The BEST Playlist for Anxiety + Depression

I love music.

I know it might sound cliche, but I love songs that express exactly what I’m feeling. When I had an iPod, I had over 1,000 songs on it. When people ask me what kind of music I listen to, my answer is “pretty much everything” and it’s true.

I love alternative rock, but I also enjoy pop, country, rap, oldies, metal, indie, and probably a little bit of every genre.

Music speaks to me in ways that nothing else can, and it’s helped me through every hard time I’ve had in life. It can even help when I’m going through bouts of anxiety or depression.

There are so many songs that have helped me feel better when I’m feeling anxious or depressed, but I’ve made a list of some songs that (I think) I love the most for building me up when I’m feeling low. I also asked my amazing newsletter subscribers what their favorite songs for mental health were as well and created a playlist for anxiety, full of all of our 50+ songs!

 

 

 

• ‘Fight Song’ by Rachel Platten
  “Starting right now, I’ll be strong
  I’ll play my fight song
  And I don’t really care if nobody else believes
  ‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me”
  

 

• ‘Let it Be’ by The Beatles
  “And when the brokenhearted people
  Living in the world agree
  There will be an answer
  Let it be“

 

• ‘Titanium’ by David Guetta (feat. Sia)
  “Fire away, fire away
  You shoot me down but I won’t fall
  I am titanium“

 

• ‘I’m Not Done With You Yet’ by The Classic Crime
  “So I asked God if he could fix my heart
  He said ‘I gave it to you
  I know it’s broken in two
  But I’m not done with you yet’ “

 

• ‘Drown’ by Bring Me The Horizon
  “Who will fix me now? Dive in when I’m down?
  Save me from myself, don’t let me drown“

 

• ‘Praying’ by Kesha
  “I hope you’re somewhere praying, praying
  I hope your soul is changing, changing
  I hope you find your peace
  Falling on your knees, praying”

 

• ‘Float On’ by Modest Mouse
  “Don’t worry
  Even if things end up a bit too heavy
  We’ll all float on alright”

 

• ‘Everything Is Alright’ by Motion City Soundtrack
  “Oh please tell me that you’re alright,
  Yeah, everything is alright”

 

• ‘Lions’ by Skillet
  “By Your power, we will go
  By Your spirit, we are bold
  If we’re gonna stand, we stand as giants
  If we’re gonna walk, we walk as lions”

 

• ‘So Small’ by Carrie Underwood
  “Cause sometimes that mountain you’ve been climbing is just a grain of sand
  And what you’ve been out there searching for forever is in your hands
  When you figure out love is all that matters after all
  It sure makes everything else seem so small”

 

• ‘Don’t Stop’ by Glee Cast
  “Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow
  Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here
  It’ll be better than before
  Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone”

 

• ‘Skyscraper’ by Demi Lovato
  “Go on and try to tear me down
  I will be rising from the ground
  Like a skyscraper”

 

• ‘Roar’ by Katy Perry
  “I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
  ‘Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar”

 

• ‘Brave’ by Sara Bareilles
  “Say what you wanna say
  And let the words fall out
  Honestly, I wanna see you be brave”

 

• ‘Breathe (2 AM)’ by Anna Nalick
  “So cradle your head in your hands
  And breathe… just breathe”

 

• ‘Flares’ by The Script
  “Did you see the sparks fill with hope?
  You are not alone
  Cause someone’s out there, sending out flares”

 

• ‘Put Your Records On’ by Corinne Bailey Rae
  “Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
  You go ahead, let your hair down
  Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams
  Just go ahead, let your hair down
  Oh, you’re gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow”

 

• Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish calms me down!” – Jessi Dawn

 

• “I love Marconi Union’s song called Weightless when I am on the verge of an anxiety attack or when I am in the middle of one. It really helps calm me down and also puts me to sleep sometimes.” – McKenna

 

