What Artists Like Taylor Swift Teach Us About Anxiety, Empathy, and Big Feelings
Songs and music color our lives at every stage of growing up. We all have those artists and those songs that make us feel something, maybe bringing nostalgia, reminding us of heartbreak or capturing a moment we didn’t have words for at the time.
Generational artists like Taylor Swift teach us so much about anxiety, empathy, and big feelings just by making music.
There’s something powerful about hearing a song and feeling instantly understood. Music finds a way to put words to experiences that we often do not have the words for. Writing is often the same for me. For individuals who experience anxiety or are big feelers, it can be almost, therapeutic and grounding to experience that kind of emotional mirroring. Listening and relating to music won’t eradicate your anxiety, but it can feel like a warm hug, something we often need.
While the artist you relate the most to might not be Taylor Swift, she is a great example for giving people the language to their emotional experiences. Her songs like “marjorie” and “tolerate it” evoke feelings of grief and loss, while songs like “Back To December” and “Enchanted” evoke feelings of nostalgia and bliss. Additionally, many of Swift’s songs talk about mental health in all facets, including anxiety. There’s relief in realizing that you’re not alone in how you feel.
Sometimes, it can feel like having big feelings or being sensitive is viewed as a negative in society, but that’s simply not the case. I often tell my anxious clients (and myself) that anxiety actually means you care more than the average person. Anxiety is literally an overdose of carrying - you care so much that you worry about things often. Combine that with big feeler energy, and it’s even more important to find artists who lean into that emotional honesty through their music.
This is one of the many reasons the 10 minute version of “All Too Well” resonated with millions of fans; despite, its length. The song welcomed the complexity and magnitude of feeling, giving us all permission to sit with our own emotions without having to bypass them or move along too quickly.
Ultimately, music has the ability to evoke emotion because it reflects your own experiences and feelings. It’s a beautiful reminder that you are felt, seen, and understood more than you know. Maybe it’s time to have a little compassion and empathy for yourself.
A note to you:
I know this piece was a little bit different than the others on my website, but I felt it was important to share because music can truly be healing.
At the end of the day, Taylor’s music, like many others reminds us that we’re never really alone in our struggles. Anxiety can feel isolating and overwhelming, but it’s not inherently bad. It is a reminder of our (beautiful and messy) humanity.
Exploring your own emotions is an incredible step into growing your own confidence and self-appreciation. For support, learn more about therapy with me here.
And if you (or your child, teen, or young adult) are struggling, support is out there, you don’t have to face it all alone.
