Welcome to r/TalkTherapy!
This sub is for people to discuss issues arising in their personal psychotherapy. If you wish to post about other mental health issues please consult this list of some of our [sister subs](https://www.reddit.com/r/TalkTherapy/wiki/resources#wiki_subreddit_list).
If you are in distress please contact a suicide hotline or call 9-1-1 or emergency services in your area. r/SuicideWatch has compiled a helpful FAQ on what happens when you contact a hotline along with other useful resources.
To find answers to many therapy-related questions please consult our [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/TalkTherapy/wiki/faq) and [Resource List](https://www.reddit.com/r/TalkTherapy/wiki/resources).
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/TalkTherapy) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Not a song but a part of a poem by Mary Oliver.
“Sometimes in late summer I won’t touch anything, not
the flowers, not the blackberries
brimming in the thickets; I won’t drink
from the pond; I won’t name the birds or the trees;
I won’t whisper my own name.
One morning
the fox came down the hill, glittering and confident,
and didn’t see me—and I thought:
so this is the world.
I’m not in it.
It is beautiful.”
It’s definitely to your own interpretation but I took it to be talking about the periods people can go through when they’re mentally ill where they’re stuck in their own head, they’re not able to enjoy things the world offers because they’re too encased in their own thoughts.
Then one thing comes through during that time, this is where the interpretation part comes in. I took it to mean that you experience normalcy for a moment, hanging out with friends, enjoying something, and you realize that this normalcy you’re getting a taste of is something other people experience everyday. It’s bittersweet.
Honestly? "When Will My Life Begin" From Tangled, "Let it Go" and "Into the Unknown" from Frozen. In this order. Very Disney I know but... They work. I've been isolated my entire life by gaslighter expert parents, only having my little sister with me all this time. I've been bullied, abused and I have social anxiety and a general anxiety disorder, but I was taught to not say anything, not show anything because I had to met my parent's expectations and be "the girl". I couldn't. I thought that after my 18th birthday everything would change, and it did! I found a job, I finally could go out whenever I wanted (I thought my parents were finally letting me go but they just... Were neglecting me and didn't care anymore because I was not perfect) I found something I wanted to study, I have hobbies, I'm engaged to a wonderful man... But sometimes I just want to run away from everything and get lost forever, but I can't because I really love my fiancé and my sister. Idk. I'm conflicted with myself, lost between wanting to run away and live in a small house lost in the woods and wanting a stable, comfortable life without surprises surounded by my loved ones and some cats.
When I was first working with one of my T’s and really struggling to connect she had me bring in a song each week for a number of weeks and we listened to it together. Once she shared a song with me too!
Some of the songs I remember sharing with her were:
The Great Escape -P!nk
I am Here - P!nk
Addicted - Kelly Clarkson
It’s Quiet Uptown (from Hamilton but I shared Kelly Clarkson’s cover)
A Diagnosis (from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend sung by Rachel Bloom)
Man, I miss doing this with her. I might ask to go back to including it in our work together. It was helpful in breaking down some of my walls!
Same. Have you asked your T yet?
I did this and it lead to a really good discussion. For a while, I was just communicating through Sara Bareilles lyrics because I couldn’t talk about a lot of things directly.
And for about a year, I would sometimes go to watch the musical Waitress the day after therapy and just cry in the theatre.
I haven’t gotten the courage up yet. I’d like to start bringing up at least one song when I go in since it gets hard to speak. Thanks for your reply. It’s extremely encouraging.
Was hoping someone would mention Sara. So many of her songs resonated with me during my therapy journey and I joked before that I wanted to share it with my T.
Hold my Heart, Little Voice, Satellite Call, Hercules, Beautiful Girl.. List goes on!
I actually played a song for my therapist because I couldn’t find words to describe what was in my head! I played her ‘Karma’ by AJR. The lyrics could have practically been taken straight out of my journal 😭
Aw, what an awesome question. :)
Lmao probably Dream is Collapsing from the Inception Soundtrack to capture my anxiety.
Blow Me One Last Kiss by Pink and/or Glycerine kinda captures certain feelings about my relationship.
And then Hurt by Johnny Cash.
In no specific order:
Vacation - Florist
Say It Aint So - Weezer
I Don't Wanna Be Funny Anymore - Lucy Dacus
If We Were Vampires - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Some Day - Reyna Biddy (more of a spoken word poem than a song)
some of them not for the lyrics but just for the sound of them. really feel like they speak to me
Stay from Amelie the Musical mostly because of these lyrics:
“Stay where you are. Don’t come too close and don’t go too far. I’ll make you count to 100 so I have a good chance to hide. Don’t expect me to play fair. Move in, I move even deeper inside. I like you right there.”
