Posted: 2024-11-29 20:51:16

Georgia vividly remembers the night she had her first seizure.

She was 10 years old and staying with her grandparents. 

"I went to bed feeling stressed and anxious … I felt like something bad was going to happen to my grandparents," she said.

This seizure was not a one-off, and Georgia was soon diagnosed with epilepsy.

Data from Epilepsy Action Australia estimates about 800,000 Australians will develop the condition in their lifetime, and one in three will not gain seizure control with medication.

It has been a "long and stressful" seven years, but Georgia said she considered herself "one of the lucky ones".

Thanks to a small dose of daily medication and stress-relieving hobbies, including music, the now-17-year-old is seizure-free.

"Music is like therapy for me, because if I went to bed stressed, there was more likely a chance of me having a seizure," she said.

"Music is something that calms me down."

Georgia standing in front of a wall smiling holding a wireless microphone. She is wearing a green top.

Georgia loves performing and you will often find her singing on a stage with her band. (ABC News: Amber Irving-Guthrie)

Georgia's use of music to help reduce the frequency of seizures is not uncommon, according to registered music therapist Adie Perry.

"Music is a very calming presence on people who experience epileptic seizures and helps regulate their nervous system," Ms Perry said.

 "It's not necessarily going to prevent a seizure, but it can minimise the impact and the occurrence of seizures."

Georgia's music therapy involves listening to music for almost every hour of the day.

"It's everything that I do, it's the reason I wake up in the morning and go to school … it's the reason I'm still in school," Georgia said.

"I get really anxious sometimes when I'm out in public, especially by myself."

Increasing popularity 

Ms Perry has noticed a steady increase in the number of people who are open to the idea of using music to heal since she entered the space eight years ago. 

Adie has blonde hair and is smiling

Adie Perry is a registered music therapist in Gippsland in Victoria's east. (Supplied)

She believed this could be attributed to the rollout of mental health programs in Victorian schools, which included funding for music therapy. 

"Young people are recognising that music is powerful, and so are our governing bodies," she said.

Music therapy is a research-based allied health profession. It is when music is used to support people's health, functioning and wellbeing.

Clients approach Ms Perry with a goal of improving communication, mood, or physical function. 

Patients can use music for guided meditation, to compose original songs, or use the lyrics of popular hits. 

"We often use songwriting and playlists to help clients express what they may be feeling," Ms Perry said.

"Some clients have epilepsy, a lot have autism, a lot have experienced trauma and might be experiencing grief or the effects of trauma."

Finding peace through music

Mitchell has found similar healing properties through the use of music. 

The 15-year-old listened to 30,000 minutes of music last year and does not plan to turn his speaker off anytime soon. 

His self-described obsession with music began after his next-door neighbour and "second dad", Mick, passed away. 

Mitchell standing against a shipping container in a paddock. he is smiling with his mouth closed and staring into distance.

Listening to music has helped 15-year-old Mitchell process grief and difficult conversations. (ABC News: Isaac Muller)

"It just gave me my own world to sit in and relax and just get away from everything," Mitchell said.

The teenager has experienced a lot of grief and sat through many difficult conversations with friends and family.

At the age of six, his grandfather, cousin, dog and cat all passed away within the space of a month.

He has also had several close friends and family members battle serious health conditions, including cancer and depression.

"I feel that I've matured a lot quicker than most people would have due to a lot of death and difficult moments in my life," he said.

"Music takes my mind completely off anything I've got going on and helps me wind down no matter the situation."

Mitchell is sitting on a piece of farm equipment wearing a blue polo and denim jeans.

Mitchell often listens to music when he is doing jobs on his family property. (ABC News: Isaac Muller)

While Mitchell has never formally been diagnosed with depression, he often experiences long periods of sadness.

It is during these times that music becomes an incredibly important healing tool. 

"There weren't many people out there experiencing the same thing as me at my age. I felt alone," he said.

Music helped the teenager grieve and gave him the words he needed to explain his feelings to friends and family members. 

"Music has helped me realise that there is so much life ahead of me and everything will be ok," he said.

Ms Perry said Mitchell and Georgia's positive experiences with music were common.

"It can be life-changing," she said.

As for Mitchell, one of his favourite songs is "Red, Red Wine" by UB40.

Whenever he drives to the beach with his family and this song comes on, he can't help but be transported back to a time when Mick was around.

"It's like he is with us again," Mitchell said.

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