Music Therapy Today - World Federation of Music Therapy

Horesh, T. (2006) “Music is My Whole Life” - The many meanings of music in addicts’ lives. Music Therapy Today
(Online) Vol.VII (2) 291-317. available at http://musictherapyworld.net
on the phone and tell him to put a song on…I would listen to the
song over the phone…”
In Zohar’s case, the music wasn’t a drug substitute – because he had
access to drugs in jail. But, as he said of himself: ”it doesn’t always mat-
ter what music – but I need it . Music is one of the obsessions I haven’t
overcome”. It seems that the music fulfilled needs over and beyond what
the drugs could do – perhaps distraction, filling an emotional void, calm-
ing…LikeYelena, he manipulated his way to get what he needed – char-
acteristic behavior of addicts
Nahum:”You're asking how music and drugs are connected? Why
you need the music? So as not to be alone. I want to be alone, but
my soul is crying out, I can’t understand whats going on with me,
I don’t want to be like this. At first the drugs were for fun, but
then they became a need, a very very deep physical and spiritual
need. An almost total lack of ability to function in all parts of my
life…but I didn’t want to see it. So...the music comes, doesn’t
matter what you listen to….it was a very strong dependence”
Lehtonan (2002) suggests that music seems to create a symbolic distance
between the individual and his traumatic experiences… probably because
of music's "ability" to act as a transitional phenomenon, where by listen-
ing to music one can safely and without anguish work through his feel-
ings. He quotes Racker (1951) who described the qualities of music as a
transitional phenomenon. Music can protect an individual against
unpleasant feelings and yet, at the same time, give psychic strength to
face and overcome them. Music can also be used in frightening and
unpleasant situations, for instance, against silence representing loneli-
ness. Music can function like a "mirror" where the listener sees himself
and his inner, incoherent feelings and experiences – in an integrated state.
As Nahum concludes:” I would sit and really listen to the music,
and try to see where I was and what I was doing with my life”
1. for drug abuse during service.
Functions of music in addiction 309