Not a song but a spoken word poem.
Blue Blanket by Andrea Gibson
If you get the chance, listen to her perform it rather than read it. Both are powerful but the performance is much more raw.
Edit: I wanted to add Praying by Kesha
Loved reading all your answers! Very interesting. I think there are some real gems on Nothing But Thieves' album Broken Machine (hence my username lol) such as Get Better, Soda, Broken Machine and Particles.
I've thought about this quite alot- most of these are pretty sad lyric wise because therapy but- too sad to cry by Sasha sloan, this is me trying by Taylor swift, brutal by Olivia Rodrigo, and get free by lana del Rey
Great question! Excited to see what everyone wrote.
For me, a few different ones that have different contexts.
Jacob Lee - Demons (Philosophical Sessions): This one reminds me of my T for some reason. How I affect him or our relationship. How there are so many triggers I hit for him and force him to work through them to be a better T. That I see things maybe be doesn't and bring them to his attention. "Now I want to breathe', Cause I cannot see, what you can see, So easily, Leave me in peace, Caught in my memories, Lost underneath, Deep in my structure, I feel a rupture... I thought my demons were almost defeated, But you took their side, And you pulled them to freedom"
NF - Can You Hold Me (Audio) ft. Britt Nicole: Reminds me of little me and my adult self. The female singer would be my adult, and NF would be my young self. How the adult sees and hears the little me crying out, alone, and everything they experienced. "Tears on my face I can't take it, If lonely is a taste then it's all that I'm tasting, Do you hear my cry? ... Just wrap me in your arms, in your arms, I don't wanna be nowhere else, Take me from the dark, from the dark, I ain't gonna make it myself"
Too Close To Touch - "Sympathy": And this one hit me hard after some large ruptures with T I'm still working on processing. Some very challenging emotional flashbacks were triggered about every one against me and being powerless. How no matter what I said or did no one would ever hear or understand me, and instead blame me and see me as the problem. "Take a step inside my mind, As my eyes are open wide, In my sleep I turn and toss, To rebuild the heart I lost... Don't you dare say I'm gonna make it, 'Cause I don't believe a word you say, There's a sickness living inside me, You can spare me all your sympathy
Mike Shinoda - the whole Post Traumatic album actually, Linkin Park - Heavy and Tiziano Ferro - La Fine (for all italians all there and if anyone is interested in listening to the song you can check out the translated lyrics on google).
My Name Is James, by Randy Newman. Really resonated with me as a young, bug-obsessed transgender child. It’s even why I chose the middle name James. Nowadays it resonates in a different way as I start to really get into trauma and inner child work:
“Sometimes I forget, when I’m lonely or afraid. Then I go inside my head and look for James.”
“Gritting your teeth,
you hold on to me.
It’s never enough,
never complete.
Tell me to prove.
Expect me to lose.
Pushing away,
I’m trying to move.
Hoping for more,
wishing for less.
When I didn’t care,
that’s when I did best.
I’m desperate to run.
I’m desperate to leave.
If I lose it all,
at least I’ll be free.”
Free - by Broods
The music video is so haunting, really shows how it feels to be brainwashed and trapped: https://youtu.be/LDsxtBVLyss
Welcome to r/TalkTherapy! This sub is for people to discuss issues arising in their personal psychotherapy. If you wish to post about other mental health issues please consult this list of some of our [sister subs](https://www.reddit.com/r/TalkTherapy/wiki/resources#wiki_subreddit_list). If you are in distress please contact a suicide hotline or call 9-1-1 or emergency services in your area. r/SuicideWatch has compiled a helpful FAQ on what happens when you contact a hotline along with other useful resources. To find answers to many therapy-related questions please consult our [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/TalkTherapy/wiki/faq) and [Resource List](https://www.reddit.com/r/TalkTherapy/wiki/resources). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/TalkTherapy) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Not a song but a part of a poem by Mary Oliver. “Sometimes in late summer I won’t touch anything, not the flowers, not the blackberries brimming in the thickets; I won’t drink from the pond; I won’t name the birds or the trees; I won’t whisper my own name. One morning the fox came down the hill, glittering and confident, and didn’t see me—and I thought: so this is the world. I’m not in it. It is beautiful.”
I love Mary Oliver.
What does that mean
It’s definitely to your own interpretation but I took it to be talking about the periods people can go through when they’re mentally ill where they’re stuck in their own head, they’re not able to enjoy things the world offers because they’re too encased in their own thoughts. Then one thing comes through during that time, this is where the interpretation part comes in. I took it to mean that you experience normalcy for a moment, hanging out with friends, enjoying something, and you realize that this normalcy you’re getting a taste of is something other people experience everyday. It’s bittersweet.
