Music is powerful. There’s no denying it. It can make you smile and it can make you cry. It can bring up every kind of emotion, some of which we can’t even name. Everyone has experienced that before.

I have heard many of my depressed friends talking about how music has helped them cope with the illness. Then, I decided to make a list.

But I wanted it to be a long one. I wanted it to have all kinds of genres, so everyone could find something in it for them. So I went on Quora and asked people to name at least one song that has helped them cope with depression.

I received dozens of answers from people with all kinds of experience with depression. Most of them named more than one song so it took me a long time to go through all them. The result is this list. I’m sure that no matter what you’re going through, you will find at least one song in it to help you feel better.

Because there are so many songs, I decided to separate them into categories according to the general feeling I could detect in them. I’ve also written the musical genre in front of the titles so you can pick your favorite ones. The songs are listed in no particular order. Enjoy!

Songs to comfort you

In these songs, the singer seems to be talking directly to you. They’re telling you that you’re not alone. They understand you, they know what you’re going through. But everything is going to be ok. They are ideal to listen when you feel you need a shoulder to cry on.

One More Light (Linkin Park), which inspired our movement, is in this category.

• Missing You (All Time Low) – rock
• Stronger (Mandisa) – gospel
• Mama I’m Coming Home (Ozzy Osbourne) – rock
• Mockingbird (Eminem) – rap
• Little Girl Blue (Janis Joplin) – rock
• Iridescent (Linkin Park) – rock
• Lullaby (Nickelback) – rock
• Everybody Hurts (R.E.M.) – rock
• That’s Life (Amy Diamond) – pop
• Life’s What You Make It (Amy Diamond) – pop
• It Can Only Get Better (Amy Diamond) – pop
• One More Light (Linkin Park) – rock
• Closer (Skylar Grey) – pop
• One Day (Björk) – experimental
• Tell Your Heart To Beat Again (Danny Gokey) – pop
• People Like Us (Kelly Clarkson) – pop
• Not Alone (Red) – rock
• You’ll Never Walk Alone (Gerry & The Peacemakers) – gospel
• Plea From A Cat Named Virtue (Weakerthans) – rock
• Savior (Black Veil Brides) – rock
• Chiquitita (ABBA) – pop
• 1–800–273–8255 (Logic) – rap/pop
• Truce (Twenty One Pilots) – indie
• Scars To Your Beautiful (Alessia Cara) – pop
• Life Is Worth Living (Justin Bieber) – pop
• You Are Not Alone (Michael Jackson) – pop

NOTE: I want to call your attention to Logic’s song,  1-800-273-8255. The title of the song is the phone number to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It’s a number that’s always worth remembering. It’s a good idea to add it to your phone’s contacts list, even if you don’t think you’re ever going to need it. Something you know might.

Songs to give you the courage to take action and stand up for yourself

Sometimes, the world is going to bring you down. Many people get depressed because they are bullied in school or because something is trying to make them feel inferior. Depression makes it difficult for us to find the best in ourselves and react. These songs are here to motivate you to not to give up on yourself and to remind you that you are strong.

• Not Afraid (Eminem) – rap
• Lose Yourself (Eminem) – rap
• Till I Collapse (Eminem) – rap
• We Will Rock You (Queen) – rock
• Back In Black (AC/DC) – rock
• My Name Is Love (Amy Diamond) – pop
• Don’t Lose Any Sleep Over You (Amy Diamond) – pop
• No Regrets (Amy Diamond) – pop
• Nobody Can Save Me (Linkin Park) – rock
• Good Goodbye (Linkin Park) – rap/rock
• Battle Symphony (Linkin Park) – rock
• You Can’t Always Get What You Want (Rolling Stones) – rock
• Fight Song (Rachel Platten) – pop
• Superheroes (The Script) – pop
• Swim (Jack’s Mannequin) – pop
• Hall Of Fame (The Script) – rock
• Rock And Roll Thugs (Icon For Hire) – rock
• It’s Time (Imagine Dragons) – rock
• Last Man Standing (Hammerfall) – metal
• I Won’t Back Down (Johnny Cash) – country
• Me Against The World (Simple Plan) – rock
• Amen (Halestorm) – rock

Songs to help you express your feelings

Depression comes with a lot of negative feelings. We try to keep them locked inside. We don’t want others to see this “ugly” part of our hearts. But the heart is like a bucket. You can only put so much water inside before it begins leaking. Sometimes, you’re going to feel the need to vent, to let the feelings out. Singing these songs can help you achieve that. At the same time, because someone else wrote these lyrics, you know there’s at least someone out there who understands you. It feels great.

TRIGGER WARNING: Because depression brings up some pretty heavy feelings, these songs are mostly loaded with sad and angry lyrics. Please listen with caution. If you feel they are making you feel worse, stop and search for help. Call a friend or a doctor if necessary. You can also reach out to our Facebook group. We’re there to support you. If you’re feeling suicidal, please refrain from listening to these songs (especially Fade To Black) and call your local hotline for support. We want you to feel better. You can do this.

