Soundscapes can reduce pain, promote wellness and reduce stress – but what are they?

Sounds can really affect how we feel. Think about that car alarm that won’t stop its repeated bleeping. Or next door’s renovation that means drilling, banging and men shouting all day. Now think about that song that always makes you cry, the pleasing way a perfect album blends together or a relaxing sound bath experience that calms you down.

Sounds can affect your mood, your wellbeing and can even boost your mental health. And that’s where soundscapes come in. A soundscape is an immersive sound experience. This could be listening to birdsong to help you calm down or chimes in the wind. And they can be hugely beneficial in terms of intentionally impacting your mood, mental health and outlook, according to research. 

“A soundscape is a combination of sounds and frequencies that create an auditory experience that mimics the acoustics of an environment,” says Kwasi Ritchie-Roux, co-founder of wellness brand Something Woo.

This can look like gentle music, the sound of a rainforest, whale calls or white noise, and they’re intentionally put together to evoke a feeling from the listener. Ritchie-Roux is also a sound healer and uses crystal bowls and chimes, alongside guided visualisation in her practice to help with feelings of calmness and clarity.  

Different soundscapes can bring different benefits depending on the person, the environment and what the soundscape is. “A soundscape shapes how we feel, think, and interact with the world around us,” Ritchie-Roux says. “Positive and well-designed soundscapes can be powerful tools to support mental health, stress management, healing, and overall wellbeing.” For example, they can support with mood, sleep, cognitive function, healing and rehabilitation.

They can assist with mental health and wellbeing, too. “Soundscapes are a powerful, non-invasive therapy tool for supporting people with anxiety or depression. By creating calming, emotionally supportive auditory environments, they help reduce symptoms, enhance emotional regulation, support better sleep and focus, and encourage mindfulness and rest,” she adds.

Soundscapes aren’t just helpful in terms of mental health benefits. Ritchie-Roux says she finds it helpful on a personal level for focus. She says: “I also find that it helps me with my ADHD. The frequencies and sounds help my mind to focus.”

Research found that sound baths can promote feelings of relaxation, deeper sleep, reduced stress levels and also a reduction in physical pain. While natural soundscapes have major benefits too: listening to sounds from natural parks can positively impact mental wellbeing. For example, a meta-analysis of 18 studies looked at the health benefits of natural sound, such as water sounds and bird songs. (Most of these studies took place in laboratories or hospital environments rather than out in nature, where wellness benefits tend to be greater in general.)

The studies found that these soundscapes contributed to decreased pain, lower stress, lower annoyance levels, improved mood and enhanced cognitive performance. The authors believe this is due to evolutionary factors – humans become more alert and stressed when they believe danger could be nearby, eg when natural sound is disrupted. 

Soundscapes come in all different forms. You could look into local sound baths, for example, which often go hand in hand with yoga practices. Or come and experience Something Woo’s soundscape this weekend at Stylist Live.

Alternatively, you can take part in ‘sound walks’, where you get out into nature and listen out for natural sounds – without your headphones in, of course. Take in the sounds of birds, wind and water to feel the benefits.

You can also listen to the sounds of nature or calming music from the comfort of your own home to feel the wellness benefits. 

Images: Getty