Have you ever felt your heart racing with anxiety until you pressed play on a calming song, and suddenly, everything felt a little lighter?

Or listened to a sad song after a tough loss to help you feel seen and understood? Maybe an upbeat anthem gave you the extra push you needed to get out of bed and face the day! If so, then you already know the incredible power music can have on our mental health. 

 Music isn’t just background noise. It can be a lifeline. Songs can help us express what we can’t always say out loud, regulate our emotions and even build connections with others. At Camber Mental Health, we recognize the power of music in supporting healing, particularly for children and teens navigating intense emotions. Whether used in therapy or simply enjoyed in everyday life, music is a tool that can bring comfort, calm and even joy when it’s needed most. Music is a powerful coping tool for anxiety, depression and many other mental health difficulties and can be just the quiet escape you need amid your busy life! 

How Does Music Really Support Your Mental Health?

Think about that one song or artist you turn to when you’re in your feelings. How do you feel when you listen to it? Validated? Uplifted? Grounded? Music taps into our emotions and helps us move through them, processing things we can’t always put into words. 

“Music has a way to validate emotions and provide comfort, even regulating the nervous system. A lot of times when we’re feeling overwhelmed, music is a great way to ground us,” says Camber Expressive Therapist Madelaine Heigele, who has a background in music and utilizes music therapy in her work with Camber clients. 

Did You Know?

Music can actually connect with our brains in different ways to help regulate and release, including: 

• Activating emotional, motor, memory and even reward systems 

• Releasing dopamine (the “feel good” chemical) 

• Lowering cortisol levels (the stress hormone) 

• Synchronizing breathing and heart rate to a steady rhythm 

• And even soothing the amygdala, which is the part of the brain connected to feelings of fear and emotional reactivity. 

Listening to music might seem like a passive activity, but it’s activating more in our minds and bodies than we know.

“Music can activate almost every part of the brain, even if you’re just imagining the song in your mind and not hearing it out loud! That’s how deeply embedded music is in our neurological makeup. ” —Madelaine Heigele, Expressive Therapist at Children’s Mercy + Camber Mental Health

 

Inside Music Therapy at Camber: Healing Through Sound

Music is a key part of expressive therapies at Camber because it is so powerful for connecting to our emotions, whether you’re two years old or 92! Madelaine uses techniques like lyric writing, song analysis, making playlists and listening to music to help her patients work through how they’re feeling. 

Camber Expressive Therapist Madelaine brings connection and comfort through guitar during an adult music therapy session.

A typical music therapy session with Madelaine starts with a check-in, seeing how the client is feeling that day and determining the best approach. She sometimes starts with a lyric analysis, sometimes using the song “Good Riddance” by Green Day because of the variety of lyrics that can resonate. Other music therapy activities include guided listening with muscle relaxation, song writing, music-based games and creating playlists as a toolkit to revisit in times of stress. Because music can touch the heart and influence the mind in many different forms, there are many different directions to take during a music therapy session! 

Ultimately, Madelaine explains, music helps us feel human. “Our patients in the hospital often feel like something is ‘wrong’ with them, and they’re here because they’re in a time of crisis. So listening to songs in our sessions brings back that sense of reality and humanity and can bring them a great sense of comfort. That’s so helpful.” 

Our Top Playlists: Find the Right Soundtrack for Your Mood

Maybe you’re winding down after a hectic day and need something calm and grounding. Or you’re driving with the windows down, craving a feel-good throwback to lift your mood. Some days, you just want to sit with your feelings and let a truly emotional playlist do the talking. And then there are mornings when you need uplifting energy to kickstart your motivation. That’s why our staff-curated playlists are here to help you find exactly what you need in the moment. Let the music guide you, whatever your day brings.

Playlist #1: Calm and Grounding 

Find your calm with this gentle mix of feel-good favorites, mellow classics and soul-soothing instrumentals. From the dreamy sounds of Tame Impala and Surfaces to the easy comfort of Maroon 5, Cleo Sol and Zac Brown Band, these tracks are made for slow mornings, deep breaths and quiet resets.

