22 Songs About Anxiety That Will Make You Feel Understood

By We Level Up FL Treatment Center | Editor Yamilla Francese | Clinically Reviewed By Lauren Barry, LMFT, MCAP, QS, Director of Quality Assurance | Editorial Policy | Research Policy | Last Updated: February 13, 2023

Anxiety Statistics

It’s critical to understand the distinction between anxiety and depression. Anxiety, in its most basic form, is an excessive feeling of worry, whereas depression, in its most basic form, is an excessive feeling of worthlessness and hopelessness. It is conceivable for someone to experience depression and anxiety simultaneously.

---

---

22 Songs For Depression And Anxiety: Songs About Anxiety And Depression

3. Songs About Social Anxiety: “Help” – The Beatles

Help is a well-known song by a well-known band, and it’s also a song that’s extremely simple to interpret as being about anxiety. This song portrays the sense of powerlessness and the subsequent appreciation felt by many when someone notices, with the catchy words concealing a great deal of anguish.

The lyrics provide listeners a glimpse into the feelings behind the song, and even Paul McCartney has gone so far as to affirm that they are based on actual events.

4. The Anxiety Song: “Trouble” – Hamish Anderson

Ever feel like anxiety and fear are closing in on you but nobody seems to notice or care? This feeling, which many individuals who suffer from anxiety experience, inspired Hamish Anderson to write the song Trouble.

5. The Song Anxiety: “Overkill” – Colin Hay

Overkill will speak to you if you’ve ever had a night where you couldn’t sleep because your mind wouldn’t shut off. This song by Colin Hay is probably best remembered for appearing in a Scrubs episode, but it’s a very relatable tune for anyone who has ever pondered something for an extended period of time that perhaps didn’t require as much thought.

6. Anxiety Song Lyrics: “Waving Through a Window” – Dear Evan Hansen

One of those musicals, Dear Evan Hansen, captures a specific kind of high school angst that, for those who have experienced it, is almost unbearably difficult to see. One of the most authentic songs about social anxiety is Waving Through a Window, which includes both the stress that comes with feeling invisible and the longing that comes with being out of the spotlight. Although it won’t be played on the radio, this song will undoubtedly resonate with individuals who experience social anxiety.

7. Song Anxiety: “Breathin’” – Ariana Grande

If you’ve ever experienced an anxiety attack in front of others, they’ve probably advised you to breathe. This song by Ariana Grande is a tribute to that sense of being overburdened and overloaded, which leaves you just able to pay attention to your breathing.

The complexity of life and feelings of overwhelm are also topics covered in the song, particularly the notion that having just one thing go well can, at the very least, temporarily allay all of your concerns.

8. Song That Helps Anxiety: “BasketCase” – Green Day

In their discography, Green Day has written a number of songs about feeling down or poorly in general, with Basketcase being one of the greatest. The song uses a straightforward musical framework to take listeners on a rollercoaster ride through the singer’s worry, from questioning if he’s sharing too much to listing all the futile attempts he’s tried to control it. You’ll probably recognize anything here if you’ve ever attempted to overcome your nervous sensations by using self-help techniques.

9. Fighting My Anxiety Song: “Unwell” – Matchbox 20

Unwell by Matchbox 20 is a rare exception that discusses feeling a little bit unwell and is an uncommon song concerning mental health in the band’s discography. The song effectively captures the feelings of being unable to sleep and being on the verge of a breakdown, both of which are prevalent among those who battle with anxiety.

With lyrics about folks on the training understanding that you’re not at your best, the song even briefly touches on the paranoia that comes with feeling off.

10. High Anxiety Song: “The World at Large” – Modest Mouse

Modest Mouse’s song on anxiety is all about the issues that arise from becoming stuck in a loop, with thoughts so loud that they overpower speech. The singer, who is plagued by obsessive ideas and an incapacity to break free, is locked in a loop of starting over rather than making positive changes.

The lyrics of this song should resonate with everyone who has ever felt too anxious to move forward with their lives, even though this may also be applied to depression.

11. I Got Anxiety Song: “Paranoid” – Black Sabbath

While the song “Paranoid” undoubtedly concentrates on paranoia, it also captures the essence of worry. Thinking about things all day that don’t really improve life?

If you are unable to put an end to that pesky notion, do you feel insane? Put to the kind of driving background guitar that truly gives the listener the impression that they are skidding out of control, those are important components of the anxiety experience. This timeless song covers a wide range of topics, but anxiety comes through loud and clear.

12. Song Stuck In Head Anxiety: “Help I’m Alive” – Metric

The core themes of Metric’s song revolve around the typical signs of anxiety, such as a racing heart and a protagonist who feels as though each mistake will result in an enraged horde descending. Help I’m Alive is all about a person’s racing heart as they battle a form of anxiety that has gotten out of hand, allowing the listener to relate to the physical sensations that are so typical among those who experience severe anxiety.

13. Love Anxiety Songs: “Anxiety” – Jason Isbell

Jason Isbell has got you covered if you’ve ever felt that anxiousness prevents you from being in the present and relishing the moment. While the guitars conjure an uncomfortable tension, the lyrics detail his troubles with social engagements and even his marriage.

Isbell has claimed that he worked together with his wife to express the gravity of the occasions that caused panic attacks. He intended the song to have meaning for listeners who were dealing with worry in all of its manifestations.

