Who knew Taylor Swift’s lyrics could actually be therapeutic! Music is powerful for a number of reasons. From relieving stress to affecting the brain chemistry responsible for memory, motor control, and attention, the music we listen to changes our brains. This includes your favorite pop music.
Licensed therapist Jeffrey Meltzer and his wife, self-proclaimed Swifty, took to TikTok to share the real impact music can have on mental health. For this, they used five lyrics from Taylor Swift’s latest album, “The Ward of Tortured Poets.”
According to a therapist, here are 5 Taylor Swift therapeutic songs from TTPD:
1. ‘Were you sent by someone who wanted me dead? Do you have a gun lying under our bed… In 50 years, will all this be classified? And you will admit why you did it, and I will tell you. – ‘The youngest man who ever lived’
Theorized about the “escape attitude” in Swift’s life, the truth is that the origin of the song is not as important as how you approach the lyrics. The song is ultimately about betrayal and how to move on from pain. Meltzer explained, “the therapeutic line from ‘The Ward of Tortured Poets’ shows how relationships are based on lies.”
As with most things, in order to move forward, you must first acknowledge the hurt and pain. According to VeryWellMind, an integral step in emotional healing is to sit with the pain and allow yourself to go through it, but in the end, “good coping” is the right thing to do and let it go.
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2. They say they didn’t do it to hurt me, but what if they did? I want to cry and show you how much it bothers me. You will not stay in the shelter where I was brought up for even an hour.” – “Who is afraid of me?”
For people who grew up in unstable or chaotic environments, “Who’s Afraid of Me” is probably an anthem for you—if not an encouraging reminder of resilience in adulthood.
“Everything is personal and everything gets deep and makes it hard to trust other people,” Meltzer said of childhood trauma and its connection to the songs.
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Acknowledging how the pain of your past not only gives you strength, but also affects your relationships, allows you to accept who you are and identify how any unresolved trauma can shape who you become as an adult. Believe it or not, it does matter.
3. ‘I stopped CPR; after all, it is useless. The spirit is gone, we will never come to it. And I’m angry with you for letting me give you all that youth for free.” – from “Solong, London”
The frustration of fighting for a relationship that isn’t worth saving is an experience we all go through at least once in our lives. Regardless of who Swift is referring to, listeners can imagine parents, past loves, or even friends, and relate to the feelings of wasted time and effort that lead to anger and frustration.
“It’s part of a relationship that goes from despair to separation,” Meltzer said, explaining that the songs “take an emotional journey of trying to rekindle something to finally move on.” These songs serve as a reminder that it happened, but you survived. And now you are moving forward.
4. Breathing fresh air for six weeks. I still miss the smoke. Were you teasing me with some esoteric joke? – from “The Black Dog”
Simply put, these songs reflect the complex emotions that come with knowing that a relationship isn’t good for you, but still missing it. “Now I want to sell my house / Burn all my clothes / Hire a priest to come cast out my demons / Even if I die screaming,” Swift continues.
“It’s a struggle to get rid of something toxic, just because you’re losing yourself, even though you know it,” Meltzer said. It is important to remember that there is no shame in admitting a loss, even if it is necessary.
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In an article written for Psychology Today, licensed therapist Sarah Epstein explained, “When we end a difficult, toxic, exhausting, and frustrating relationship, we are likely to feel sad.” She continued: “We may grieve the loss of a relationship with that person—perhaps we felt more worthy or powerful or beautiful or desirable. We may also grieve the loss of a future we envisioned together. And so , we grieve for what was, we grieve for what never was, we grieve for what is no more, and we grieve for what is not.”
5. ‘As the man blushed, I hope you come back. With your feet on the ground, tell me everything you’ve learned. Because when perspective is gained, love is never lost.’ – from “Peter”
“This song beautifully captures the tension of waiting for someone,” explained Meltzer, “and then being able to move on.” For anyone who’s tired of just crying about “the one who got away,” this might be the perfect song for your playlist. your caress – all reminding you that there are always more people who love and appreciate you.
Fortunately, this heartbreak will give you a new appreciation for new relationships, some of which you may not even have in your life—how fun!
Zaida Slabbekoorn is a news and entertainment writer at YourTango, focusing on health and wellness, social policy and human interest stories.
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