Music has always been therapeutic for the mind; it can help someone face a difficult moment in their life. The lyrics of the song made the listener feel relaxed, loose, or not alone. The same effect has been observed with poetry; the University of Exeter in 2013 found significant similarities between the way the brain processes music and poetry. Both music and poetry can incite a “serious emotional response by triggering activity in the emotional centers of the brain” (Thorpe). Poetry is able to heal the mind through the use of spoken word poetry and therapeutic poems. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Spoken poetry has been perceived to relieve stress on the mind. In the article “The Power of Spoken Poetry,” there are contributions from several college students exclaiming the effect spoken word poetry has had on them. One of the college students named Jeremey Johnson says that "poetry gave me a positive outlet for some of my anger" (Steiber). Anger has a harmful effect on the brain; Because anger is a form of chronic stress, it “generates long-term changes in the brain that could explain why people who suffer from chronic stress experience mental problems such as anxiety and mood disorders later in life.” Furthermore, anger is capable of impairing the neurons of the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is essentially the brain's control center for stress responses; Impairing the brain's ability to induce a stress response can jeopardize the brain's ability to slow down. So when Johnson was able to release some of his pent-up anger, he was healing from the stress in his mind and potentially saved himself from anxiety and depression. Spoken poetry can be therapeutic not only by cleansing the mind of anger, but it can also help strong feelings such as sadness less intense. Sarah Kay, an American poet well known for her spoken word poetry, said that “the spoken word teaches that you have the ability to express yourself and the courage to present those stories and opinions” (Kay). Kay's statement is supported by numerous independent studies, such as one conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles. A brain imaging study conducted by UCLA psychologists revealed that verbalizing our feelings can make our emotions less severe. Spoken poetry is the epitome of verbalizing one's feelings, so it applies to spoken poetry, thus reinforcing the idea that spoken poetry is capable of healing the mind from strong emotions. Writing poetry has been proven to help those who have struggled with a difficult time in their life. For these people, writing their thoughts in the form of poetry on a sheet of paper seems to give them consolation. In a newspaper article, "My Tears See More Than My Eyes: My Son's Depression and the Power of Art," author Alan Shapiro writes about his depressed son who finds comfort by writing about events in his life in the form of free styling in a mental structure. In the essay, Shapiro states: “Rap gave a powerless boy a feeling of power. It also gave him a feeling of community – a community of outcasts and victims – in the midst of extreme isolation” (Shapiro). Therefore, free-style is not only capable of giving someone a sense of community, but it is also capable of being therapeutic for one's brain. In an article written by Natalie Rehhal for the Daily Mail, Rehhal wrote about how hip-hop can have healing powers. In a study conducted by the University of Cambridge, it was discovered that “art.