Major points of this paper were presented by the composer in the Clinical Practice Forum at the 2005 American Music Therapy Association Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Introduction:

Composer Chuck Wild is a longtime advocate of using slow music in healing settings. The Liquid Mind series evolved as a vital part of the composer’s own successful healing from anxiety and panic disorder, brought on by long hours working in network television, as well as the grief of losing dozens of friends to HIV and cancer in a few short years in the 1980s. Wild resolved in 1988 to create his own brand of ultra-slow, “zero beat” music, enabling him to relax deeply during that stressful period, and he has been sharing this music with others in need of relaxation for 17 years.

The Development of the Liquid Mind Music:

At the time of onset of my anxiety symptoms in 1987, I felt heightened sensitivity to sound, light, motion, volume, and aural activity. My response was to isolate. Many of the symptoms of classic anxiety were present (nervousness, ringing in the ears, muscle tension, rapid pulse, rapid breathing). My search for prerecorded extremely slow, deeply relaxing music yielded very few results, so a counselor suggested I compose music that reflected the way I would like to feel.

I designed Liquid Mind to facilitate my own healing regimen with no reliance on pharmaceuticals. My requirements were that the music be slow in tempo, full harmonically, more or less continuous, somewhat frequency restricted, atmospheric (did not attract too much attention to itself), and emotionally rich. Of all these elements, the most important was that the compositions be unrushed, at a very slow tempo, without discernible meter.

My Outcome: Using slow music (rather than medication), I felt an increased sense of control, confidence, focus, and mobility, as I gathered the tools for a healthier and saner life. Episodes of anxiety, panic and overwhelm became less and less frequent. A growing sense of independence and working hard at my healing regimen helped to restore my sense of “having a life”, and assisted me in the re-socialization process.

Practical Suggestions for Using Ultra Slow Liquid Mind Music with Patients:

(1) Setting the tone for the day: I found “structure” in my life to be very conducive to my healing... part of that structure was setting aside the first hour of the day to honor my healing, spending this time in contemplation, meditation, prayer, and exercise. I played an hour-long program of Liquid Mind in the background of this morning activity. The music helped to formalize my healing structure and to maintain a state of relaxation.

(2) Setting the stage for a good night’s sleep: In similar fashion to (1) above, I established a pre-sleep regimen of turning down the lights throughout the house 15 to 30 minutes before bed time, and turning on Liquid Mind, to set the tone for winding down my day. I used positive suggestion and contemplation to “let go” of the activities of the day. Once again, the music served to give aural form to my structure.

(3) Changing the atmosphere in my living and working areas: Especially in the earlier days of frequent anxiety/panic attacks, I played Liquid Mind very quietly in the background, throughout my house, continuously during my waking hours. It was the soundtrack of my life for a number of months while I worked to understand and resolve the issues underlying the anxiety.

(4) Crisis Times: During episodes of anxiety and confusion, I learned to use Liquid Mind as a trigger to enable me to sit quietly, and meditate.... to “walk through” the anxiety, while I was working to understand and resolve the underlying causative issues.

(5) Outings: I used the music in headphones with a portable player, especially in outings to public places early on in my healing.

Conclusion:

While I make no scientific claims for my Liquid Mind music, in my own experience, this slow, sedative music can be a useful and reliable tool to assist in deep relaxation, and can support healing from anxiety disorder.

Chuck Wild’s experience as a songwriter, composer, sound designer and synthesist spans three decades, including writing over 125 songs and compositions used in dozens of television shows, several films, and many albums for other artists. Liquid Mind VII: Reflection won the Coalition of Visionary Resources Award for Best Meditation/Healing Music album of 2005. A Chuck Wild records artist, Mr. Wild makes his home in Los Angeles, California.

Note: This article is based on the experience and opinions of the author, and is in no way a substitute for consulting appropriate medical practitioners. ©2005-2021 Chuck Wild, Los Angeles, CA, USA

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