Most of us have sought comfort in the melancholy tunes of artists like Lana Del Rey, Mitski, and Billie Eilish. Their music often resonates deeply with our own experiences, or they’re simply catchy tunes. Of course, sad music indulgence is very cleansing, but over-listening to it may have intricate effects on our mental well-being. This article will explore the potential psychological impact of consistently engaging with sad music and offer insights into finding a healthy balance.

The Psychology Behind Sad Music

The allure of depressing music is in its capacity to confirm and articulate our feelings of suffering. A song that accurately captures our feelings can reassure us that we are not alone in our troubles and offer a sense of comfort and understanding. Sad music also provides a secure environment for delving into and processing difficult emotions, facilitating the cathartic release of suppressed emotions.

Although sadness is painful, humans have consistently produced and enjoyed tragic art. Shakespeare’s most famous plays are all tragedies. There have been many hypotheses regarding why, although humans go through so much effort to avoid grief and sadness in their lives, they like it in the theatre. Aristotle contended that tragic drama allows its audience to experience and then quickly shed those unwanted feelings buried within them (Schaper, 1968). This became known as catharsis. The term catharsis meant an experience of emotional release.

The Response of Depressed Individuals to Sad Music

Patients with major depressive disorder often have a heightened emotional response to sad music compared to those not suffering from depression. Depressed patients tend to rate unhappy music as even more miserable and angrier than healthy controls do (Siegle et al., 2002). They also show increased responses to sad-sounding music, which could link to their increased sensitivity to emotions and problems with emotion regulation.

Influence on Rumination and Mental Well-being

Sad music can influence rumination—a common feature of depression, characterized by the constant dwelling of negative thoughts and feelings. Listening to sad music might confirm negative thought patterns by extending feelings of sorrow or distress and, in turn, increase depressiveness. Therefore, a balanced musical engagement is constructive in promoting emotional well-being.

Tips for Achieving Balance

1. Self-Awareness: Reflect on how sad music affects your mood and emotions.
2. Variety in Music Choices: Diversify your playlist with different genres and moods.
3. Mindful Listening: Pay attention to lyrics, melodies, and emotions conveyed in the music.
4. Set Limits: Establish boundaries to avoid overindulgence in sad music.
5. Monitor Your Mood: Notice how your mood fluctuates in response to different types of music.
6. Seek Professional Help: If sad music negatively impacts your mental health, consider seeking support from a therapist or counselor.

Conclusion

Sad music can be a source of comfort and catharsis, but listening to it too much can affect mental well-being. Psychological engagement with sad music, combined with strategies for balance in the listening, makes it possible to listen and pay attention to emotional health. By being mindful of how it may influence our emotions and applying strategies for mixed listening, one can continue to prioritize emotional health while enjoying the multifaceted pleasures that sad music can bring.

Authored By: Amari Bell, Mental H2O Youth Resource Writer

References

Sachs, M. E., Damasio, A., & Habibi, A. (2015). The pleasures of sad music: a systematic review. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00404

Schaper, E. (1968). Aristotle’s catharsis and aesthetic pleasure. Philosophical Quarterly, 18(71), 131. https://doi.org/10.2307/2217511

Siegle, G. J., Steinhauer, S. R., Thase, M. E., Stenger, V., & Carter, C. S. (2002). Can’t shake that feeling: event-related fMRI assessment of sustained amygdala activity in response to emotional information in depressed individuals. Biological Psychiatry, 51(9), 693–707. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-3223(02)01314-8