by Anna Bonney
We live in a time in history that is so loud and yet so quiet. And within that quiet are millions of voices whispering ever so quietly.
The act of creating is oft how these whispers become louder. Music is the most popular form of expressing these whispers. Within it, many find an understanding they sought but couldn’t find. A series of lyrics, words, and intertwined emotion that could not be expressed adequately before. An understanding of negative emotion that is left unaddressed or misunderstood.
The University of Michigan reports anxiety and depression rates among college students as higher than ever. Despite their prevalence, both anxiety and depression remain viewed as hush topics. It’s similar to how individuals would hide a cognitively challenged family member centuries ago to avoid embarrassment. Is it truly embarrassing and difficult to maintain respect for and connection with a family member, friend, or colleague when they have a different set of functional understandings and struggles?
Studies show that the genre of music you choose to listen to can affect how you feel and act, and that ultimately this can affect your mental health. Statistically speaking, listening to aggressive or sad music increases the likelihood of developing depression or anxiety. However, studies also show that listening to a genre that matches your current emotions can be cathartic. Cathartic refers to the providing of psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions. Music that provides this relief can be challenging to understand and listen to when in what would be considered a normal and healthy mindset. All individuals ebb and flow in and out of that mindset, leaving a demand for music that is cathartic.
The following songs have specific lines that tap into psychological and largely unaddressed emotions.
NF — Let You Down
“Don’t come after me. I just wanna be alone right now, I don’t really wanna think at all” (1:32–1:35). This line addresses the seeking of emotional numbness, which is initially a helpful defense mechanism when emotionally overwhelmed. Overtime, untreated stressors that lead emotional numbness can lead to depression.
Sasha Alex Solan — Normal
“I just wanna feel normal for the night” (0:45–0:50). This line addresses emotional detachment, which is when an individual cannot fully engage in either their emotions or the feelings of others. They seek to re-engage themselves through engagement in socially normal activities, which is not always successful. Left unaddressed, this can lead to depression and anxiety.
$uicideboy$ — Antarctica
(Explicit; edited version available on YouTube) [trigger warning]
“I am the lord of lord of loneliness, I’ll hold my breath, just spoke with death…then I woke up choking from the hole in my chest” (1:12–1:22). This line intertwines with the way in which it presents itself, embodying loneliness, defined as a state of distress.
INZO — Overthinker
“What is reality? Obviously no one can say, because it isn’t words. It isn’t material. That’s just an idea. Reality is…” (2:42–3:02). This line is followed with an openness in musical thought that otherwise cannot be expressed. This is described as living in the moment: existing without thought but rather simply in sensation. Being present is described by the Manhattan Mental Health Counseling center as “free from the noise of internal dialogue.” This is where the happiest, most joyful moments of existence come from — simply being.
SVDDEN DEATH, SLANDER — Blood On Me
“I like messing with your mind. I do this every time” (0:34–0:41). The line is only a reference — a precursor — to the portion of interest. Shortly after this line, the beat drops. What follows is an embodiment of sensation. This represents the gray area between cognitive control and cognitive reduction, in which emotion may overwhelm reason. This area can be described as emotional numbness. There is often a social expectation felt by the individual to pull towards cognitive control, but it’s unclear how to achieve that. The drop following the given line of lyrics can bring enough sensation to an individual experiencing emotional numbness to lessen anxiety caused by the social pull to have cognitive control.
Working through and with emotional struggles is challenging. Because these struggles alter functioning, it can be difficult for normal cognitively functioning individuals to empathize and understand. It is crucial that struggling individuals feel understood. Within music — a free and open expression of emotion — emotions can be conveyed and felt. They can be better understood. And maybe then the world will acquire a different form of noise.
Mental Noise: Addressing Psychological Musical Connection was originally published in The Herald on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.