Playlist #2: Feel-Good Throwbacks

Sometimes what you need is music that resonates with how you’re feeling and gives you a much-needed emotional release. This is for our fellow Mitski fans, uniting ballads and indie songs that are relatable and cathartic. 

Playlist #3: Upbeat Mood Boosters

If you need a boost, this next one can help you feel recharged and uplifted! With pop and hip-hop songs that are upbeat and energizing, hang out with Beyoncé, Doja Cat and other energetic artists for an instant boost. 

Playlist #4: Emotional Healing

If you’re feeling introspective (or want to be), give this indie folk and ambient playlist a listen. Nothing beats Bon Iver and Hozier for moody, mellow vibes and contemplative, soothing rhythms. 

How to Build a Playlist That Supports Your Mental Health

There is no one-size-fits-all with music. That’s what makes it such a personal and unique way to process your feelings. Here are five simple tips for creating a mental health playlist that feels supportive and helps soothe you in stressful times.

1. Sit with Your Feelings

The first step in creating a mental health playlist is identifying what you need. “Tune into your emotional state. For example, do you need your playlist to match the mood you’re in right now or do you need to listen to a playlist that’s the complete opposite of the mood you’re in?” Madeline says. Considering your needs can help you decide what to listen to. 

You can start during a heavy moment or wait until you’re feeling better and reflect back later. Try this: Write some words about how you’re feeling, listen to one of our playlists to get you started, or even draw how you’re feeling!  

This can help you find the right vibe for your playlist. But keep in mind that there is a time and a place for highly emotive, sad songs. Pay attention to how they affect your mood over time. Is it really helping, or is the song holding you back from moving forward? Madelaine says, “If a song is reinforcing that hopelessness or numbing that emotion, it’s wise to shift the soundtrack into something a little different.”

2. Start with Three Key Songs

Find the core songs that fit the theme of your playlist. These don’t have to be your top three favorite songs of all time, of course. Some of those may not belong at all in your mental health playlist. Instead, look for songs that help you both feel validated where you are and gently guide you to where you need to be.

3. Let It Change Over Time

Stay flexible! Don’t feel pressure to lock yourself into your original playlist. If you’re listening and a song isn’t helpful anymore, or you realize a song is missing that could really help, feel free to make any changes you want. Explore, experiment and embrace the process! That’s part of the beauty of music therapy.

4. Mix and Match

Try to incorporate variety within your playlist, possibly even telling a story from start to finish rather than shuffling it when you press play. Some of the best songs for a mental health playlist have a mood-shifting feel to them, transitioning from a slower pace to something more upbeat or even the opposite if you need something to bring you down from feeling anxious. 

For example, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is a classic song that flows through multiple moods and tempos. But if these transitions feel too sudden, find something a little less dynamic. 

5. Don’t Overthink It!

Your mental health playlist is meant to help you, not add to the overwhelm. It doesn’t have to be perfect to work for you. Even just pressing play on a single grounding song can be a powerful step forward.  

Small Steps, Real Progress: Your Next Listen Matters

Remember: all of these songs, playlists and tips are here to help you, not overwhelm you! Instead of stressing over accomplishing everything here like a checklist, take some time to focus on one small thing you can do to use music to improve your mental health. Maybe it’s just listening to a single playlist on this list. Maybe it’s finding one song that really resonates with where you are right now. Or maybe you’re ready to dive into the full therapeutic approach and learn more about music therapy at Camber! However you move forward today, we hope that music helps you find what you need. 

Do you have a go-to song when you’re feeling sad or angry or anxious? Share it with us on Instagram @cambermentalhealth – maybe we’ll add it to one of our playlists! 

Need More Support? Camber Is Here for You:

At Camber Mental Health, we are committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based mental health care for youth, adults and families across the Midwest region. If you or someone you love needs mental health support, Camber is here. Learn more about mental health treatment at Camber.