In view of this following letter from a Staff Sergeant in the army's operational command, the Danish military psychologists became interested in music's potential in relation to recovery and preventive abilities in connection with the soldiers mental health and problems they incurs in war zones where they are stationed.
The Staff Sergeant writes:
I have worked for the Danish defence forces since 1987 and am currently a Staff Sergeant working at the Army Operational Command in Denmark.
After being stationed in Bosnia in 1994 where I was involved in direct battle action, I have since been diagnosed as suffering from post-traumatic stress.
This came to expression quite dramatically six years after the event. I was suddenly overcome by severe anxiety attacks, and have subsequently had long periods of illness. I have received help from a psychologist and been given tools that make life bearable again today.
One day while I was waiting to see the psychologist, I read an article in a journal that made reference to MusiCure, and I simply had to try it out to see if it could give me peace again and enable me to feel relaxed. The answer is yes! In fact with quite dramatic effect, and I’d spent so much money on treatment and medication, where nothing else has had a better impact than this form of music.
I’m not the only one today who suffers psychological after effects from being deployed in a battle region. There are several thousand of us, who in recent years have been present in places that are not human or natural for people from our culture to be in.
I therefore hope to be able to spread my knowledge of the music, and I am happy to provide details of my experience in using the music and the concept.
After being stationed in Bosnia in 1994 where I was involved in direct battle action, I have since been diagnosed as suffering from post-traumatic stress.
This came to expression quite dramatically six years after the event. I was suddenly overcome by severe anxiety attacks, and have subsequently had long periods of illness. I have received help from a psychologist and been given tools that make life bearable again today.
One day while I was waiting to see the psychologist, I read an article in a journal that made reference to MusiCure, and I simply had to try it out to see if it could give me peace again and enable me to feel relaxed. The answer is yes! In fact with quite dramatic effect, and I’d spent so much money on treatment and medication, where nothing else has had a better impact than this form of music.
I’m not the only one today who suffers psychological after effects from being deployed in a battle region. There are several thousand of us, who in recent years have been present in places that are not human or natural for people from our culture to be in.
I therefore hope to be able to spread my knowledge of the music, and I am happy to provide details of my experience in using the music and the concept.
In subsequent meetings with representatives from the Department of Military Psychology at the DefenseAcademy, it was within the military decided to test the music, and specifically test its positive deterrent effect. Excerpt from press release issued by the DefenseAcademy in 2005:
"Music to help stressed soldiers"
The soldiers in Iraq and Kosovo will be taking a new ‘weapon’ in use. Music and a relaxation pillow with build in speakers shall help them to calm down in a hectic day.
The soldiers in Iraq and Kosovo will be taking a new ‘weapon’ in use. Music and a relaxation pillow with build in speakers shall help them to calm down in a hectic day.
Music as therapy
The right kind of music can be relaxing for patients and help them recover. At Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen this as proved to be true, and now the military also takes up the idea for the soldiers.
The right kind of music can be relaxing for patients and help them recover. At Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen this as proved to be true, and now the military also takes up the idea for the soldiers.
The Department of Military Psychology has now as an experiment decided to send the music and relaxation pillows down to soldiers in Iraq and Kosovo.
“We will try to see if it is a good offer to the soldiers, and a tool which may help them to counter stress” says Colonel Henrik Lundstein, who is head of the Faculty of Military Psychology, Leadership and Pedagogy at the DefenseAcademy.
It is the research group Musica Humana and composer Niels Eje who is behind the music and the relaxation pillow. The music is called MusiCure. Niels Eje contacted the DefenseAcademy, because he believed that music could help the soldiers in stressful situations and perhaps prevent further mental disorders. The Department of Military Psychology has looked at the documentation and tested audio pillow.
Source: Articles in Danish newspaper
Musik kurerede Klaus traumer Kristeligt Dagblad, af journalist Nanna Schelde
Soldaten og Stress Jyllandsposten, af Lisbeth Scharling