Ever experienced a time where you felt down and the only thing that helped you through those hard times was music? We can all identify! Many of us use music to relax and sooth during stressful situations, and to make us feel like we’re not alone. Now it is apparent in a new clinical trial that people with chronic depression or pain can use music to relieve those feelings of disability.

Nursing researchers from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Case Western Reserve University in Ohio studied 60 volunteers suffering long-term pain from conditions such as arthritis or spinal disc disorders, and depression.

The 40 people who were able to listen to their own favorite music an hour a day for a week described a decrease in pain by 12 to 21 percent, a decline in depression by 19 to 25 percent, and indicated they felt 9 to 18 percent less disabled and 5 to 8 percent more in charge of their pain when compared to the control group.

So the next time you’re a little sad or encounter ongoing pain keep your Ipod close at hand or your stereo ready to play – music can really benefit your health. And you have a great excuse too (when your parents/roomate tell you to turn the music down.)