Carolina Music Therapy, LLC: Alison Hughey, MT-BC

09/12/2026

This was one of my favorite Remedy Room segments to share!!

09/12/2026

Frequency is fascinating!

During the day, waste products such as lactic acid and worn-out proteins build up in the brain. When we sleep at night, waves of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) help to wash away this waste, keeping the brain healthy.

In a new study, MIT researchers have shown that they can strengthen these CSF waves through exposure to short bursts of a gentle, staticky sound known as “pink noise” during sleep. https://news.mit.edu/2026/pink-noise-burst-may-mean-more-restorative-sleep-0909

09/12/2026

Navigating Alzheimer's disease or dementia can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to do it alone.

Join us for a free, four-part series designed to help caregivers, family members and community members better understand dementia and the resources available. An informal drop-in Q&A session will also provide an opportunity to connect with experts and ask questions.

We hope you'll join us and share this resource with someone who may benefit.

What You Need to Know About Dementia Series: (all classes 5:30–7 p.m.)

Thursday, Oct. 1 – Dementia 101
Thursday, Oct. 8 – Behaviors: Why Do They Happen and How to Manage Them
Thursday, Oct. 15 – Being a Caregiver
Thursday, Oct. 22 – Legal Things to Know

255 Enterprise Blvd., Greenville
Conference Room A (enter at the white awning)

09/12/2026

Together, we rise. 💛

Join us for Recovery & Resilience, a FREE community celebration honoring recovery—and the people who make it possible—as Spartanburg County becomes a recovery-ready community.

Enjoy food, live music, family-friendly activities, arts and crafts, a remembrance vigil, an award ceremony, and more!

📅 Friday, September 18 | 5–8 PM
📍 Cleveland Park
141 N. Cleveland Drive, Spartanburg, SC

Everyone is welcome. Bring your family and friends as we celebrate hope, healing, and the strength of community!

09/12/2026

One of the best descriptions of autistic burnout I have come across - unfortunately I do not know who wrote this.

09/09/2026

09/09/2026

🎶 The biological music box

Singing creates a neurochemical profile in the human brain that's hard to get any other way. When we raise our voices, the brain releases endorphins, oxytocin, and dopamine all at the same time. This combination lifts mood, cuts pain, and builds social connection. Most activities trigger one or two of these chemicals. Singing hits all three, turning the vocal cords into a natural pharmacy.

🏛️ From ancient rituals to modern labs

Long before modern science could map neural pathways, ancient civilizations already knew that song could heal. Healers across many cultures used chanting and melody to treat conditions from melancholy to physical injury. Researchers today are confirming what those cultures practiced. Studies show that even a short bout of singing can drop cortisol, the main stress hormone, and boost antibody production to strengthen immune function.

🤝 The collective resonance

Group singing, in a choir or any communal gathering, makes these effects much stronger. Something called physiological synchrony kicks in, and the heart rates and breathing patterns of the singers start to fall into step.

* Oxytocin spikes during group singing, building trust and lowering social anxiety.
* Matching voices creates a strong sense of shared identity and belonging.
* Participants often describe a natural high that outlasts the song itself.

🧠 A workout for the mind

Singing also works the body and the brain in ways most people overlook. It takes tight coordination between the lungs, the vocal cords, and several brain regions that handle memory and motor control. That kind of mental exercise pays off as people get older. Regular singing has been tied to sharper concentration, stronger memory, and a lower risk of depression. Cheap, accessible, and surprisingly thorough, singing works as a real tool for staying well over a lifetime.

Facts checked by

Sources:
Imperfect Harmony by Stacy Horn
The Journal of Behavioral Medicine
University of Oxford Social and Evolutionary Neuroscience Research Group