Songs Remind Us It's Okay Not to Be Okay

Two things are going to become clear in this blog post: my taste in music and that there are songs that remind us that it's okay not to be okay. Realistically, "It's okay not to be okay" is probably a statement you've heard repeatedly in the world of mental health awareness and advocacy. As potentially overused as it is, this sentiment is an important one when combatting mental health stigma.

How Do Songs Remind Us It's Okay Not to Be Okay?

Before I share some of the songs I feel demonstrate this sentiment, I'd like to start by establishing how songs can remind us it's okay not to be okay and combat stigma. I explain in this video.

5 Songs That Remind Me It's Okay Not to Be Okay

I like music a lot. To write this post, I scoured through my liked songs, my albums, my playlists—the whole shebang—to see what songs I enjoy that fit this bill. Unsurprisingly, there were a bunch. Here are some of my favorites:

1. "The Light" by Disturbed -- Disturbed has been my favorite band since I was 12, and this song is a standout for me. Although not explicitly about mental health struggles, lyrics like "don't let hope become a memory" (which I have tattooed on my arm) and "you need never feel broken again" have always spoken to me on that level and serve as a reminder that it's okay to not always be at 100 percent.
2. "When Demons Come" to Life by Halocene -- Halocene frontwoman Addie Amick said she wrote this song because of struggles with depression and coming to the realization that she needed to reach out for help. Her decision to write about it helps normalize these conversations and that it's okay to seek mental health help.
3. "Hurricane" by I Prevail -- This is another song born out of mental health struggles on top of other struggles the band faced. Frontman Brian Burkheiser shares in the music video for "Hurricane" how he started to feel empty and didn't want to get out of bed. The lyrics themselves also talk about feelings of inadequacy and being lost inside one's own mind.
4. "Sunrise" by Our Last Night -- This song addresses suicidal thoughts and mental health struggles head-on. With lyrics touching on feelings of despair and no longer wanting to be in this world, it acknowledges those struggles while also advocating for hope with the line "you can make it to the sunrise."
5. "It's Okay" by Imagine Dragons -- From their recently released album, this song from Imagine Dragons spells it out: "It's okay not to be okay," the lyrics tell us. "Breathe in deep, just a day at a time," it assures us.

What songs do you enjoy that serve as a reminder that it's okay not to be okay?