Music leading to depression?
 

i am a huge music fan...I believe it is a part of my soul...and I listen to probably 5-6 hours of music a day (home/car/computer). There is a problem however. Music tends to amplify all emotions, in particular emotions of sadness, anger, or hurt. I often find myself singing along to songs, putting myself into the lyrics...identifying with the singer. Ultimately, the venting that occurs only tends to lead to a more depressed state. I rarely feel more uplifted when I listen. Is this healthy?
It's not like i'm listening to death metal either...more like alt rock, pop rock.

The only music that actually uplifts me is alt/contemp. christian...which is pretty much what i was raised to listen to.

In my opinion, I think music that is sad only makes you feel better when you are already sad. I think it does that because it is good to know that someone else relates to your problem. Kinda like talking to a friend who has been through the same stuff.

How bad do you get depressed? If listening to music triggers off bad feeling, it is probably just exposing a deeper problem. For example, a while ago some kid killed himself listening to "Suicide Solution" by Ozzy. They tried to blame Ozzy for the kid's death, but I think the kid was already having problems before the song, and the song just brought his already-present feelings to the surface.

Lots of radio rock depresses me because it is so crappy and one-dimensional.

Basically it makes me dwell on sad feelings...I mean most of the time i LIKE to identify...but i think it sometimes makes it worse.

I dont think it can make you depressed, but it can certainly amplify said feelings.

Maybe you should start listening to death metal! I listen to it constantly, on a daily basis and I am so fucking happy, it's sick!

a lot of the time (whilst listening to music, especially more energy), i get quite pumped up and angry i guess? In doing so, in my "pumped up" state of mind, i get more active and excercise a bit. This in turn releases endorphins into my system, for a natural high, like you get after any excercise or work, a sense of accomplishment as well. So quite often, i feel rejuvenated and happy after listening. Great remedy.

Although, there are a lot of other depressing songs as well, although i tend to mainly gte goosebumps from them, rather than feel too down or depressed?

it's interesting, cause i am sorta the antithesis of this idea. Whenever i feel shit, i listen to music and always/most of the time come out much better?

well i remember my teen angst phase going thru depression (or something like it). yes, i did listen to a lot of sad, dwelling music and yes, it did help me to stay in that sad, dwelling state. which came first tho.. the chicken or the egg? we can't really blame music. i think people just find music to fit their moods/life and stick with it. if you're depressed then death metal may be for you. people just like staying in their own boxes. what defines them.. what measures them.. etc.

if you suddenly start listening to death metal when you'd normally listen to pop music, for example, i don't think it would MAKE you sad. i think it would probably be a bit of a downer, but you'd want to stop listening instead of thinking "wow. this stuff is good. i want to hear more" you know? bcos you can't relate... it's out of your element.

"What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?"
~High Fidelity

IMO, its our need to feel connection/unity in the world. One of the best ways to feel better when you're miserable is too know that there are other people out there that are or recently have been miserable too. The music is just one way to vent and understand those feelings. The music doesn't make you dwell on the feelings, it just brings them more to the surface.

that is a good quote.

That's rather dithyrambic of you. You would have made a good ancient Greek.

Ok, if it brings the problems to the surface...what happens when you can't fix the problems? Now that is a dilemna...

All I know is, when I am keeping busy I tend to forget about my problems, but when I am bored, or at work, or just chillin...that's when my mind starts reminding me of everything wrong.

I guess my problem is that alot of the time I like feeling sad, I like to identify with someone else...but ultimately it doesn't usually help me.