Finally, after years of derision and dismissal, Heavy Metal is gaining traction for it’s positive effects on mental health. I already knew that personally, but it’s nice to get some validation. This article from PsychCentral is a pretty good overview of the positive effects and how it’s finally starting to be accepted rather than blamed for various issues
I also got a chance to talk about Music Therapy and Heavy Music with my friend and colleague, Tiffany Burnett, from Rhythm and Cadence Family Services. We had a great conversation setting the stage from a Music Therapy perspective, mostly to make sure I’m not too far off base with how I approach music to regulate mental health issues. Our interview goes to some interesting places…
These are the songs I use most often to deal with psychological and emotional issues. And no, it’s not 100 albums like my Top 100 for 2023, though I’m sure some of those will end up on my list at some point. By the way, this is my list, and I’m not suggesting that these will help you. But, I would like to suggest that you take a deep listen and your favorite playlists and choose some of your own.
As always, I’m not diagnosing or prescribing. Music, as healthy and therapeutic as it can be, is not a replacement for medication or therapy. But it is a great addition to any treatment plan!
I hope you enjoy my Top 5 Heavy Metal Songs for Mental Health. If nothing else, there are some seriously killer heavy tunes below!
My Top 5 Heavy Metal Songs for Mental Health
Wheels of Confusion by Black Sabbath.
Wheels of Confusion was my gateway into both Heavy Metal and controlling/altering my emotions with music. 13 can be a tough year for any kid, but luckily this is the first album I ever bought with my own money. I was WAY to young to understand most of the things on this album, but Wheels was a vaguely reassuring. At least, I wasn’t the only one feeling like the world was…bitterly unfair and confusing at times. It was also the first song and band I thought was telling me the truth, and that’s a big deal for some of us.
Many, many other Sabbath songs are helpful, but this is the first to help me navigate feelings of confusion, loneliness, despair and general life changes. All I need to hear is that opening riff and I’m reassured that this is how life is, and I’m definitely not alone.
Whitewater by Kyuss
Depression sucks, but music is a great way to kick it’s ass. Whitewater is the King, and the most impactful song I’ve ever heard or experienced. My first two years of recovery (alcohol, cannabis, methamphetamine) were a nightmare of anxiety, post-acute withdrawal and depression. In early July of that year, I heard Welcome to Sky Valley for the first time. The whole experience of that album was cathartic, but as soon as I heard Whitewater, I knew nothing would ever be the same.
At a NA meeting that night I declared, “I’ll never experience depression again.” The people snickered at me, but nearly 30 years later I have yet to experience another depressive episode with suicidal ideation. Sure, I’ve felt down, anxious, sad and all that. But clinical depression? Nada. To this day, whenever I hear that soft drum intro leading to the solemn guitar melody up to the wail of the guitar amp, I’m good. No matter what.
Hallowed Be Thy Name by Iron Maiden
Depression is only one of many unpleasant mental or emotional experiences. Two of the worst things for anyone to experience are intrusive or obsessive thoughts. Even a dreaded “ear worm,” a song that won’t get out of your head can be maddening, and even lead to acting out or self-harm.
Hallowed Be Thy Name, one of the greatest songs in Heavy Metal history, is the perfect example of fighting fire with fire. Once I hear it, it can stay in my head for HOURS. It’s guaranteed to kick any unwanted thoughts, memories, even Wham! songs outta my head! It’s proven to be a reliable means for me to regain control of what’s going on in my noggin.
I Won’t Dance by Celtic Frost
Anxiety is public enemy #1 when it comes to mental health issues, addiction, and recovering from addiction. I think we (the professionals) do a piss-poor job of addressing it. Benzodiazepines have been the pill of choice for decades, and we pay a hefty price in dependency and withdrawal. Along with alcohol, benzo withdrawal can also be fatal!
My treatment of choice for anxiety is Celtic Frost, which is counter-intuitive. But hearing the opening of I Won’t Dance gives me a reason to feel amped, and the anxiety or panic turns into a cathartic experience in seconds. Of course, I move on to something a bit less amped after a while, but for acute attacks nothing is faster-acting for me.
The Great Cessation by YOB
Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, Sudan. Atrocities abound today, along with our exposure through the media. Add to that an upcoming political season that feels like the equivalent of eating cottage cheese a few months past its expiration date, and it’s hard to feel connected with humanity as a whole. The grief and feeling of meaninglessness can be overwhelming. The Great Cessation is where I go during those times when the world at large is crazier than I can cope with.
From the meditative, solemn opening chords to the introduction of the main theme leading into walls of distortion and the plaintive wailing of Mike Scheidt, The Great Cessation is the ultimate cleanse. It’s a journey into the dark realities of existence, and a not-so-gentle reminder of our shared humanity. YOB is the musical equivalent of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, an approach that involves accepting uncomfortable emotions with a focus on acceptance, mindfulness, and values.
I just make sure that when I listen to YOB, I have time to recollect myself and ground afterward. The lyrics and themes tend to stick with me long after I listen…
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That’s a brief glimpse at the self-care and coping techniques I use, and have used for over 32 years. Music is NOT a replacement for professional care or counseling, but it can have a positive effect along with therapy.
We will be leaning more into the Recovery and Mental Health space over the coming months, and we hope it’s helpful. Still, Clean and Sober Stoner is not straight-edge. We’re “recovery-adjacent” in the sense that we don’t think that drugs are a necessary part of the Heavy Underground.
If you’re currently experiencing any of the symptoms I’m describing, please get help from a professional. If you’re having thoughts or feelings of suicide, help is available at the Suicide Prevention Hotline by dialing “988” on your phone.
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I’ve used music as therapy for as long as I can remember, and that’s a long time. I’ve used different genres for different things and when I was young, I really had no idea that’s what I was doing, but looking back now, it was totally what I was doing. My journey has been long and twisted and up and down and rocky, muddy, and just generally gritty in many ways however I have always been able to put a positive spin on things and even through some of the roughest patches, music has always been there in ways that are very hard to describe. Music and the moon. And some good old fashioned luck, happenstance, divine intervention… whatever you like to call it. Or was it? Could it have been that I just willed myself into a better place? Hmmm, I may not ever know. The sad part about it all though is that although I have always had good intentions, I’ve also always had that ol’ ball and chain around my ankle and a hand tied behind my back. As much as I ever willed, or tried, or prayed, begged, and all other forms of wishing to be able to do better, a lot better, it’s just never come to light so all these instances of my coming out looking ok, have noy done anyone else a bit of good. All these things that I consider so great were only happening to keep me alive or out of some kind of trouble or other less than ideal situations and I have never really been there much for anyone else with the exception of my 2 sons. Even that though was less than ideal but it was still the highlight of my life so far and I don’t really see any epic stuff happening between now and my departure from this existence. But I still get up every day, ready to take it on and hopefully bring as many smiles to faces as I can, including my own and hope to make it through until tomorrow without leaving too much smoke behind me. I have given up on any kind of medical treatment and have decided that there’s nothing at all wrong with me. There’s also nothing wrong with addiction. Everybody is addicted to at least something, it’s in our nature. The problem is not addiction, the problem is how society views it and deals with it. There’s nothing wrong with anything I do. There’s something wrong with how you all view what I do. Mind your own business and we’d all be just fine.
Awesome response. Thank you for that! 🙏🏻