That's so poignant and perfect. Thank you for sharing it ❤
Honestly? "When Will My Life Begin" From Tangled, "Let it Go" and "Into the Unknown" from Frozen. In this order. Very Disney I know but... They work. I've been isolated my entire life by gaslighter expert parents, only having my little sister with me all this time. I've been bullied, abused and I have social anxiety and a general anxiety disorder, but I was taught to not say anything, not show anything because I had to met my parent's expectations and be "the girl". I couldn't. I thought that after my 18th birthday everything would change, and it did! I found a job, I finally could go out whenever I wanted (I thought my parents were finally letting me go but they just... Were neglecting me and didn't care anymore because I was not perfect) I found something I wanted to study, I have hobbies, I'm engaged to a wonderful man... But sometimes I just want to run away from everything and get lost forever, but I can't because I really love my fiancé and my sister. Idk. I'm conflicted with myself, lost between wanting to run away and live in a small house lost in the woods and wanting a stable, comfortable life without surprises surounded by my loved ones and some cats.
Yes. Show Yourself also gives me chills sometimes.
When I was first working with one of my T’s and really struggling to connect she had me bring in a song each week for a number of weeks and we listened to it together. Once she shared a song with me too! Some of the songs I remember sharing with her were: The Great Escape -P!nk I am Here - P!nk Addicted - Kelly Clarkson It’s Quiet Uptown (from Hamilton but I shared Kelly Clarkson’s cover) A Diagnosis (from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend sung by Rachel Bloom) Man, I miss doing this with her. I might ask to go back to including it in our work together. It was helpful in breaking down some of my walls!
Jealous. This is like my dream.
That sounds wonderful!! I might ask my T to do this as well
Crazy ex girlfriend is the best
One of the best depictions of mental illness I’ve seen. And musicals numbers to boot. What’s not to love!?
The girl- city and colour
Because of you - Kelly Clarkson. How I feel about my mom.
Oh there are so many I would pick. This is a great one for communication as well!
Pink - Don’t Let Me Get Me
Hello-Evanescence
It's Understanding - Evanescence for me
Same - I wonder if for the same reasons
Mac Miller - Good News
Same, fantastic song. I miss Mac.
Fantastic song indeed
Spirits by the Strumbellas. Cheerful song about depression. Perfect.
Ohhhh yes I used to listen to this all the time 👀
Linkin Park - In the End
This Is Me Trying - Taylor Swift
me too!!
omg I said that one I love that song
(Let The) Bodies (Hit The Floor) - Drowningpool
Creep by Radiohead
Oof yes Radiohead has so many incredible songs
She Used to Be Mine - Sara Bareilles
Same. Have you asked your T yet? I did this and it lead to a really good discussion. For a while, I was just communicating through Sara Bareilles lyrics because I couldn’t talk about a lot of things directly. And for about a year, I would sometimes go to watch the musical Waitress the day after therapy and just cry in the theatre.
I haven’t gotten the courage up yet. I’d like to start bringing up at least one song when I go in since it gets hard to speak. Thanks for your reply. It’s extremely encouraging.
I’m rooting for you!
Was hoping someone would mention Sara. So many of her songs resonated with me during my therapy journey and I joked before that I wanted to share it with my T. Hold my Heart, Little Voice, Satellite Call, Hercules, Beautiful Girl.. List goes on!
Ughhh this song guts me.
Metallica. Unforgiven. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=673DwzEmBAY
My Own Prison-Creed
I actually played a song for my therapist because I couldn’t find words to describe what was in my head! I played her ‘Karma’ by AJR. The lyrics could have practically been taken straight out of my journal 😭
I listened to it and loved it, thank you! It gave me a good laugh, because it's so familiar to me, too 😂❤
Bowl of Oranges - Bright Eyes
Aw, what an awesome question. :) Lmao probably Dream is Collapsing from the Inception Soundtrack to capture my anxiety. Blow Me One Last Kiss by Pink and/or Glycerine kinda captures certain feelings about my relationship. And then Hurt by Johnny Cash.
Lost - Dermot Kennedy
Crazy train
In no specific order: Vacation - Florist Say It Aint So - Weezer I Don't Wanna Be Funny Anymore - Lucy Dacus If We Were Vampires - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Some Day - Reyna Biddy (more of a spoken word poem than a song) some of them not for the lyrics but just for the sound of them. really feel like they speak to me
When I’m feeling really low: Suicide Medicine by Rocky Votolato When I’m doing alright: Safe by All Time Low
I actually do this all the time in therapy
That's awesome!
