Why do we listen to sad songs when we're feeling down?

The answer is simple, the song's melancholy validates the emotions we are experiencing.

For a few minutes we feel that we are not alone in our pain.

Someone, somewhere in the world has gone through the same thing we did and understands what we are feeling.

We identify with the feelings awaken by the music, either in the melody, the lyrics or even in a specific memory we associate with it.

This doesn't just happen with sadness. In fact, it can happen with any kind of music or emotion.

However, what we feel when we listen to a song depends on the experiences and personal memories we associate with it.

So, music can also be a way to re-experience past moments and feelings.

Even a calm song can convey negative feelings if it is associated with a negative or traumatic memory.

For example, for a recovering addict, a song associated with a moment of active addition can become a trigger and lead to cravings.

However, when we know how to use it to our advantage, the act of listening to a song connected to our emotions can be therapeutic.

And it can even be used as a coping strategy. Listening to songs that convey feelings of calm can help to deal with moments of anxiety and stress. Just like listening to the right music after a moment of irritation can help us to exteriorize feelings of anger and frustration.

This effect can also cause us to listen to the same music over and over again. This may mean that there is an emotion or concept in the song that our mind is processing. While this doesn't happen with every song we listen to on repeat, it can be something to consider when we're stuck with a melody in our heads.

I challenge you to pay attention to the songs you listen to, they might have something important to convey.