A Mixtape for Mental Health

May is mental health month! I LOVE that we have a whole month to break down the stigmas around mental health and share our stories. 

Music can be so healing. I've found the right song at the right moment can be just what you need sometimes (not always, but sometimes). Inspired by The Current's coffee break this morning, I wanted to assemble my own list of songs I listen to when my mental health needs a boost. Some are sad and help the tears flow, others are energetic for when I need to belt out my feelings at the top of my lungs :) There are 48 songs listed below that help me through tough times (I could list a thousand more, really, but I thought 1000 might be too many to process :) )- I'd love to hear what your go-to songs are that help you out. Shout out in the comments!

Tenuousness - Andrew Bird, A Noble Beast

The Loneliness Waltz - Ballroom Thieves, A Wolf in the Doorway

Caraluna - Bacilos, Caraluna

First Day of My Life - Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

Bruises - Chairlift, Does You Inspire You

There's So Much Energy In Us - Cloud Cult, Light Chasers

Through the Ages - Cloud Cult, The Seeker

Pretty Voice - Cloud Cult, The Meaning Of 8

Journey of the Featherless - Cloud Cult, Feel Good Ghosts

Speed of Sound - Communist Daughter, Soundtrack to the End

When My Time Comes - Dawes, North Hills

Follow You Into the Dark - Death Cab for Cutie, Plans

O Valencia! - The Decemberists, The Crane Wife

...Familiar Place - Lucy Dacus, No Burden

Annabelle - Dessa, Parts of Speech

Society - Eddie Vedder, Into the Wild Soundtrack

Bud - Fenne Lily, On Hold

Tiger Mountain Peasant Song - First Aid Kit, Drunken Trees

Tiger Mountain Peasant Song - Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes

Helplessness Blues - Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues

The Stable Song - Gregory Alan Isakov, That Sea, The Gambler

The Trapeze Swinger - Gregory Alan Isakov

Such Great Heights - Iron & Wine, Such Great Heights

Bailar - Jarabe de Palo, Bonito

Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley, Grace

A Girl, A Boy, and a Graveyard - Jeremy Messersmith, The Reluctant Graveyard

Heartbeats - José González, Veneer

Me Voy - Julieta Venegas, Limón y Sal

F*ck You - Lily Allen, It's Not Me, It's You

Juice - Lizzo, Cuz I Luv U

The Maze - Manchester Orchestra, A Black Mile to the Surface

The Field - Mason Jennings, Blood of Man

Michigan - The Milk Carton Kids, Prologue

You Swan, Go On - Mount Eerie, Lost Wisdom

Lament - Mount Moriah, Mount Moriah

I Need My Girl - The National, Trouble Will Find Me

Bloom - The Paper Kites, Woodland EP

Don't Haunt This Place - The Rural Alberta Advantage, Hometowns

Every Time the Sun Comes Up - Sharon Van Etten, Are We There

Takk... - Sigur Rós, Takk...

The Boxer - Simon and Garfunkel, Greatest Hits

Heart - Stars, Heart

King of Spain - The Tallest Man on Earth, The Wild Hunt

This Doomsday - Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Sex & Food

Tiderays - Volcano Choir, Repave

Civilian - Wye Oak, Civilian

You+Me - You and Me, Rose Ave. 

What are you favorite go-to songs are that help you out? 

I love that we have a whole month to talk about mental health and break down the stigmas that have surrounded it for too long. If you are struggling, please reach out. (I know, easier said than done.) It's OK to not be okay. It's OK to cry. And it is OK to ask for help. Sometimes things get worse before they get better, but they ALWAYS get better. Call a friend, make an appointment to see your doctor, or text a friend and ask them to make an appointment for you (making an appointment is sometimes the hardest part for me).

If you're struggling with suicidal thoughts call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255