does not require prior artistic skills, and aims mainly at self-discovery and improving psychological and social adaptation, adding: “The goal is not to produce a beautiful work of art, but rather psychological transformation.” This therapy is used with individuals or groups in a variety of contexts including addiction, autism, depression, trauma, and others.
When is art helpful and when should we be cautious?
Al-Sudani emphasized that many psychological conditions particularly benefit from art and music therapy, including:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression and anxiety
- Autism and developmental disorders
- Eating disorders
- Addiction and rehabilitation
- Schizophrenia and psychotic disorders (in stable stages)
- Elderly and dementia patients
However, Sudani cautioned that there are cases where this type of treatment is not recommended or should be used with extreme caution, such as:
- Acute psychotic episodes
- Acute dissociative disorders
- Uncontrolled violent behavioral disorders
- If the patient refuses treatment
Conditions for successful music and art therapy
To get the most out of art and music therapy, Al Sudani emphasized the importance of several key conditions:
- Supervision by a qualified and certified professional to ensure that the therapy is applied effectively and safely.
- Choose the appropriate media according to the patient’s age and condition.
- Provide a safe and supportive environment that is free from prejudice.
- Integration within a comprehensive treatment plan that does not separate from psychiatric or pharmacological treatment when needed.
On integrating art and music therapy into a comprehensive treatment plan, the neuropsychologist explained that it starts with an initial multidisciplinary assessment, followed by setting clear therapeutic goals, choosing the appropriate type of creative therapy for each case, coordinating sessions with other therapies, and continuous follow-up and evaluation.
Independent therapy and qualifications
Sudani noted that in some mild or preventive cases, such as mild anxiety, art and music therapy can be the only treatment.
He emphasized that the practice of this therapy requires high ethical sensitivity, full commitment to the patient’s dignity and privacy, informed and ongoing consent, and clarity on the limits of the therapeutic role.
Regarding the qualifications of therapists, the psychotherapist and neurologist stressed that a therapist who uses music or art as a therapeutic medium needs additional specialized training, combining psychological expertise and technical skills within a scientific and systematic framework, adding that “this is an independent discipline that has academic and professional recognition in several countries.”
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2025-06-03 12:32:00
