Music as mental Health Mirror: Artists Confrontโ Anxiety and Trauma
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A โฃsurge of new โขmusic is directly addressing mental health,reflecting a growing openness and willingness to explore theseโ complex issues. Released in June, Rhode Island singer-songwriter Lainey Dionne’s song โข”wired” and Alyssa Haze’s album “MIND โof MINE” โoffer notably โคpoignant examples of this trend,โฃ resonating with listeners grappling with anxiety and trauma.
Lainey Dionne’sโ “wired” is a country-infused ballad that โคdelves into teh experience ofโฃ social anxiety. the lyrics vividly depict the physical and emotional toll of constant self-consciousness: “I flush red every time I โขget embarrassed โขover somthing I said/It’s obvious how โคawkward I get/I will cringe untill I go to bed.”
Dionne’s work distinguishes itself from casual use of โคthe term “anxiety,” โrather portraying theโข debilitating reality of a mental illness where everydayโ situations trigger intense fear and distress.โค She sings of a “tsunami โof โขthoughts”โ and โฃa feeling of losingโข control, articulating the โฃinternal struggle with stark honesty: “I can’t function like โคa human/I panic over things I shouldn’t โฆ โขI don’t own my mind.”
Did Youโ Know? Approximately one in five U.S.adults โฃexperience mentalโ illness each yearโฃ [[1]].
The song’s subdued vocals โandโ intentional pacing underscoreโ the exhaustion that accompanies battling one’s own mind, even with โcoping mechanisms in โขplace. “Wired” is currently available on all major music streaming platforms.
“Inside” Offers a Raw Look at Inpatient Mental Healthcare
Uxbridge singer-songwriter โฃAlyssa Haze’s album, โ”MIND โคof MINE,” released earlier this year, tacklesโ mental healthโข challenges with unflinchingโ honesty. The track “Inside” provides a particularly visceral account of inpatient treatment.
The songโข opens with unsettling soundscapes andโ lyrics โthat hintโ atโฃ memory loss and suicidal ideation: “Don’t remember yesterday/Blacked-out days inside my brain/Last I can recall,โค I wasโค high/Higher than the stars in the โฃsky, โขthey wereโ sure I’d take my life/Delusionalโค thoughts, they’ve come alive.” The chorus introduces a sense of confinement and surveillance,culminating in the stark realization that the narrator is hospitalized.
Haze’s lyrics โcapture the complex โemotions surrounding inpatient care, โขacknowledging the โrange of experiences-from gratitude to resentment-frequently โenough felt by patients. She portraysโค a feeling of isolation and scrutiny: โ”Windows watching you through the night/Strip all your clothing, nothing will pass them by/Time ticksโ by a bit slower while โฃyou’re stuck โฃwriting letters โinside.”
Pro Tip: If youโ orโฃ someone โyou know is struggling with mental health,resourcesโ areโค available.The โฃNational Alliance on Mental โIllness (NAMI) offers support and information at https://www.nami.org/.
“Inside” is โavailable for streaming on all major โขmusic platforms.
| Artist | Song/Album | Key Themes | Release โDate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lainey Dionne | “wired” | Social Anxiety, Internal Struggle | June 2025 |
| Alyssa โขhaze | “MIND of MINE” (album), “Inside” | Inpatient Mental Healthcare,โ Trauma, Isolation | 2025 |
What role do you think music playsโฃ in destigmatizing mental healthโ conversations?
How can artists responsibly portray mental health struggles in their work?
The Rising Tide of Mental Health Awareness
The increased portrayal of mental health in music reflects a broader cultural shift toward โgreater โawarenessโค and acceptance. The COVID-19 pandemic, beginning in 2020, significantly exacerbated mental health challenges globally,โ prompting more open conversations and a demand for relatable artistic expression. Accordingโค to the World Health Association, mental health is “anโข integral โขpart of health; indeed, there is no health without mental health” [[3]].โข This trend is not limited to theseโ two artists; โnumerousโ musicians across โgenresโ are now incorporating themes of โขanxiety, depression, and โฃtrauma into their work, creating a powerful and supportive communityโ for listeners.
frequently Asked Questions About Mental Health and Music
- What is social โขanxiety? Socialโฃ anxiety is a mental health condition โคinvolving intense fear of social situations, leading to avoidance and significant distress.
- can musicโ therapyโข help with mental health? Yes, music therapy is a recognized therapeutic approach that uses music toโ address emotional, cognitive, and โขsocial โขneeds.
- What are theโ signs ofโค a mental health crisis? Signs include โฃsuicidalโค thoughts, self-harm,โ extreme mood swings,โค and withdrawal from social activities.
- Where can I find help for mental health? Resources includeโฃ the National โAlliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the Mental Health America (MHA), and your local healthcare provider.
- Is it okay to talk about my mental health? โ Absolutely.โค Talking about your mental health is aโข sign of โstrength and can help reduce stigma.
We hope these songs provide โขcomfort and validation to those navigating their own mental โhealth journeys. If you connected with these artists’ stories, please share this article with your network and join the conversation. โ Your voice โฃmatters.
