People with anxiety experience it differently – some more often and severely than others. How we deal with it varies too but if you’re someone who finds a sense of peace through music, here are some song suggestions that you can consider adding to your playlist.
“Overwhelmed” by Royal & the Serpent (Chri$tian Gate$ Remix)
There are a few versions of the original song by Royal & the Serpent but this remix just hits different. What really connected with me is the music arrangement, it brings a whole new dimension to the song. Listening to this with in-ear headphones, volume turned up and in a dark room with your eyes closed is a total vibe.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JF6xupECM
“Paperbag Writer” by Radiohead
I highly recommend listening to this song with headphones instead of a speaker. I remember my first time hearing this – the way the music pans, it gave me goosebumps. The repetitive lyrics, “blow into this paperbag” has a really calming effect and it just makes you feel kind of trippy in a good way.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAl2BPPb-Ac
“OK (Anxiety Anthem)” by Mabel
The lyrics of this entire song are so relatable. For people dealing with anxiety, it’s almost like a firm hand on your shoulder that drives the simple but strong message of ‘you’re not alone’ across. When you listen to this song, it just feels like a friend who really understands is here for you. It’s an inexplicable feeling – almost like a sense of calm amidst the storm.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO4nmSLFcX4
“Anziety” by Logic
It’s a rather long song, almost 7 minutes. The build up was really well executed, how he recounted his first experience dealing with anxiety and how he directs the lyrics to the listener – so precise and empowering. This song, his delivery of it through rap, can only be described as a masterpiece.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyERzwy-4v4
“everything i wanted” by Billie Eilish
This is one of those songs that is a total earworm. There was a period of time when I was listening to this song on repeat for days on end. I found this song to be… well, everything I wanted it to be. From the lyrics to the vocals and music arrangement to the music video itself, powerful is an understatement. Billie and her brother, Finneas, wrote this song together and both starred in the MV as well. This song really struck a chord with me as my brother has always been a huge part of my support system. I will never forget the exact moment when we watched the MV and he held his hand out at the 2:56 point, the same time Finneas reached out and Billie went on to hold his hand. In that moment, I felt a sense of peace – like everything was going to be okay. Thank you, big brother.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgBJmlPo8Xw
So the next time you’re feeling anxious, plug in and tune out the outside world for a moment.