• “My favorite song is Fearless by Jasmine Murray. It helps me reduce anxiety and it puts me at peace and reminds me that I can get through anything. Listen to it. It will help.” – Holly

 

• “I suffer from anxiety, and when my feelings are below down I usually listen to Bollywood songs that make m want to dance, and mostly I use rain sound to relax.” – Amina

 

• “I always listen to Freely by DAY6 to cheer up when I’m having a hard time, and to Letting Go by the same group when I need to just stop and enjoy something related to what I’m feeling. This band is amazing and creates music for every mood. I love them so much!!” – Gretanyeh

 

• “Some songs I like to listen to when I am sad or mad are:
  Fooling You, Rachel Platten
  Tribe, Kim Viera
  If You Want love, NF
  Before You Called Me Baby, Caitlyn Smith
  Let You Down, NF
  Hate You Love You, Olivia O’Brien
  Gris, India Martinez and Prince Royce
  Real Friends, Camila Cabello“ – Chrissy

 

• “Some of my favorite inspirational songs are Fort Minor – Remember the Name, John Lennon – Imagine, Bon Jovi – It’s my Life, Demi Lovato – Skyscraper and Sia – The Greatest. I would like to see other’s thoughts and ideas on this type of playlist. I like the idea.” – Kathy Gonzales

 

• “Kari Jobe – I am not alone
  Kings and Country – Shoulders“ – Herminia

 

• “I love using music as a way to relax, cheer me up, for comfort, basically anything (I’ve always said that music is my soul). I also struggle with anxiety and depression, always have. 

  I use music to lift me up a lot, the two most frequent times being first thing in the morning to get me going for the day, and when I’m going to work (I’m a nurse who works night shifts). I love anything I can sing along to, but the two best songs for me are ‘Can You Feel It’ by The Jacksons and ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ by Queen. Big songs about joy and feeling strong. 

  Thanks for the opportunity to share, I hope this helps people out there who need….well….some inspiration!” -Victoria

 

• “I listen to two tracks of Andrea Brocelli, the Italian singer/songwriter:
  1. Because We Believe
  2. Time to Say Goodbye
  The first if am facing challenges, while the second if I cannot do anything about the situation.” – Uzoma

 

• “I have depression, PTSD and panic disorder.I usually listen to meditative and chakra music to seriously keep calm during an attack and to fall asleep.But to keep me going through the day I listen to Synapson’s “All in You” and at times “Anxiety” by Black Eyes Peas and Papa Roach. But I think “All in You” is a lot more positive.” – Layal (Instagram @layaltheartist)

 

• “Free Soul by Grace Matata from Tanzania… this song free my head & Soul and believe this too will pass.” – Amina

 

• “Here are a few of my favorite songs that always lift my spirits when I feel discouraged on those difficult days in life’s journey. These songs help me keep things in the right perspective!! They give me HOPE!! 

  Fear is a Liar by Zach Williams
  I Will Trust in You by Lauren Diagle
  Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave
  Even If by MercyMe
  I’ll Praise you in this Storm by CastingCrownsHope you enjoy them and that they bring encouragement to you and others as you share them.” – Sue

 

• “I’m only human after all by John “The Ragin Cajun” Jones“ – Regina

 

• “September by Earth Wind and Fire” – Nancy

 

• “On Top of the World by Imagine Dragons is a song that makes me happy and makes me feel like I can overcome anxiety and do anything I set my mind to!” – Brooke Hayes

 

• “When I’m feeling down I remember the song The Laughing Policeman by Charles Penrose. I don’t have a copy but grew up listening to it in the seventies and so can hear it clearly in my head. One cannot fail to start laughing along with the policeman when he starts laughing. Lifts my mood every time. This song was first sung and recorded by Penrose in the 1920’s and was a firm favourite on Stewpot’s Family Choice radio programme in the seventies. Wonderful how music carries on through the ages.” – Debra

Here’s the playlist! 🙂

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What songs are on your playlist for anxiety or depression?

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