14. My Anxiety Song: “Flagpole Sitta” – Harvey Danger

“Flagpole Sitta” laments anything from losing faith in your fellow man to grief with a lighthearted attitude. Sean Nelson, the singer, feels as though the weight of the world is crushing him. Who could ever forget how his eyes would flicker back and forth in the video as he sang, “Paranoia, paranoia/coming Everybody’s to get me”?

15. Song Reduces Anxiety: “Rose-Colored Boy” – Paramore

When it comes to songs about anxiety, Paramore’s contribution stands out for its upbeat mood and catchy tempo. But behind it all, there are lyrics about being compelled to pretend to be happy when truly depressed.

Singer Hayley Williams portrays a struggling news anchor in the music video. She is surrounded by screens in one scenario that urges her to “smile more,” “be joyful,” and “drink more coffee.” She doesn’t take long to erupt in rage.

16. Anxiety Song Stuck In Head: “Mind Playing Tricks On Me” – the Geto Boys

The bravado and fury demanded by gangsta rap in the early 1990s left little room for mental health considerations. With “Mind Playing Tricks On Me,” a song by The Geto Boys that addressed the stress and paranoia associated with the lifestyle, they changed that.

The lyrics, accompanied by pounding music, convey a fragility below all of that macho. The song makes reference to both vocalist Scarface’s stint in a mental hospital after making threats to hurt himself as well as the ongoing threat of violence resulting from gang life.

17. Anxiety Song Tiktok: “The Message” – Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

The song “The Message” was historic for a variety of reasons. Hip-message hop of inner-city poverty and social injustice was also thrust to the forefront, along with hip-hop itself. “Don’t push me because I’m near to the edge/I’m trying not to lose my mind,” it said, without minimizing the psychological impact that could result.

18. PTSD Anxiety Crippling Depression Song: “In The Garage” – Weezer

While there were many songs about worry on Weezer’s seminal 1994 self-titled album (also known as “The Blue Album”), “In The Garage” may be the one that stands out the most.

Rivers Cuomo, a songwriter, has penned numerous songs about the struggle with feelings of social inadequacy. Here, he finds refuge from everything in his garage. They’re all there, whether it’s his collection of X-Men posters, his Dungeons & Dragons table, or his beloved electric guitar, ready to offer solace and comfort.

19. PTSD Anxiety Crippling Depression Song Lyrics: “Come As You Are” – Nirvana

Kurt Cobain spends “Come As You Are” outlining all the inconsistencies in how we are expected to act and behave, set to a somber and menacing guitar riff. The lyrics also explore how we choose to trust others and how they behave toward us.

A concoction of worry is created by the combination of all these uncertainties. All of this, of course, is unrelated to the song’s melancholy refrain. Despite the sardonic humor, Cobain was known for, his pain is evident in this piece.

20. Song That Reduces Anxiety: “Shake It Out” – Florence + the Machine

It’s hard to recollect any concern as vocalist Florence Welch moves through the upbeat chorus of “Shake It Out.” That’s exactly the reason; it’s her escape from the oppressive weight of worry.

The lines invoke the listener’s deepest emotions and the wretched feelings they feel they will never escape from conflict with the choruses. If this resonates with you, you might benefit from shaking it out for yourself.

21. Songs To Calm Anxiety: “Disturbia” – Rihanna

Rihanna has previously been open about her struggles with anxiety. She even acknowledged leaving the Grammys early because she was experiencing anxiety. Although that was in 2016, she had previously discussed the illness in “Disturbia” from 2007.

The song’s menacing undertone and the equally menacing design of the accompanying music video allow Rihanna’s singing to cycle over anxious-inspiring scenes. The message of the song can be a little hazy, although it frequently references feelings of restlessness and being stuck.

22. Christian Songs About Anxiety: Morning By Morning

It has been said that God provides for each and every day that we will experience. Although God provides for us in unfathomable ways, He does not give us everything at once. God wants us to renew our souls every day by relinquishing control of our lives and putting our trust in Him once more. If we do not routinely renew our faith in Christ, it could become stale and weak. The song “Morning by Morning” by Pat Barrett supports this truth. In this song, Barrett expresses how dependent we are on God and encourages us to follow Him as He has always followed us.

We Level Up Dual Diagnosis Treatment

The definition of dual diagnosis (also referred to as co-occurring disorders) can differ between institutions. However, it is generally described as the specific treatment of someone who has been diagnosed with a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder at the same time. Treating dual-diagnosis clients is a critical aspect of our inpatient treatment experience because co-occurring disorders are strongly correlated with instances of substance abuse.

Creating a treatment plan that addresses the physical aspects of withdrawal, the psychological connection with drug use, and managing underlying mental health disorders is part of setting clients up for success.  A thorough mental health analysis identifies possibilities for treatment.  Meeting with mental health counselors and medical care providers means access to behavioral therapy and medication treatment. At our dual diagnosis treatment center, We Level Up can implement the highest quality of care. 

We recognize the fragile complexities of how mental and substance abuse disorders can influence others and sometimes result in a vicious cycle of addiction.  That’s why we offer specialized treatment in dual-diagnosis cases to provide the most excellent chance of true healing and long-lasting recovery.

It can be challenging to accept that you may be living with a mental illness, but once it is properly diagnosed and treated, treating the presenting case of substance abuse can be magnitudes easier. Only a properly trained medical professional can diagnose these underlying conditions.  If you believe you are suffering from a disorder alongside addiction, we urge you to seek a qualified treatment center to begin your journey to recovery. Call We Level Up today.