Music as self-help.

Hello, everyone.

I just wanted to share my thoughts around music as a mean to help you through your problems.

This is a very generalized subject, but I feel that music has helped me immensely to feel better in my depression. It gives me the ability to lock out external and internal irritations (thoughts, etc.).
Have you guys used music in the interest of helping yourself? If so, what genres and artists?

I'll give you my fav. artists. I listen almost exclusively to hip-hop.
- Rick Ross (Port of Miami)
- Nas (Illmatic)
- Pimp C (Pimpalation)
- The Game
- T.I (KING)
- Bun-B (Trill)

If you like metal/rock/whatever, check out:
- Queens of the Stone Age
- System of a Down

Try to give this music a chance, and find solace in it. If you know any encouraging music, please mention it in your reply :-)

i listen to almost every genre. and i listen to different musics for different moods/problems/time of day/etc..........

i like alternative a lot right now. nirvana, etc.

My musical tastes are a bit different: classical, especially baroque; also some folk, big band jazz, Charlie Byrd, olden days Hawaiian music, some marching band music, some things such as music by Trapezoid or Hesperus or the throat singers of Tuva. Now, what have these all in common? What category do I fit into?

I do find that it helps to listen to music that I have chosen as some of my favorites.

Lately, I've been listening mostly to Gospel because I can find many sub-genres in it. I listen mostly for the words of encouragement but the different styles suit my moods quite well.

Last night I listened to one, that if I stopped listening to the words and concentrated on just the music, I could picture myself in a smokey corner slow dancing.

But then again, one of my favorite groups really rocks and rolls with their songs. The leader of the group is quite a dancer. LOL They have a good bit of choreography with their singing. LOVE to watch them!

I also like classical, the Moldy Oldies of the 50's, a very limited amount of the older C&M but not the ones that sound like sick cows dying! Shania Twain was good until she (the person) started making me sick to my stomach. I don't really consider her music C&M, though. Rock a Billy?

Yes! You bet music is a huge part of my self-help!

I like a lot of different types of music, though I have to admit to being a bit stuck in the 70s, particularly Prog Rock, at times. Luckily I have a daughter who has introduced me to a lot of Indie/alt stuff.
Particular bits of music that I find help, for different reasons:-
Janis Ian's Between The Lines album - so depressing it cheers me up (work that one out)
Yes; Soon - I find this calming
Mearloaf - great to sing along to at the top of my voice!
Seal; Kiss from a Rose - now this is a special one. There's something about the tune/rhythm which really really calms me down.
And... oh, lots of others! I love a good sing-along to anything I like on the radio. I'm on my own most of the day so I can get away with it

I to love music and just about all kinds. I do like Christian Music, Amy Grant, The Imperials, DC Talk, Petra...

I find music very much relaxes me.

oh my goodness yes. music is my best friend in the whole world when it comes to helping me feel better. sometimes there's no better medicine than just sitting back, closing your eyes, and listening to your favorite song.
my favorite band for years has been fall out boy. their music has become a sort of drug for me... whenever i'm down i use my 'fall out boy' therapy and it never fails to make me feel better.

try bjork if your feeling lovely or simply in love.

i listen to alot of nine inch nails when i was depressed but i dont think that helped.

Ambient helps me to stay calm sometimes though it also makes me sad. Sometimes it is better to be sad than irritated or anxious.. but whatever.

Music has always helped me "get through" my emotions. I listen to a lot of screaming and profanity music (The Gallows, My Chemical Romance, The Used, Mindless Self Indulgence), but I also have a soft spot for piano music (especially Chopin) and Christian rock (Flyleaf, Skillet, Casting Crowns, Jars of Clay). Music says the things that I cannot, it uplifts me, it protects me.

Oh i LOVE music... listening to it, singing it, making it. What a wonderful outlet.

Pavarotti, Leonard Cohen--his voice improved as he aged so I seldom listen to his early singing.
Mozart, many other classic
The Oldies

My absolute favorite, though, is Native American flute music.
Robert Windpony is incredible.

I'm listening to him now

My Chemical Romance - they're totally awesome
and Leathermouth,The Misfits, A7X

You can probably listen to music via the Internet while you are here on Psych Central. If you have iTunes, go to Radio below Library, pick the type of music you want, and double-click on a stream to listen to it. Streams show the bit rate, too, so if you have high-speed Internet, choose a high bit rate.

I just started listening to Adagio.FM.

I also use Pandora online.
You can set your free account to focus on the music that you enjoy the most.
I have several genre that I listen to while online.

This might be strange, but I have found that music can be a trigger for me. Anyone else?

Music has always been one of the most effective stress relief techniques I've tried.

I do enjoy a pretty wide range of styles: classic rock, 90's rock, new wave, heavy metal, classical (baroque and classical periods), and older country music. The music I choose to listen to depends upon my mood of the day.

Mad days- classical music is best; I avoid all others
Sad days- rock (classic or 90's) & maybe new wave; I avoid classical and country
Anxious days- classical and older country music helps me relax

I rarely listen to new wave or heavy metal, as it requires a happier outlook on life in that moment. When happy, then I can listen to any style listed.

Just my personal experience

Playing music helps me. With my overactive mind, it's the only activity I've found where I can lose myself completely and forget what's troubling me. In fact, the less conscious of yourself you become, the better you play. It's that "in the zone' thing you often hear athletes talk about.

Cinnamon, yes, me too, sometimes I must have none.

Capp, I just listened to Robert Windpony and it is as you say, incredible.

I really love music, and how it can meet me at my mood or take me somewhere else.

still here cinnamon? yes, music can trigger ... lyric, tone, mood... all are factors in the effect upon the heart rythim, breathing, body impulses... also, certain sounds, words, and images carry in our minds beyond the time we listen to the song.. it can linger and trigger for years....

i have switched to positive vibe sounds.... but i still enjoy all of it

there is a lot of info about music as therapy available on the web.. google it, or, start a thread in video forum on this topic... hope this helps

As many people here would know, music is a HUGE part of my life and I can definately say wholeheartedly, that music is what has kept me going through all the years of hell and such. I love to write, listen to, analyse music and just generally listen to the words, especially with things like gospel music which have such encouraging lyrics.

I like classical music, rock, pop, older stuff, folk, gospel, hip hop. Anything really, as a singer/songwriter/guitarist, I create many different styles of music and as a musician both on my college course and outside of college, I listen to and perform enormous amounts of different styles of music. From classical monte verdi, to heavy rock/metal stuff.

Main bands/musicians I can think of that I like:

Three Days Grace, My Chemical Romance, Lost Prophets, Monte Verdi, Vivaldi, Mozart, Coldplay, Muse, Oasis, Red Hot Chilli's, Colbie Caillat, Queen, Barry Manilow, Nickelback, Bullet For My Valentine, Tegan and Sara, Bach, Hell is For Heroes, The Fray, Mariah Carey - Her vocal range is amazing!

That's all I can trhink of right now :/

I have never had a moment at my house when music WAS NOT ON, all kinds, it is a constant in my life, especially songs that tell stories, stories I can relate to...

I love music and it evokes so many feelings in me it can be uplifintg and inspiring or motivating or angry ,but i just love ALL music and the range of expression that comes from it.

Music is great.. but not so sure if the music I listen to would be called "self help"

...Evanescence

Music is great