When I feel particularly stressed, I find music to be a good distraction and sometimes just listening to the words helps calm me. Over the last few months, I have comprised a list of songs that I think put the struggles of anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions into words through their lyrics. All these songs are about different topics, but they all have a common theme; you are strong enough to handle what is given to you, no matter how difficult it may seem.

What About Us- P!nk

It's the start of us, waking up, come on
Are you ready? I'll be ready
I don't want control, I want to let go
Are you ready? I'll be ready

Fight Song – Rachel Platten

And all those things I didn't say
Wrecking balls inside my brain
I will scream them loud tonight
Can you hear my voice this time?

By the Grace of God- Katy Perry

I know I am enough
Possible to be loved
It was not about me
Now I have to rise above

Inner Demons- Julia Brennan

'Cause inner demons don't play well with angels
They cheat and lie and steal and break and bruise
Angels please protect me from these rebels
This is a battle I don't want to lose

Grace- Rachel Platten

And I need grace
To step inside my mind and help me be a better person
Release the better version of me
'Cause right now, what I wanna do is scream it
I need grace 'cause I'm running low on faith
And I really wanna change my heart

Beneath Your Beautiful- Labrinth ft. Emeli Sande

You've built your wall so high
That no one could climb it
But I'm gonna try

Would you let me see beneath your beautiful

Human- Christina Perri

I can turn it on
Be a good machine
I can hold the weight of worlds
If that’s what you need
Be your everything

But I’m only human
And I bleed when I fall down
I’m only human
And I crash and I break down

Demons- Imagine Dragons

I want to hide the truth
I want to shelter you
But with the beast inside
There’s nowhere we can hide

Don’t get too close
It’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide
It’s where my demons hide

Something In the Water- Carrie Underwood

Couldn't fight back the tears so I fell on my knees
Saying, "God, if you're there come and rescue me."
Felt love pouring down from above
Got washed in the water, washed in the blood

Warrior- Demi Lovato

I've got shame, I've got scars
That I will never show
I'm a survivor
In more ways than you know

Skyscraper- Demi Lovato

Go run, run, run
I'm gonna stay right here,
Watch you disappear
Yeah-oh, go run, run, run
Yeah, it's a long way down
But I am closer to the clouds up here

Fix You- Coldplay

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Wide Awake- Katy Perry

I'm wide awake
Yeah, I was in the dark
I was falling hard
With an open heart

Just The Way You Are- Bruno Mars

She's so beautiful and I tell her every day
Yeah, I know, I know when I compliment her she won't believe me
And it's so, it's so sad to think that she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me "Do I look okay?"
I say

Try- Colbie Calliet

You don't have to try so hard
You don't have to, give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don't have to change a single thing

Stand By You- Rachel Platten

Oh, tears make kaleidoscopes in your eyes
And hurt, I know you're hurting, but so am I
And love, if your wings are broken
Borrow mine so yours can open too
'Cause I'm gonna stand by you

You Found Me- The Fray

Lost and insecure
You found me, you found me
Lying on the floor
Surrounded, surrounded

Rise Up- Andrea Day

And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again

Happy Listening!