In our relentless pursuit of perfection, it’s only human to have those days when we feel anxious and depressed. Today I’m going to share the top 50 songs about Anxiety and depression with lyrics referring to these two emotions.
- Anxiety – Jason Isbel
Addressing a major mental health issue in a beautiful and soul-touching way is Jason Isbel, who is not only one of the best songwriters of the modern era but one of the best ever.
No matter who you are, they are those anxieties, worries, and fears that keep you awake thinking about them.
To say this song about anxiety hits close to home is an understatement, and if you suffer from such anxiety attacks, sinking your sorrows to this emotion-filled tune is the best thing you can do!
- Juice WRLD – Paranoid
An artist who helped us through many emotions of depression and anxiety, and whose life and glittering star was cut short by drugs, gave an ode to the paranoia feeling your girlfriend may make you have about other women, and the emotions are the capstone of this tune with lyrics like:
“You’ve been providing me depression You’ve been abusing your position Using your words as a weapon You got me paranoid of other women..”
- Demi Lovato – Sober
This was her real-life story bared open to the whole world.
Facing her fears and documenting her struggles with drug and alcohol addiction.
Holding on to the moment for relief, going through her life through addiction and all those she disappointed along the way; this could’ve been her last song. This would’ve been the end of her story. But it wasn’t.
She is so pure and precious and you’ve got to admire her for her strength despite going through hell and back – she rose like a phoenix and still managed to be truthful to the whole world!
Like a timely and impactful reminder to everyone battling similar emotional storms- you’re only human but most of all you’re a warrior and a survivor!
- Metric – Help I’m Alive
“I tremble they’re gonna eat me alive if I stumble they’re gonna eat me alive…” well we are glad they didn’t and she was victorious in the end.
This emotion-spilled masterpiece describes social anxiety perfectly. The fear and apprehension, but most of all, knowing nobody else will ever understand you or what you are going through and why you are making the decisions you make.
There’s nothing else like it- and it’s truly painful.
- Colin Hay – Overkill
From someone I feel is the most underappreciated legend of our time; this tune is deep and meaningful diving into the worries, anxieties and thoughts that keep us awake at night.
This is the one song that has continued to withstand the test of time; it’s one of the best songs about anxiety or depression ever written and the most dynamic in my mind.
It feels natural and yet like a brand new experience every time.
- Rihanna – Disturbia
Could you believe this was a 2009 masterpiece and ever since Rihanna has evolved in all dimensions- the true definition of a renaissance woman.
The more you listen to songs about anxiety and depression like this, the more you miss this golden era of music. This is the closest we’ll get to reliving the good old days.
Seeming to understand the darker side of things and maintaining that edge of honesty, the weight of this tune is carried only on her voice and the video metaphorically details aspects of psychosis and mental illness and quite literally glamorizes it- Only Rihanna is capable of doing this!
- Black Sabbath – Paranoid
The pioneers of heavy metal music and there is only one message being passed to the current generation; please don’t let Black Sabbath’s music die!
Imagine hearing this for the first time in 1970. Absolutely mind-blowing!
And can you imagine they wrote this song within 20 minutes just to fill the 3 empty minutes on their album and now it’s one of the greatest pieces of heavy metal history.
So if you need to kick out that paranoia out the door, just play this tune as loud as possible!
- Ed Sheeran – Save Myself
You save everyone… but who saves you?
This song hits different when you’re just exhausted with the world.
No songwriter can really connect to a listener quite like Ed Sheeran does with the verse “… I’m not like my mom cause she just smiled and I’m complaining in a song, but it helps…” this line hit me right in the feels.
If you are tired of carrying the weight of others who wouldn’t do half as much as you do for them; it’s about that damn time that you chose yourself!
- Alessia Cara – Growing Pains
This is exactly what being a teenager feels like.
This is meaningful, soul-touching music and the anxiety that comes with that transition from childhood to adulthood in play.
No one is very ready because growing up is basically inevitable and you can’t escape it. And how is one supposed to grow up when you’ve been treated like a kid your whole life?
“Used monsters as an excuse to lie awake, now the monsters are the ones that I have to face…no Band-Aids for the growing pains…” This part right there touched the sky for me!
- Shawn Mendes – In My Blood
Through the many years, the importance of this tune still remains undefeated for someone struggling with anxiety, for that soul that feels everything has ended, for someone who declines the word ‘Hope’ for his life, for that person who might have chosen to give up- it helps them change their perspective for surely “it isn’t in their blood!”
The music video for this song about anxiety is simple yet powerful.
When the rocks are falling and there is rain, they represent the struggles throughout the experience of panic attacks and anxiety. There are flowers at the end of the video showing he overcomes the fear.
For someone who has struggled or is still struggling with a ton of anxiety, coming back to this song can help you cope, and knowing that there are lots of people going through the same thing and are struggling the same way makes you feel so much less alone!
- Justin Beiber & benny blanco – Lonely
Not everything is so black and white and you can never tell for sure what someone’s going through behind the curtains.
To us, Justin was just a rebellious kid who had tasted and got intoxicated with fame but what we actually didn’t know was a young teenage kid who was known globally and still felt alone.
