Is it normal to listen to happy music when i'm depressed?

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7 Comments

Lately, whenever I'm feeling down because I let some lame existential thought or hypothetical situation(e.g. An ex-girlfriend--now friend--of mine, whom I still love, recently acquired a new boyfriend; I often wonder, "If we knew the world was ending, would she decide to spend those last moments with me or him?") get to me I listen to synth-pop or some other variant of upbeat electronic music. I don't listen to it because of the song's intrinsic affect to makes one feel happy; I enjoy the self-made irony because I believe it would make a good scene in a film. For instance, with the above hypothetical situation, I would play Calvin Harris' "Feel so close" because I really couldn't feel more apart from her. Although this causes me unspeakable pain and at times can cause me to cry, the situation pleases me aesthetically. Am I normal?

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83% Normal
Based on 46 votes (38 yes)
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Comments ( 7 )
  • Paradiddle
    10 years ago

    Mmm, unfortunately this sounds a bit self destructive in my opinion. I really dislike those who listen to depressing music while they are sad because that never helps. As you said, happy and upbeat music will make you feel happy and is normal but your reasoning for using it sounds like a "woe is me" that doesn't actually accept the situation in a good way. Great for a film maybe but not when you're the one experiencing it.

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  • RomeoDeMontague
    10 years ago

    Seems more reasonable than finding sad music I suppose.

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  • gd_2_B_A_Man
    10 years ago

    Definitely. Especially angry songs. Then switch to the ones you can dance to.

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  • Tommythecat.
    10 years ago

    Just like how I play "feel happiness" by Swans. I was a lonely child, and I wish it wasn't Ike that for us. Though many deem Swans depressing Im thinking it's more a matter of interpretation these days.

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  • dom180
    10 years ago

    I used to have this analogy where I thought of my life as like a book, and it didn't matter whether the book was happy or sad so long as it was "good" ("good" was quite a nebulous idea I couldn't define, though I didn't realise that at the time). Looking back, it was just my way of coping with the state I was in, justifying my depression to stop myself feeling helpless about it.

    To cut the long story short: I came to the conclusion that it was fucked up to risk sacrificing my own happiness for some sort self-absorbed artistic value, so I eventually stopped thinking that way.

    It wasn't normal or healthy, and I don't think your situation is either. I listen to happy music when I'm sad too, but only to make myself feel better not to create a bitter irony.

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  • dybex
    10 years ago

    It is common to go through self destructive periods in your life.

    I believe cutting oneself and alcoholism are popular choices with the kids of today.

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  • Shackleford96
    10 years ago

    No. That's fucking weird. Lol, it's kind of humorous though.

    It's probably not healthy that you do this to yourself if it causes you pain like that. I listen to music to make me happy :)

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