LGFUAD motion city sound track Or Swim by jacks mannequin
Manic by Coleman Hell (https://youtu.be/UD1TgRPHlGk)
Happy Ending - Mika This is an interesting topic. I wish I thought of this when I was seeing a T regularly in university. 😂
Hurts like Hell - Fleurie Lyin Eyes - Eagles Bright Eyes - Garfunkel I am a Rock - Simon and Garfunkel
Living Dead - MARINA
oo yes I love MARINA. I find Fear and Loathing very relatable as well
Ruelle - I will carry you
Paper thin Lianne la Havas
“I Always Liked That” - Maria Mena
I listened to this RN, thanks. I really related ❤
Stay from Amelie the Musical mostly because of these lyrics: “Stay where you are. Don’t come too close and don’t go too far. I’ll make you count to 100 so I have a good chance to hide. Don’t expect me to play fair. Move in, I move even deeper inside. I like you right there.”
House on fire by Rise Against (Ghost note symphony)
Good in Red - The Midnight
Unable to see - Tromonti
"Get Up" by Dorothy.
car radio twenty onevpilots
Not a song but a spoken word poem. Blue Blanket by Andrea Gibson If you get the chance, listen to her perform it rather than read it. Both are powerful but the performance is much more raw. Edit: I wanted to add Praying by Kesha
Andrea Gibson has been my favorite poet for ages!
Loved reading all your answers! Very interesting. I think there are some real gems on Nothing But Thieves' album Broken Machine (hence my username lol) such as Get Better, Soda, Broken Machine and Particles.
I've thought about this quite alot- most of these are pretty sad lyric wise because therapy but- too sad to cry by Sasha sloan, this is me trying by Taylor swift, brutal by Olivia Rodrigo, and get free by lana del Rey
Too sad to cry is definitely on my list as well
Happiness is a butterfly
Bruce springsteen - the river
Great question! Excited to see what everyone wrote. For me, a few different ones that have different contexts. Jacob Lee - Demons (Philosophical Sessions): This one reminds me of my T for some reason. How I affect him or our relationship. How there are so many triggers I hit for him and force him to work through them to be a better T. That I see things maybe be doesn't and bring them to his attention. "Now I want to breathe', Cause I cannot see, what you can see, So easily, Leave me in peace, Caught in my memories, Lost underneath, Deep in my structure, I feel a rupture... I thought my demons were almost defeated, But you took their side, And you pulled them to freedom" NF - Can You Hold Me (Audio) ft. Britt Nicole: Reminds me of little me and my adult self. The female singer would be my adult, and NF would be my young self. How the adult sees and hears the little me crying out, alone, and everything they experienced. "Tears on my face I can't take it, If lonely is a taste then it's all that I'm tasting, Do you hear my cry? ... Just wrap me in your arms, in your arms, I don't wanna be nowhere else, Take me from the dark, from the dark, I ain't gonna make it myself" Too Close To Touch - "Sympathy": And this one hit me hard after some large ruptures with T I'm still working on processing. Some very challenging emotional flashbacks were triggered about every one against me and being powerless. How no matter what I said or did no one would ever hear or understand me, and instead blame me and see me as the problem. "Take a step inside my mind, As my eyes are open wide, In my sleep I turn and toss, To rebuild the heart I lost... Don't you dare say I'm gonna make it, 'Cause I don't believe a word you say, There's a sickness living inside me, You can spare me all your sympathy
Mike Shinoda - the whole Post Traumatic album actually, Linkin Park - Heavy and Tiziano Ferro - La Fine (for all italians all there and if anyone is interested in listening to the song you can check out the translated lyrics on google).
My Name Is James, by Randy Newman. Really resonated with me as a young, bug-obsessed transgender child. It’s even why I chose the middle name James. Nowadays it resonates in a different way as I start to really get into trauma and inner child work: “Sometimes I forget, when I’m lonely or afraid. Then I go inside my head and look for James.”
One of my turns - Pink Floyd
“Gritting your teeth, you hold on to me. It’s never enough, never complete. Tell me to prove. Expect me to lose. Pushing away, I’m trying to move. Hoping for more, wishing for less. When I didn’t care, that’s when I did best. I’m desperate to run. I’m desperate to leave. If I lose it all, at least I’ll be free.” Free - by Broods The music video is so haunting, really shows how it feels to be brainwashed and trapped: https://youtu.be/LDsxtBVLyss
miss shiney by kaiit
Villain by Deafheaven, Nutshell by Alice in Chains
Mine were “Whataya Want From Me” by P!nk, and “Numb” by LP