If you don’t feel this kid’s deep-seated emotional pain, you actually might be soulless! He opens up and shows his true story and when the world won’t listen, sing about it.
Emotions expressed through music are more powerful than anything on this earth. If you feel alone and no one seems to understand you from their own created version of how your life is; let this song heal your soul and seek solace in its deep and consequential lyrics.
- Juice WRLD – Already Dead
“Having you ever be so alone that nobody’s house feels like home…” This is a timeless masterpiece for those battling depression and addiction to sink their souls into.
When those demons from the past keep haunting you and what is left is just a skeleton of you- surviving as the world keeps moving around you.
This is deep and powerful. Depression is no joke and it can consume the whole of you to that point where you become addicted and eventually it takes over you.
This is a manifestation of healing from the legend that never got to live out his best years as a heroic artist!
- 6LACK – Pretty Little Fears ft. J. Cole
This tune is insanely deep delving into the expected fears of a new relationship.
The way 6LACK and Cole are both talking about insecurities within a relationship due to the past, but they do it in such versatile ways.
“Could you tell me like it is, pretty little fears, music to my ears” is 6LACK talking about the importance of honesty and vulnerability in a relationship and how he wants his new catch to tell him about the importance of honesty and vulnerability in a relationship as it will bring them closer together!
And then Cole’s verse, “I’m loving your light; vulnerable, letting your guard down; it’s honorable especially when the past ain’t been that friendly to you, but there’s magic in that” which is to say that even though in the past they’ve been hurt they still try to be open and honest and communicate how they feel which is a hard thing to do when someone has previously taken advantage of your vulnerability.
Just push the play button and confront those new fears.
30 Powerful Songs About Insecurity (Listen To These If Insecure)
- Ian Hunter – Once Bitten Twice Shy
This is a classic rock n’ roll bombastic ballad that confronts the fear involved in getting into a new relationship after being hurt in the previous one.
The songwriting and delivery of Hunter and the immense arranging and playing talents of Ronson; now that’s rock at its best!
Never ever has there been a better Rock n’ Roll number- the pace builds, to a beautiful excess of crescendo virtuoso guitar fills the heart with premium joy and satisfaction.
- Passenger – Fear of Fear
Another heart-wrenchingly beautiful song from one of the greatest storytellers of modern-day music; the music video is an accurate portrayal of feeling lonely even when you’re surrounded by tons of people.
The combination of the emotional song and relatable video gives the listener that feeling of sadness.
Passenger has always possessed that unique demeanor to tell a story through music and this is the type of track to actually ease you a bit when you’re feeling a bit depressed or down.
His voice just fits perfectly with the soothing melodies and lyrics and a listener feels understood by this kind of song.
- Kendrick Lamar – Fear
This is one of the deepest tracks on the album, with Kendrick Lamar confronting his fears and reflecting on the listener’s confrontational fears about life.
The message is too powerful; you feel it in your soul. The tune hits hard since the themes it conveys feel almost like an onion; you just peel it back to find more themes.
Here, he addresses the fear of failure, the fatalistic and pessimistic attitude he carries when he talks about how he might die, and the way he copes with this suffering trying to numb the pain. The crushing pressure of responsibility and trauma makes him look for a coping mechanism (smoking).
Everyone faces these kinds of fears in life and the magnitude of the fears depends on the level a person is at.
So the next time you feel some fear creeping in, blast the speakers up with this real hip-hop gem from a genius rap alchemist!
- The Afters – I Will Fear No More
Feeling bombarded by the hefty weight of the world and fearful of what your future holds in this enormous planet of earth that we inhabit; fear no more for things will get better eventually and you just need to trust in that greater power other than yourself!
Remember “Even though I’m in the storm, the storm is not in me!”
- Zach Williams – Fear Is a Liar
Fear is a liar.
The message is deep and meaningful to remind everyone that you actually don’t have to give in to fear or go to the lengths of committing suicide because that’s what fear wants you to do.
Every day isn’t perfect but it doesn’t mean that today doesn’t get a purpose.
Pump up the volume and sing along “Fear he is a liar He will take your breath Stop you in your steps Fear he is a liar He will rob your rest steal your happiness cast your fear in the fire Cause fear he is a liar…”
- Reba McEntire – Fear of Being Alone
This powerful country hit song is reflective of life in its essence.
For any listener looking back at their past, you will realize it and would have more than once thought you did but now as an adult and experiencing adulthood, you know deep down that it was always the fear of being alone!
- Bob Marley & The Wailers – Three Little Birds
Every time you are feeling depressed and like giving in to the fears of the world- listen to this reggae masterpiece from one of the greatest reggae pioneers to have ever graced the world.
Remember “Don’t worry about a thing, ‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right. Singin’: Don’t worry about a thing, ‘Cause every little thing gonna be all right!”
- Johnny Cash – Hurt
This version has so much depth and the weight of impact is colossal as far as issues related to loneliness and depression are concerned.
This song was made for Cash and I couldn’t imagine anyone else ever bearing their soul the way he does.
There is pain in his soul and this pain spreads to other souls who listen to him.
