Playlist: Songs for PTSD Awareness Month
June is PTSD Awareness Month. Here are some resources and a playlist for survivors to cope and heal and for allies to learn more about post-traumatic stress disorder.
Written by C.S. Harper
Illustrated by Micaela Galvez
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that may develop after people experience or witness a traumatic event, such as war or sexual violence. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 6.8% of U.S. adults and 5.0% of adolescents experience this disorder within their lifetimes. While these percentages may seem small, this disorder can be incredibly debilitating: Symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks to the traumatic event, avoidance and extreme distress in response to triggers reminiscent of the event, and changes in mood like emotional numbness and paranoia.
Although there is no cure for PTSD, survivors are not alone. There are many options for treatment, and research has shown that music therapy can aid survivors in their healing process. To commemorate PTSD Awareness Month, we compiled a playlist of songs that are about the disorder or have helped survivors cope. While 10 tracks aren’t enough to cover the breadth of post-traumatic stress symptoms, we hope that this playlist, along with the resources below, can help guide those with PTSD on the path to healing and start conversations about the disorder among allies.