EDM as an Everyday Mental Health Tool for Veterans
We get that festivals offer immersive experiences, but electronic dance music (EDM) doesn’t have to be reserved for those big weekends. For many of us, EDM can function as a daily tool for emotional regulation, grounding, and cognitive support—offering rhythm-based healing during everyday moments like commuting, working out, or preparing for sleep.
Drawing on principles from neurologic music therapy, vibroacoustic stimulation, and trauma-informed care, EDM’s structure—repetitive beats, layered rhythms, and modulated frequencies—can positively affect the brain and nervous system when used with an intention (1–4).
Reminder on Frequencies & Mental Health Benefits
In previous blog posts we explored how specific frequency bands in EDM interact with the nervous system:
5–15 Hz for deep relaxation and sleep prep
20–40 Hz for sensory grounding and vagal regulation
30–40 Hz for cognitive clarity and gamma wave entrainment
These ranges have been linked to improvements in emotional processing, sleep, focus, and trauma recovery (1,3,5–7). For veterans, this offers an easy-to-access, non-stigmatizing self-regulation tool grounded in both science and creative expression.
How you can intentionally use EDM in your daily routine
• Morning Boost
Try starting the day with melodic, uplifting house or progressive electronic music (e.g., Lane 8, ODESZA). Upbeat rhythms can stimulate dopamine release and energize the body without overstimulation (2,4).
• Midday Reset
Use low-frequency bass-driven tracks (20–40 Hz) to ground yourself during emotionally taxing or overstimulating moments. Check out Tipper or Liquid Stranger for some of their tracks. These sounds can help realign somatic awareness and stabilize focus (3,6).
• Pre-Sleep Relaxation
When it’s time to wind down, switch to ambient or chillstep tracks with slower tempos and lower frequencies. These sonic environments can encourage theta or delta wave states while promoting rest and parasympathetic nervous system activation (1,5).
Conclusion
EDM shouldn’t be limited to dance floors or festivals—it can be a neurosensory tool that we can incorporate into our daily lives. When paired with intention, certain tracks can promote emotional expression, reduce the intensity of PTSD symptoms, and give a sense of agency over the body and mind. Through education and trauma-informed frameworks, Veterans Exploring Dance & Music (VEDM) hopes to expand access to these healing sounds—both on and off the stage.
References
Bartel L, Mosabbir A. Possible mechanisms for the effects of sound vibration on human health. Healthcare. 2021;9(4):1–19.
Altenmüller E, Schlaug G. Neurologic music therapy: From basic research to clinical practice. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2015;1337:257–64.
López-Medina IM, Castillo-Paredes A. Whole-body vibration therapy for neurorehabilitation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. NeuroRehabilitation. 2023;52(4):657–70.
Van der Kolk B. The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. New York: Penguin Books; 2015.
Ganesan K, Acharya H, Mooventhan A. Vibroacoustic therapy: A narrative review and its future perspectives. Int J Yoga. 2021;14(1):47–55.
Porges SW. The pocket guide to the polyvagal theory: The transformative power of feeling safe. New York: W. W. Norton & Company; 2017.
Solberg RT, Taylor R. Electronic dance music (EDM) as a tool for stress reduction: Impacts of rhythmic synchronization and bass frequencies on emotional processing. Front Psychol. 2022;13:823456.