This tune is useful because through it a person begins to think about the meaning of life. This is one of the greatest songs about depression ever; so pure and real.
Such verse as “everyone I know goes away in the end” resonates deeply with a listener in ways you simply couldn’t imagine!
- Bruce Springsteen – This Depression
This is one of those songs about anxiety and depression sang from deep trenches of the heart and soul.
This was echoing a cry for help and is deeply relatable to anyone who has had to battle feelings of depression and loneliness.
The insomnia associated with depression people suffer and the iota of shimmering hope offered in the end “Now the morning sun is breaking”
- The Weeknd ft. Ed Sheeran – Dark Times
This is not the right time for either to fall in love and this genuine 2015’s masterpiece from The Weekend’s “The Beauty and the Madness” album is the type of tune to resonate with as you relive those dark days in your life that were permeated by chaos, drug abuse maybe and a lot of emotional and physical violence and what a greater way to experience it than from these two musical geniuses!
- Imagine Dragons – Zero
Looking for a song to perfectly convey your feelings about depression and hopelessness in life sometimes, then look no further for this is the track right here.
This is the most accurate representation of depression with the upbeat beat and the lyrics echoing those feelings of hopelessness and powerlessness!
- Juice WRLD – Lucid Dreams
“You gave me a heart that was full of mistakes
I gave you my heart and you made heart break” a young and shining star who gave us heartbroken ballads to easily relate with.
A hopeless romantic and legend in such a short time! This is what it feels when you have 5 diamonds but can’t find your home anymore!
May his soul rest in peace
- Billie Eilish, Khalid – Lovely
This conglomerate of depressing thoughts packaged nicely in an alluring smooth and affecting pop is the type of song you run back to when you feel like the weight of the sadness is too much to bear.
No matter how many times you listen to this ballad, you’ll never get enough of it and in its own mysterious ways, this song makes you feel nostalgic about the memory which never existed- their voices sound so perfect together.
This collaboration was meant to happen and is the best thing to have happened in 2018!
- Brad Paisley – Whiskey Lullaby ft. Alison Krauss
“Life is short, but this time it was bigger than the strength he had to get up off his knees…” This emotional tune will echo for eternity and the moving message on show will always touch the core elements of the soft tissue of the heart.
This is the type of song to stop you in your tracks. The type of melody you’ll never forget once you hear it for the first time.
Their ability to tell a story with those harmonies is unmatched. This is the type of tune to connect with on such a deeper and meaningful level.
Depression is real, and it has far-reaching consequences in some circumstances!
- Halsey – Gasoline
That moment when you’re writing a story and all of the lyrics perfectly match a character.
The line “Low on self-esteem so you run on gasoline” is the greatest impactful line you’ll ever hear in a song.
This song hits different when you used to be happy and now you can’t feel a single thing now and you’re now like the legitimate definition of this track by description.
Battling with those strong demons where wish you were dreaming but you really can’t wake up because this is not a dream! Let it sink in and heal your soul astonishingly!
- Twenty one Pilots – Car radio
In any case you’re wondering, the song is literally about somebody stealing his car radio. The reason why he’s flipping out though is because he deals with depression and needs music to distract him from his dark thoughts.
This is the song to convince you that you are going to be okay and cement that reassuring feeling that you are not alone in whatever it is you are going through. The lyrics are heavy and relate to what depression is.
- Kanye West – Runaway ft. Pusha T
This gem of a hit song was released in 2010 and it boasts great production, impactful and touching lyricism, impeccable storytelling and sensational guest verse to complete stupendous artistry.
“Runaway” is the kind of song to speak to a listener on so many levels reminding them that sometimes the person we need to run away from is ourselves! Cheers to a life free from depression and the weight of emotional turmoil!
More Songs About Anxiety and Depression
| 31. | Breathin | Ariana Grande |
| 32. | Perfect | Anne-Marie |
| 33. | Heavy | Linkin Park |
| 34. | Come As You Are | Nirvana |
| 35. | The Scientist | Coldplay |
| 36. | Anxiety | Bmike |
| 37. | Better Place | Rachel Platten |
| 38. | Basket Case | Green Day |
| 39. | 24/7 | Kehlani |
| 40. | Crucify | Tori Amos |
| 41. | Breathe Me | Sia |
| 42. | Save My Soul | JoJo |
| 43. | Invisible | Hunter Hayes |
| 44. | Everlong | Foo Fighters |
| 45. | Blank Space | Taylor Swift |
| 46. | Unwell | Matchbox 20 |
| 47. | Carry On | Fun |
| 48. | Crawling | Linkin Park |
| 49. | Tickle Me Pink | Johnny Flynn |
| 50. | The End | The Doors |
These songs about anxiety and depression are all very powerful pieces that should be listened to and taken with the utmost seriousness. Recognizing that there is hope out there with medical professionals, family, and friends is the first step.
Learning to understand our minds and what happens to us when we are going through these depressive and anxiety filled times can allow you to relate to some of the messages in the songs.
There you have it folks, quench your melodic thirst to these masterpieces and relate to whichever feeling you are currently experiencing. This is the power of music-this is the freedom of art!
