Music and Mental Health: One Perspective

Note: This article originally appeared on mind.org.uk

Music has always had a massive impact on my mental health. Whether it’s playing or listening to music, I always had a strong connection to it.

At times when I felt awful, and I was self-harming, music rescued me, it always has. It’s my distraction from the horrible world inside my head. I’ve had lots of experience of trauma, which includes abuse; and music helped me through those times. Music is my life and if it wasn’t for music, I probably wouldn’t be here today.

Music sets me free from the prison I feel inside my head.

I could be sad, and music would/will always make me happy. When I am happy, music makes me feel even stronger. As I’m writing this, I’m listening to Evanescence’s song “My Immortal” and although it is a sad song, it’s keeping me going.

I can easily say I’ve always loved music. I remember my favorite song as a child was Britney Spears’ song “I’m Not a Girl.” I could never understand why I had such a connection to it but just listening to it made me stronger, even at a very young age.

As I grew up, I became obsessed with the band McFly. Through my journey with mental health McFly have been my heroes. If I was feeling low, listening to their songs likes, “I’ll Be Okay,” and “Not Alone” always made me find my feet again.

I didn’t feel alone, and I felt stronger because of them. The songs weren’t even aimed at mental health (this is how I interpret the lyrics anyway), but they always rescued me.

 I felt I was understood in a way I felt no one else could. That is the thing with music, it feels like music understands what you are going through.

Continue reading on mind.org.uk