Emotional Regulation through music

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Yeah. Dont totally disagree.

I was only vaguely aware of the song...heard it once or twice.

Was researching songs with Halloween related titles.

And I admit that if you look away from the screen and just listen... its not the same.

But with lyrics texted out plus the video imagery its understandible and quite powerful.

O' Riordan wrote it in protest to the IRA bombing in London that killed children in the Nineties.

And as I said before ...rediscovering the song and video RIGHT NOW adds a certain emotional punch.

^ I had never seen the music video before today either.

Music helps me do deal with a lot of things that society throws at me. It distracts me and sometimes it helps me to sleep through the night.

This Ivan Ave track got me through summer of 2018 when I was working insane hours (much needed levity - same for the video).

I listen to a lot of Space Music and Ambient Music and a lot of it doesn't resemble traditional music...which leads me to:

► White, Brown, Pink and Green Noise: Benefits of Each

► 9 Different Types of Noise – The Colors of Sound

Oh yeah. I got multiple music tracks for depression, anxiety, BPD episodes....

Very much so. I listen to music frequently, including headphones at work. It helps keep me energized, and it really helps with my iADHD by helping me tune out background noise (literal or figurative).

Music helps me feel in general. I usually listen on shuffle and sometimes a particular song I've heard a hundred times will hit me a way it never has before because of what's on my mind. I will sometimes replay the song several times because of how it speaks to my mood. It can be very unpredictable. I once listened to Boston's "Higher Power" on repeat for an hour.

Music soothes my nerves greatly. It's like medicine. It's like meditation with melody.

I'm pretty sure a lot of the music I listen to is emotionally dysregulated.

Sometimes I have trouble knowing how I feel or even feeling things at all. Music helps me with both things. For me, it’s less about soothing and more about getting things out that need to be got out. Sometimes I need to fully feel anger, sadness, or whatever before I can experience the more pleasant stuff like serenity and peace.

Same. ^

Most of the time I don't have any idea how I'm feeling or how to express it, and a song just magically pops into my head as if I have an emotional rolodex. Most of the time the words are so unbelievably perfect for my situation it's uncanny, even if those words didn't mean the same thing to me previously. Other times I think of a song because of the mood or memory it gives me, even if it's not about the lyrics. Then I can think about what my emotions were during the flashback / memory, and it usually turns out they're the same as now.

Music is the one and only way I can regulate my feelings. My pets come next but they don't give me as much clarity; they only give me comfort. Writing would be third I guess. Other people would be last.

I have different music for different moods. I too can change my mood with the right song but the wrong song just feels like noise to me. When I'm sad or melancholy I can't listen to my 80s rock music. I have to start with something mellow but not maudlin. I find overall that Classical music helps keep me on an even keel, especially if I'm alone and can conduct (well, pretend to anyway). And I almost always sing along to my music. If I'm not singing then something's wrong.

You're definitely not alone! Music is a powerful tool for regulating emotions. Studies show it activates parts of the brain linked to pleasure, reward, and emotional control. Listening to specific songs based on your mood can be a great way to self-soothe, uplift yourself, or even channel strong feelings in a healthy way. It's like creating a personalized soundtrack for your emotions. This isn't magic, but the connection between music and our feelings is well-documented. Think of it as a healthy coping mechanism you've developed to manage your inner world!