Music in OCD Recovery

I made an entire exposure playlist! it's very helpful for me 💖

Serotonin by girl in red is a song about the artists experience with OCD. Portrays the frustration well and has helped me feel less alone!

"Olympian" by Propaganda is a good fight song, and "The Search" and "Happy" by NF (not pharell, different song haha) both have the artist mentioning some of his struggles woth OCD etc which is also encouraging on the 'not the only one dealing with this' note

OCD by Tim Bernard! Give it a listen

As an exposure, Moyda by Adam Sandler. It didn’t work as an exposure for my harm OCD but I still feel it may be for someone.

Two songs that got me through the worst of times with ocd were : hard times by PARAMORE & viva la vida by Coldplay

I did a rewrite about my experiences with OCD to the tune of "Straight White Man" (no offense) by Bo Burnham. If you want, pull up the song on YouTube to hear the tune while you read the lyrics :) Here it is: Walking around, I could talk to anyone, Tell them my secrets, so I might feel relief. If I could forget, don't you think that I'd do it? The gods only know why they cursed me to have... O - C - D I state my problems, other people reassure me That I'm not my thoughts, Not a monster, but a "good" person. If only they knew the thoughts that swirled around all the time, They would finally see why I need... My compulsions. O - C - D The road looks tough ahead. Do I want to fuck my cats? Will I die tomorrow? I don't know who I am anymore, And also, no, I don't want to fuck my cats. (That actually sounds boring, not very sexy *eyeroll*) Someone once told me that my life is like a pie, Slice it up and find... My problems are actually quite simple, So I must be... pretty weak, Unable to handle my pie-like problems, But I have... O - C - D I think I'm possessed, Demonic, Evil, Guilty of anything accused. A somatic experience, sick to my gut, so it must be true. But what can be trusted in a gut consumed by worry, And a mind stuck on sickness, sadness, violence, and fear? *clenches teeth* O - C - D, I know you think you're protecting me From fucking my cats, Or hurting someone's feelings... But you make me doubt myself, So I'll say, "Maybe," to the things you ask for. . . . O - C - - - - - D, You make the road look tough ahead, But I'm learning who I am, And you're losing your power. You used to rule my mind with fear, But I've learned some tricks, and it's not as fun for you now.

A classic one for me, one that really made me a diehard fan of them at this point. is “falling man” by 90s underground group, Blonde Redhead. Truly magical, sort of punk, experimental at times, almost psychedelic, melodic, elegant. Chill, that song has really helped a lot over the years 🙌

It may not be about OCD but it’s relatable: “Don’t Box Me In” by Stan Ridgway & Stewart Copland

Dear Lie - TLC. To me the “Lie” is the intrusive thoughts.

I have so many but I always like “Only Be A Story” by Icon for Hire

“Every-time I Cry” by Ava Max Also PARASITE by Banshee And Serotonin by Girl in Red As well as Chronically Cautious by Braden Bales

Cover Me Up by Jason Isbell and lots of other songs by him. He's great imo. My friend writes a lot of good stuff that has helped me too. Look up Bluecartoonblues on Spotify (or his band Here Comes Bobby). I'm thankful for the ppl on this thread who have introduced me to Serotonin by Girl in Red!!

I had never before listened to Katy Perry, but her album “smile” hit home for me when I started therapy. I particularly like the songs “resilient” and “not the end of the world” for when I need encouragement. Joy Oladokun’s “Look Up” is so encouraging. I love all of her songs for reflection and feeling and being uplifted. Also: “tomorrow will be kinder” by the secret sisters “The climb” by Miley Cyrus “sadness is a shade of blue” by Låpsley “This isn’t everything you are” by snow patrol And Lauren Mvulla’s album “to the moon” is just a glorious album for feeling my emotions and being uplifted by music Also Yo-Yo Ma & Kathryn Stott’s album “songs of comfort and hope” ❤️