• Send Me An Angel (Scorpions) – rock
• I Found (Amber Run) – rock
• Numb (Linkin Park) – rock
• Demons (Imagine Dragons) – rock
• The Unforgiven (Metallica) – rock
• One More Light (Linkin Park) – rock
• Heavy (Linkin Park) – rock
• Iris (Goo Goo Dolls) – rock
• So Far Away (Avenged Sevenfold) – metal
• Beautiful (Eminem) – rap
• Legacy (Eminem) – rap
• Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen) – rock
• Master Of Puppets (Metallica) – rock
• Fade To Black (Metallica) – rock
• Highway To Hell (AC/DC) – rock
• Thunderstruck (AC/DC) – rock
• In The End (Linkin Park) – rock
• Papercut (Linkin Park) – rock
• Castle Of Glass (Linkin Park) – rock
• New Divide (Linkin Park) – rock
• My Immortal (Evanescence) – rock
• Bring Me To Life (Evanescence) – rock
• Tangerine (Led Zeppelin) – rock
• The Scientist (Coldplay) – rock
• Creep (Radiohead) – rock
• Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me (Low) – rock
• Don’t Cry Your Heart Out (Amy Diamond) – pop
• Purple Rain (Prince) – pop
• Not To Touch The Earth (The Doors) – rock
• Talking To Myself (Linkin Park) – rock
• Invisible (Linkin Park) – rock
• Sorry For Now (Linkin Park) – rock/rap
• Halfway Right (Linkin Park) – rock
• Sharp Edges (Linkin Park) – rock
• Dancing On My Own (Calum Scott) – pop
• Honesty (Billy Joel) – rock
• I Fall In Love Too Easily (Chet Baker) – jazz
• House Of Memories (Panic! At The Disco) – rock
• I’ll Be There For You (Bon Jovi) – rock
• I Want To Be Free (Queen) – rock
• My Demons (Starset) – rock
• Empire In My Mind (Wallflowers) – rock
• On My Own (Ashes Remain) – rock
• Pleaser (Wallows) – pop-rock
• Ghost (Parekh & Singh) – pop
• Soledad (Westlife) – pop
• Say Go (The Upbeats ft. MK) – pop
• Louder Than Words (Pink Floyd) – rock
• Grow (Conan Gray) – pop
• Even If It’s A Lie (Matt Maltese) – indie
• Bedshaped (Keane) – alternative rock
• Running Up That Hill (Placebo) – alternative rock
• The Noose (A Perfect Circle) – rock
• This Song Saved My Life (Simple Plan) – rock
• Glass House (Red) – rock
• In My World (NateWantsToBattle) – rock
• Script For A Jester’s Tear (Marillion) – rock
• Wither (Dream Theater) – metal
• Droppin’ Plates (Disturbed) – metal
• Welcome To My Life (Simple Plan) – rock
• I’m Just A Kid (Simple Plan) – rock
• Worst Day Ever (Simple Plan) – rock

Songs to calm you down

Depression can make it difficult for you to fall asleep. You have all these rushing thoughts competing for your attention, and none of them is helpful. You feel agitated as if you can’t switch off your brain. All you wish is that you could calm down a bit and clear your mind. These songs have soothing melodies and lyrics. They are here to help you relax and breathe.

• Song Of A Golden Dragon (Estas Tonne) – instrumental
• Sonata 5 (Beethoven) – classical
• Stairway To Heaven (Led Zeppelin) – rock
• Kinaare (Mohan Kanan) – Hindi music
• Inuyasha’s Lullaby (Inuyasha anime) – instrumental
• Even When It Hurts (Hillsong United) – gospel
• Let It Be (The Beatles) – rock
• Hey Jude (The Beatles) – rock
• New Horizons (The Moody Blues) – rock

Songs to cheer up/dance to

Sometimes, you need something to shake you up. You need to snap out of that gloom and cheer up. Of course, I’m not saying that’s easy. When you have depression, it seems almost impossible. But these songs are here to help with their catchy rhythms and optimistic lyrics!

• You Can’t Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd (Roger Miller) – folk
• Otter Pop (Shawn Wasabi) – pop
• Pineapple Spaceship (Nanobii) – electronic
• Big Guns (Amy Diamond) – pop
• What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong) – jazz
• Rock And Roll All Night (KISS) – rock
• The Bird (Morris Day And The Time) – soul
• Optimistic (Sounds Of Blackness) – urban gospel
• Don’t Stop Me Now (Queen) – rock
• Blue Sky (Electric Light Orchestra) – rock
• I Slipped And Fell In Love (Alan Jackson) – country
• Mavin Gaye (Charlie Puth ft. Meghan Trainor) – pop
• Two Step (Dave Matthews Band) – jazz
• Here Comes The Sun (The Beatles/George Harrison) – rock
• These Are Days (Nathalie Merchant) – alternative
• The Rest Of Us (Simple Plan) – rock

Other songs that people mentioned

Sometimes, the triggers for depression are not clear. Likewise, sometimes we don’t know why something helps. It just does. And that’s good, right? These last songs were mentioned by people like you, who struggle to live with depression every day. While listening, I couldn’t identify what made them particularly helpful. But that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve their spot on this list. So here they are. Maybe they can help you, too?

• Enter Sandman (Metallica) – rock
• Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin) – rock
• Another’s Arms (Coldplay) – rock
• Space Oddity (David Bowie) – rock
• God Of Thunder (KISS) – rock
• The Other Side Of Paradise (Glass Animals) – art pop
• Strangers In The Night (Frank Sinatra) – jazz
• Drive (Alan Jackson) – country
• Swords In The Wind (Manowar) – metal
• Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning (Alan Jackson) – country

Do you have other songs that help you cope with depression? Please share them with us in the comments below! We’d love to make a second edition of this list with other helpful tunes!