Music and lyrics are cornerstones of addiction recovery. Music brings a presence letting pain soften, and perhaps a tear of joy. But let me allow my buddy his own introduction his playlist:
"So many of us have grown up in a world where our emotions were to be kept to ourselves and told what we could and could not feel. This approach of society and parenting stunted my emotional development and rendered me nearly incapable of processing emotions in real time. The concept of empathy and any feeling other than anger were lost to me until now, I’m 44 years old.
Often we turn to the various art forms to help in expressing the way we feel. Some use poetry, some use paint…since I’m a very unoriginal person…I used music. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t make music. I listened to music and related to it. I used the lyrics of others and related to it. I began to understand what love was supposed to feel like. I began to hurt and feel sadness through the stories told by the artists coming through the speakers. So much so that rather than simply telling a “love interest” how I felt in middle school I recorded a mixed tape of love songs and gave it to her.
In my half-ass recovery process I leaned on music so much to help “narrate my recovery” and feel for me. I had a playlist for damn near every ill feeling that I had but didn’t feel as though I could talk about. I have only recently discovered my “emotional voice” but I’d like to share this playlist with you and welcome you along my ride.”
As my buddy’s DJ, let me cue up the list. You can find these tunes on the Spotify Ridgeback Recovery playlist. My understanding grew as I read the lyrics as I listened to each song.
So Far Away — Staind
Dear X, You Don’t Own Me — Disciple
Accidents Can Happen — Sixx A.M.
Best I Am — Flaw
Creature — Jelly Roll
Love Me — Aaron Lewis
Something To Remind You — Staind
Many Faces — Flaw
If I Change It — Creativets
Easy Runaway — Stick Figure
King Without A Crown — Matisyahu
Got No Water — Matisyahu
Not Enough — Flaw
Sticks And Stones — Aaron Lewis
Honest — Song House
My Letter — Flaw
Got a song that helps you? Drop it in the messages and we can add it to the list.