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
Burning Stars - Mimicking Birds, Mimicking BirdsYou 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
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