How Joining a Choir Can Help Your Mental Health

Lady smiling and singing

How Joining a Choir Can Help Your Mental Health

Joining a choir comes with many physical and mental benefits. It’s pretty common knowledge that singing produces endorphins (the feel-good hormones) that make you feel happy and content, but are you aware of the other mental health benefits that joining a choir can give you, too?

A lot of people struggle with their mental health, and it is becoming more and more common for people to seek out alternative ways to combat these negative thoughts and feelings. Joining a choir could help you to feel happier, more confident and less stressed. Even though stepping out of your comfort zone isn’t usually easy, it doesn’t have to be a battle and you will probably find that you really enjoy it.

When joining a choir, you have to remember that you are not alone and that other members may be going through the same situation as yourself. However, this probably won’t be your first thought anyway because singing in a choir is fun, lighthearted and easy – making members feel care-free and relaxed. If you want to find out more on how singing in a choir can help improve your mental health, please keep reading.

It makes you more sociable. 

One of the common issues people face when they are struggling with their mental health is that they isolate themselves, and try to stay as far away from human contact as possible. In order to improve your happiness, you need to get out there and socialise. When you’re going through a rough patch you may not want to be quizzed by family members or friends on how you are doing. Well, by joining a choir you get to enjoy the benefits of being surrounded by smiley faces without worrying that you are being judged or watched, or feel under pressure to behave in a certain way. In a sense you get a completely fresh slate with new, like-minded people. It is also a great way to ease back into socialising. As the sessions are weekly, it won’t be too overwhelming.

You may be nervous that all eyes will be on you, or that you won’t fit in. You may even be doubting if your voice is good enough to be part of a choir. At Cheshire Pop Choirs, we are all extremely supportive and never make people feel uncomfortable. We are made up of both men and women of a variety of ages and backgrounds, and lastly, we don’t have auditions – all you need is a love of music! The group of people that you will come across will be so varied in appearance, personality and even voice, that comparing yourself to them will most likely not even cross your mind. Not only that, but as there could be so many different ages attending, you might even find yourself making friends with younger or older members. 

Being a member of our choir is a great way to make friends. You are all there for the same reason, to sing and have fun! So, even though the thought of making friends at this moment in time may be scary, if you’re in a choir, it’s hard not to walk away without a new supportive friend circle.

It helps you to find a purpose.

Many people battling with their mental health feel that they are a little lost. If you were to join a choir, as all already-existing members typically say, you become part of one big family. Everybody in the room is there for the same reasons; to have fun, but also, to belong to something bigger than themselves. You can find yourself looking forward to contributing your voice to songs, and it can help you to realise that you really do matter!

When you join a choir, every member is treated with the same respect and kindness, and in time, you will realise that you being there has made a difference to a large group of people. This can also help with your confidence; especially if you often doubt your own abilities because in no time at all, you will be cheered on and seen as a important member of the group. We believe that every one of our members add something unique to our music!

It stops you from overthinking and being bored.

The benefits don’t just end in the room where you and your choir members practise, but at home, you can see improvements because of it, too. How many times do you find yourself bored in your room? How many times a day are you left with just your thoughts to tackle? Joining a choir means that you always have something to do. You can practise your songs whenever and wherever you want. You could even use it as a coping mechanism; if you find yourself getting anxious or low, just sing your favourite choir song, and soon enough, you will have forgotten your negative thoughts and focused on the lyrics or pitch of your voice.

Lastly, the most apparent benefit we will address is simply getting out of the house. If you are in an ongoing battle with your mind, staying indoors every day is only going to make you feel worse. Even though you can practise your singing at home once you have joined a choir, you need to actually leave the house in the first place to join. Being stuck indoors 24/7 is very unhealthy, so having a reason to leave the house can really improve your mental and physical health. 

Have we not convinced you to join yet? If you’re struggling with your mental health, joining a choir has been scientifically proven to help people to recover. Researcher Tom Shakespeare says “It’s a low-commitment, low-cost tool for mental health recovery within the community” because it gives participants a feeling of belonging and wellbeing.”

If you’re still toying with the idea, why not try a taster session? Attend one of our Cheshire Pop Choirs rehearsals and see how it makes you feel afterwards. The first step is leaving the house, and then all there’s left to do is reap the benefits.

If you are still feeling anxious, message us on Facebook and speak to one of our lovely teachers. They are more than happy to give you some more information about the structure of our sessions to put your mind at rest, and offer you the support you need to come along.

For more information on Cheshire Pop Choirs or to enquire about joining, head over to our website.

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