There are many ways of healing from abuse. I have been writing about "reading and writing" as healing before but another important part plays music.

Well in alternative medicines like shamanism it is long known that the vibrations of music have a healing effect on body and soul. Therefore shamans would use drumming or chanting as healing methods. 

I have always found that singing feels very good. I started singing in choirs as a child and I am sure that is one reason that kept me sane. Later on I used the music of Beth Nielsen-Chapman or Loreena McKennit for dancing. Not anything choreopgraphed just dancing around in my living-room, which gave me much needed relaxation as well as giving my inner child some attention. 

Lately I have started blogging about songs that deal with abuse and I called Aerosmiths "Janie got a gun" my hymne. I heard the song for the first time about 20 years ago when I had the first flashback memories of the abuse. The song just catched me and then I thought "I wish I had shot him!" Well I am not a believer of revenge nor healing through violent acts but this thought and feeling was a kind of catalysm for the anger that I felt about being helpless and used by a close family member. Just to start expressing that anger helped me to start to deal with it. 

Music is a special language that speaks to the subconscious mind and often is the first reminder for survivors that the abuse or rape really has happend. But it is also soothing and calming. So often when I have had a panic attack I just managed to switch on meditative music or again Loreena McKennit and it helped me through.  

These are just some examples of how music is an important component of healing from abuse. I am sure there is scientific research into this as well but I just want to show my personell experience. And I am also sure that many others experienced it the same way!