Psychological Effects: Depression, Psychotherapy,
Other Career Choices
When an injured pianist is told by the doctors to stop playing for a period of time as a part of the treatment depression can easily follow this "painful" prescription. The pianist develops doubts and worries about whether he or she will be able to play the piano again, or if he will be able to play as well as before. The self-esteem faces a great challenge so that in some cases it may disappear completely. Withdrawal from playing is like a temporary separation or divorce. The reasoning behind this thought is that the musician identifies the instrument as an extension of himself. Although the instrument is only a tool, it symbolizes much more for a musician.
Psychotherapy at this point is a very important aspect of Performing Arts Medicine because of this closeness of body and mind and body with feelings. At a stage of depression one would have a great deal of benefit visiting a psychotherapist, or psychiatrist depending on the severity of the depression. In cases where a pianist is never able to play again a counselor can help in choosing another career. The career is chosen based on the personality types and the similarities between music and other careers. Based on the theories of the psychologist Carl Jung, the Myers-Briggs type indicator divides people as follows:
| Extraversion: Outer focus | or | Introversion: Inner focus | Sensing: Realistic focus | or | Intuitive: Imaginative focus | Thinking: Objective focus | or | Feeling: Sympathetic focus | Judging: Planning focus | or | Perceptive: Improvising focus |
"Each person will have a natural preference for one or the other function. Thus, though able to use both (e. g. Thinking and Feeling), they will tend to make use of the weaker function less often or less naturally than the stronger or preferred function." Jonas Sen 76
The personality type of an average musician is classified as extravert, intuitive, judging and feeling. Although each musician is tested individually in order to find the best suitable career for his personality, the similar characteristics stated above are found in the following groups:
- The Clergy
- Health teachers
- Actors
- Writers
- Painters
- Composers
- Counselors
Jonas Sen Chapter 3, Other Career Choices
Most musicians are sensitive human beings and for this reason an emotional turmoil can be very crucial for their well being. Unfortunately this has been a price that artists have paid through centuries now. But as medicine and psychology improve it has become easier to seek help and find it!
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