How Sound Therapy Helps Anxiety and Depression by Regulating the Nervous System

As a dietitian, somatic therapist, and sound therapist, I see anxiety and depression differently to how they are often described. They are not problems of weak thinking or lack of motivation. They are expressions of a nervous system that has been under prolonged stress and has lost its capacity to regulate.

Many of the people I work with have tried everything. Talking therapy, mindset work, medication, supplements, lifestyle changes. They understand what is happening intellectually, yet their body still feels tense, flat, overwhelmed, or disconnected. This is because anxiety and depression live in the body and nervous system, not just in the mind.

Sound therapy works because it meets the body where it is.

Anxiety and depression are nervous system states

• Anxiety reflects a nervous system stuck in chronic activation. The body is in fight or flight. Thoughts race, sleep is disrupted, muscles hold tension, digestion is affected, and the system struggles to settle.
• Depression often reflects the opposite pattern. The nervous system has shifted into shutdown. Energy drops, emotions feel dulled, motivation disappears, and the body feels heavy or disconnected.

Both states are forms of dysregulation. Until the nervous system feels safe enough to move out of survival mode, symptoms tend to persist regardless of how much insight someone has.

How sound therapy works with the body

Sound therapy works directly with the autonomic nervous system through frequency, vibration, and rhythm. The body does not need to analyse or understand sound. It responds instinctively.

Specific frequencies help slow brain activity, regulate breathing, soften muscle tension, and send signals of safety to the nervous system. When the body begins to feel safe, it can finally release patterns of stress that have been held beneath conscious awareness.

In my practice, I see sound therapy gently guide the nervous system out of chronic fight flight or shutdown and back toward balance. From this place, anxiety settles and depressive states begin to lift without force.

Why sound therapy feels safe and accessible

Many people with anxiety or depression feel exhausted by having to explain themselves or revisit painful experiences. Sound therapy offers a non verbal, non invasive pathway into healing.

There is no pressure to talk, perform, or relive past events. The body is supported to unwind at its own pace. This makes sound therapy particularly helpful for people who feel burnt out, emotionally overloaded, or disconnected from their body.

Sound creates a felt sense of safety. From this state, the nervous system can begin to reorganise naturally.

Emotional release without re activation

As a somatic therapist, I am deeply mindful of how easily healing approaches can overwhelm a sensitive nervous system. Sound therapy supports emotional release without forcing recall or re exposure.

As the nervous system settles, emotions that have been held down or held tight can soften and move through in a contained and supported way. Clients often describe feeling calmer, lighter, clearer, and more connected to themselves after sessions.

Supporting lasting change through integration

Sound therapy is not a quick fix. In my work, it is part of an integrative approach that includes somatic therapy, nutritional therapy, and lifestyle support.

As a dietitian, I also address the physiological foundations of nervous system health, including blood sugar balance, nutrient status, inflammation, and gut brain communication. When the body is nourished and the nervous system is supported, healing becomes far more sustainable.

Over time, clients often notice:

• Reduced anxiety and emotional reactivity
• Improved mood and energy
• Better sleep and digestion
• Increased resilience and clarity
• A stronger sense of connection to self

A different way to heal anxiety and depression

Sound therapy offers a gentle, effective, body led way to support anxiety and depression by working with the nervous system rather than trying to override it.

If you feel stuck despite understanding your symptoms, it may be time to support your body, not just your mind.

If you are ready to explore this approach, you are welcome to book a session and begin your healing in a way that feels safe, grounded, and supportive.

Sending love,
Anca Vereen
Somatic Therapist, Sound Therapist, Integrative Dietitian