Mental Health Awareness Month: Playlist
As I sit here writing this I’m looking out to sunny skies, trees blossoming and warmth coming through my bedroom window.
It wasn’t long ago that the view out of my window was full of dead trees, cold brustling winds, and dirty snow. I felt so hopeless that spring…or my happiness, would ever return.
Mental health is never one-size fits all. While we can bring comfort to one another by sharing our stories, we all have unique experiences and challenges that can make us feel alone.
These next few songs were not a cure for my mental health, but while I was crying in the tub, hiding away under my covers, or dragging myself up in the morning to face another day…these songs gave me a little glimmer of hope. Now, after my personal storm has passed, I can appreciate them for the badass songs that they are.
“All I Am” – Jess Glynne
“If you ever think you’re falling// you know I’ll catch you too // all I am is you…”
High energy, upbeat…this song sounds like sunshine. It made me think of my relationship with my best friend, because even in my darkest times when I didn’t want to leave my house, we would get together and we would laugh and laugh and laugh…and for a few hours all of my worries went out the window. All I was in that moment was a happy, loving best friend.
“Rise Up” – Andrea Day
“And I’ll rise up // I’ll rise like the day // I’ll rise up // I’ll rise unafraid // I’ll rise up // And I’ll do it a thousand times again…”
No one can doubt the powerful lyrics in this song matched with Andrea Day’s insanely big, beautiful voice. While I love the original version, the one performance of this song that really got to me was when teenage contestant Shayy sang it for her first audition on American Idol. A year ago, she went to the eye doctor for what she thought was a regular eye exam. A tumor was found in her brain that caused her to go blind. Singing the song flawlessly, and making Lionel Richie cry, Shayy stole my heart with this powerful rendition.
“Rainbow” – Kacey Musgraves
“You hold tight to your umbrella, darlin’ I’m just tryin’ to tell ya // That there’s always been a rainbow hangin’ over your head…”
When I first heard this song, my jaw dropped. The melody swings and sways, so comforting and beautiful. It makes you feel as though it WILL be alright, as Kacey sings at the end of the tune. Such a beautiful reminder that while you may see yourself a certain way…stuck in a storm…other people are looking at you as if you bring the sunshine everywhere you go.
“Anxiety (with Selena Gomez)” – Julia Michaels
“But all my friends, they don’t know what it’s like, what it’s like // They don’t understand why I can’t sleep through the night…”
Julia Michaels used her honest, but gorgeous songwriting to explain the difficult and sometimes contrasting emotions that come with having anxiety. With a catchy but simple acoustic guitar, Julia and Selena don’t really bring much optimism with this song…but sometimes when you’re going through something, all you want is to know others are going through it too.
“Survivor” – Destiny’s Child
“I’m a survivor, I’m not gon’ give up // I’m not gon’ stop, I’m gon’ work harder…”
This one is probably better for when your mental health battle is on the come-up. There’s something about Beyoncé preaching to you through song that makes everything better for a couple minutes. It’s a celebration of independence, self-love, and womanhood. You’ve survived the thick of it.
“Yellow” – Coldplay
“Oh yeah, your skin and bones // Turn into something beautiful // You know, you know I love you so…”
While this one isn’t exclusively directed toward mental health…something about it makes me think of myself driving in my car, windows down, sunset beaming through…where everything is okay again. It makes me believe…forces me to believe, that sunny days were ahead.
“Break Free” – Ariana Grande
“I’m stronger than I’ve been before // This is the part when I break free // ‘Cause I can’t resist it no more…”
Can’t even count how many times I’ve screamed this song in my car. Letting my voice “break free,” if you will. Powerful, inspiring and strong are the words I think of when listening to this song…and when thinking about Ariana herself.
While everyone has a different mental health journey and ways to take care of themselves, I believe music is medicine…and nothing we’re going through can overpower that.