Sound Bathing Broke Open my Wild Heart
It might be the spark you need to begin your own transformation!
Sound Bathing Helped Me Heal from Depression After a Breakup
After my separation, I was in one of the darkest places I’d ever been. My days felt heavy, my mind raced with what-ifs, and I couldn’t imagine feeling joy again. I was struggling with depression, grief, and the overwhelm of completely starting over. Having ADHD wasn’t helpful at all for pulling me out of the dark pit of despair. There were so many days that I couldn’t get out of bed and would find myself ruminating, hyperfocusing on figuring out why it happened, feeling enormous rejection sensitivity, and I was emotionally disregulated to the point that grief would feel like physical pain, and I would act impulsively to get a dose of dopamine.
Nothing seemed to work. My body felt withdrawal symptoms that amounted to quitting an addiction cold turkey. Even though I was attending therapy and started taking antidepressants, there were only two things that seemed to help— daily walks and sound bathing.
What Is Sound Bathing and How Does It Work?
Sound bathing, sometimes called sound healing or sound therapy, is a self-care ritual where you’re immersed in soothing, harmonic vibrations created by instruments like crystal singing bowls, gongs, and chimes.
These sounds work on a vibrational level, guiding your brain into slower brainwave states (like alpha, theta, and delta) but without the full effort or focus traditional meditation requires. This can help:
Release stored tension in the body
Calm the nervous system
Reduce anxiety and stress
Support emotional release and clarity
Why Sound Bathing Works
Sound bathing, also known as sound healing, uses specific frequencies to guide the brain into different slower brainwave states, each associated with unique healing benefits:
Beta waves are linked to active thinking and alertness, but can also drive stress and anxiety when dominant. We spend most of our waking time in this state.
Alpha waves promote a relaxed yet awake state, often experienced during light meditation or moments of calm focus. Where you will spend most of your time while immersed in sound bathing.
Theta waves occur in deep meditation, creativity, and emotional release—where intuition and subconscious processing flourish. Where ephipanies and ah-ha moments happen during sound bathing.
Delta waves are the slowest brainwaves, found during deep, restorative sleep when the body and brain regenerate. Necessary for a good night’s rest.
During a sound bath, the soothing vibrations encourage your brain to slow down from anxious Beta states into more healing Alpha and Theta states. This shift calms the nervous system, reduces stress hormones, and opens the door for emotional processing and deep relaxation.
Repeated exposure to these brainwave states through sound therapy also supports neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to create new neural pathways. This means sound bathing can gently help rewire unhelpful thought patterns, lower chronic stress responses, and build a calmer, more resilient nervous system over time.
For neurodivergent women like me, who often experience racing thoughts or sensory overwhelm, sound bathing offers a powerful way to train the brain to find calm without pressure or additional medicine. For those experiencing heartbreak, it allows the brain to release pent-up emotions and train the brain to search for happiness again.
The goal isn’t about forcing the brain to heal, but creating a safe space for our brain and body to learn new rhythms of peace and transformation that can be adapted into daily practice.
My First Sound Bath with Sierra Trout
I discovered Sierra when I was in my darkest moment. I had just celebrated my birthday in bed, deep in depression and Starbucks. I was at such a low point. That’s when I stumbled upon an Instagram post advertising her weekly Sound Bath & Tea in Denver, Colorado. She advertised it as “transformative sound-inspired meditation and tea session designed to foster healing, reflection, and community.” I was desperate, and I knew that my mind was sensitive to frequencies, so why not give it a shot? When I arrived at Sierra Trout’s sound bath session, the space was immediately soothing and inviting.
Sound bathing is cozy. You need a yoga mat, blanket, eye mask, and journal.
The sequence of events is usually the same at any community sound bathing session. The first few minutes are spent journaling. Setting intentions, identifying what emotions are with you, what is no longer serving you, how you are transforming into your highest self, etc. Then, get cozy in shavasana and let your mind wander as the vibrations echo through the room. After 45-60 minutes of vibrations and deep relaxation, you’ll reflect on how your body & mind felt and those intentions set at the beginning. The group will engage in community reflection and share their experiences while sipping on warm herbal tea.
I cried a lot at my first sound bathing session. As the first vibrations filled the room, I felt something shift. My mind didn’t go silent this time, as the emotions were heavy. The sound seemed to reach a place in me that words couldn’t touch. While focusing on our sacral chakras, I was transported to a memory that connected orange glows to sandstone washes. The vibrations carried me to this specific memory, as the memory reflected a place that represented adventure, stability, roots, and so much more. It was as if I was back at this place, feeling it, hearing it, touching it— I was there in my mind. It was in this moment that I realized that I could integrate therapy and sound bathing into a holistic wellness routine that was going to pull me out of this depression.
For the first time, I felt hopeful.
Why Sound Bathing Benefits Neurodivergent Women with ADHD
For many neurodivergent women, especially those with ADHD, slowing down and focusing can be challenging. Our subconscious plays a significant role in how we experience and manage our ADHD symptoms. It can actually become our superpower, but we have to first learn how to attune our nervous system to improve emotional regulation and attention.
Sound bathing is different because it’s a fully sensory experience. There’s no right or wrong way to experience it. The sound works on your body and mind without you having to follow instructions or maintain perfect stillness.
Benefits of sound bathing for ADHD women:
Sensory regulation – Vibrations soothe an overstimulated nervous system.
No performance pressure – The sound does the work; you just receive. This is your journey.
Emotional release – Helps process emotions without needing verbal expression (let those tears flow!)
Body reconnection – Brings awareness back to your body in a gentle, safe way.
Sound Bathing as a Self-Care Ritual
Healing after a breakup isn’t just about time. It’s an upward spiral journey that is about creating moments where your body and mind can rest enough and feel safe enough for healing to begin.
For me, sound bathing became more than a one-time experience; it became a ritual that I commit to weekly (with Sierra). It opened the door to other healing practices like yoga, soaking in hot springs, and reconnecting with nature.
Starting Your Own Sound Healing Journey
If you’re struggling with heartbreak, depression, or the unique challenges of ADHD, consider adding sound bathing to your self-care toolkit. You don’t need to be “ready” to heal — you just have to show up, close your eyes, and let the vibrations carry you.
