Being heartbroken is one of the worst feelings in the world, and, at times, the pain can be so great that you genuinely feel like you’re going to die from a broken heart (which, for the record, is medically possible).
In these moments of extreme anguish and despair, many of us turn to music as a source of much-needed comfort. And, indeed, music has been proven to have a profound effect on our moods, which is why it so often used in therapy. But it all begs the question: when we’re feeling blue, should we listen to upbeat music to make us feel better, or sad music to help us feel understood on a deep, emotional level?
According to research—and, let’s face it, years of anecdotal evidence from diehard fans of Howlin’ Wolf and B.B. King—the answer is the latter. A 2013 study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found that people felt better when they listened to music that matched their moods. Listening to angry rock had the effect of lessening the rage and frustration of the listener, just as hearing a Taylor Swift break-up jam eased the pain of someone with a broken heart. The theory is that when we listen to music that coincides with our mood, it helps us subconsciously express those feelings, while also enabling us to feel less alone through the recognition that whatever pain we’re going through isn’t unique and has been felt by millions of other people throughout history.
But if you’re feeling way to depressed to curate your own personal playlist, you’re in luck. Recently, a team of scientists worked with Amazon to create a customized “Heartbreak Recovery” playlist that taps into the five commonly known stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
The playlist runs 3 hours and 48 minutes and includes 60 well-known songs, including Adele‘s “Send My Love to Your New Lover,” Amy Winehouse‘s “Tears Dry On Their Own,” and Sam Smith‘s ultra-angsty “Too Good at Goodbyes.”
Amazon
It definitely seems to lean a little more heavily on the moving on part of the process, presumably because that’s the bit that you want to get to, but no matter what stage you’re in, you’re bound to find solace in these songs. And if you’re ready to fully embrace your new single status, check out these 12 Genius Ways to Happily Fly Solo As a Single Person.
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