This post is all about songs about social anxiety.
What is social anxiety disorder?
A person with social anxiety disorder, according to Mayo Clinic, “fears and avoids normal social situations because they cause embarrassment, worry or panic.”
I haven’t personally been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, but I’ve struggled in many social situations and had a minor panic attack during a work meeting recently. It’s obvious to me that at times, I struggle in social situations more than what is “normal”.
Mayo Clinic notes that “in social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, everyday interactions cause significant anxiety, self-consciousness and embarrassment because you fear being scrutinized or judged negatively by others.”
According to The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), symptoms of social anxiety disorder “may be so extreme that they disrupt daily life and can interfere significantly with daily routines, occupational performance, or social life.”
These symptoms can make “it difficult to complete school, interview and get a job, and have friendships and romantic relationships.”
A few of the physical social anxiety symptoms as mentioned by Mayo Clinic include blushing, trouble breathing, rapid heartbeat, and/or feeling like your mind has gone blank.
Mayo Clinic also notes a few things you may avoid as someone who has social anxiety disorder that include interacting with unfamiliar people or strangers, making eye contact (this is a tough one for me), entering a room in which people are already seated, and/or using a public restroom.
How many people are affected by social anxiety?
If you have social anxiety disorder, you’re not alone. ADAA reports that approximately 15 million Americans have social anxiety disorder.
In this post, I put together 50 songs that you may be able to relate to on a deep level. These songs should help you feel a little less alone and a little more optimistic about navigating life with social anxiety.
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Pop Songs About Social Anxiety
Country & Rock Songs About Social Anxiety
R&B & Rap Songs About Social Anxiety
50 Best Songs About Social Anxiety
Pop Songs About Social Anxiety
1. “Breathin” – Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande’s song “Breathin” is a pop ballad about what it’s like to feel completely overwhelmed.
Luckily, she has someone in her life who supports her and encourages her to “just keep breathin”.
Lyrics:
“Don’t know what else to try, but you tell me every time
Just keep breathin’ and breathin’ and breathin’ and breathin’.”
2. “Here” by Alessia Cara
Alessia Cara’s debut single “Here” is all about the anxiety that comes with being at a party or a social gathering that you don’t really want to be at because you don’t relate to the people that are there.
Listen to this song if you are someone who prefers small gatherings with close friends over large gatherings with a bunch of people you don’t know.
Lyrics:
“I would rather be at home all by myself not in this room
With people who don’t even care about my well being.”
3. “In My Blood” by Shawn Mendes
“In My Blood” is about Shawn Mendes’ struggle with anxiety. He admits that some days he just wants to give up, but that it’s not “in his blood” to.
Lyrics:
“Someone help me
I’m crawling in my skin
Sometimes I feel like giving up
But I just can’t.”
4. “Anxiety” by Julia Michaels ft. Selena Gomez
“Anxiety” is a song about depression and anxiety. If you’ve ever felt anxious or depressed and like your friends don’t really understand you, you will relate to this song.
Lyrics:
“Oh, I try my best just to be social
I make all these plans with friends and hope they call and cancel
Then I overthink about the things I’m missing
Now I’m wishing I was with ’em.”
5. “Real Friends” by Camila Cabello
“Real Friends” is a song about what it’s like to feel like you don’t have any real friends. Authentic friendships can be really hard to build (especially when you get older), but it’s so important that you have people in your corner that you can trust.
Lyrics:
“I’m just lookin’ for some real friends
All they ever do is let me down
Every time I let somebody in
Then I find out what they’re all about.”
6. “Anxiety” by blackbear
“Anxiety” by blackbear is a song about the anxiety you might feel if you are worried about losing someone that you love.
Lyrics:
“I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, I get anxiety
When you’re not here with me, I get anxiety
I can’t eat, I can’t sleep, don’t know why you can’t see
You give me, you give me, give me anxiety.”
7. “Tear Myself Apart” by Tate McRae
“Tear Myself Apart” is about how it feels when you go through a breakup, or when someone leaves you, and you are left alone to deal with your emotions and your thoughts. And unfortunately, you resort to beating yourself up.
Lyrics:
“Can you see my hands shake?
Heart is now an earthquake
I’m left alone to tear myself apart.”
8. “I Don’t Care” by Ed Sheeran ft. Justin Bieber
According to Sky News, “Ed Sheeran has spoken about living with ‘crippling social anxiety’. Despite performing at stadium gigs around the world, Sheeran says he gets claustrophobic and doesn’t like being in crowds.”
Even people who you may not assume to struggle with social anxiety can and do struggle from social anxiety, and they need support, too.
Lyrics:
“‘Cause I don’t care as long as you just hold me near
You can take me anywhere
And you’re making me feel like I’m loved by somebody
I can deal with the bad nights
When I’m with my baby, yeah.”
9. “OK Not To Be Ok” by Marshmello & Demi Lovato
This song is all about knowing that it is “OK not to be OK”. Social anxiety is hard to deal with and, at some point or another, you may not feel OK. But that’s human.
What’s important is that you have support or that you can find ways to help you feel better like exercise, journaling, or meditation.
Lyrics:
“It’s okay not to be okay
When you’re down and you feel ashamed
It’s okay not to be okay.”
10. “Be OK” by Ingrid Michaelson
“Be OK” is a song that simply is about wanting to be OK. I think everyone with social anxiety can relate to this! You just want the feeling to pass and you hope it does soon.
Lyrics:
“I just wanna know today, know today, know today
Know that maybe I will be ok.”
11. “Breathe Me” by Sia
“Breathe Me” by Sia is a song about struggling and just wanting someone to come support you and make you feel better. If you have social anxiety, it can really help to let the people closest to you know about it so that they can help you when you experience it.
Lyrics:
“Be my friend, hold me
Wrap me up, unfold me
I am small and needy
Warm me up and breathe me.”
12. “Disturbia” by Rihanna
“Disturbia” is a song about what it’s like when dark thoughts consume your mind. When it comes to social anxiety, it can often feel uncontrollable, but you will get through the moment or experience that is bringing it up.
Lyrics:
“It’s a thief in the night to come and grab you (Ooh)
It can creep up inside you and consume you (Ooh)
A disease of the mind, it can control you (Ooh)
I feel like a monster, oh.”
13. “Growing Pains” by Alessia Cara
Alessia Cara talks about how tough it can be to get older in her song “Growing Pains”. Getting older really does come with its own struggles, there’s no doubt about it.
Lyrics:
“Can’t run back to my youth the way I want to
The days my brother was quicker to fool
AM radio, not much to do
Used monsters as an excuse to lie awake
Now the monsters are the ones that I have to face.”
14. “Brave” by Sara Bareilles
“Brave” is a song that encourages people to say what they want to say. This song that helps people express themselves and stop holding back.
Lyrics:
“Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly, I wanna see you be brave.”
15. “24/7” by Kehlani
“24/7” is a song about accepting the fact that everyone has highs and lows. It says a lot that Kehlani, a very famous and successful music artist, doesn’t know anybody who feels really great at all times, according to her lyrics.
Everyone struggles from time to time and that is perfectly normal.
Lyrics:
“I don’t know nobody
Who thinks that they’re somebody
24/7.”
16. “Lovely” by Billie Eilish ft. Khalid
This is a song about depression, and feeling like you can’t escape your thoughts.
According to Billie Eilish and Genius, the song was named “Lovely” because it “was sort of really freaking depressing so then it’s like oh, how lovely. Just taking everything horrible like you know what this is great.”
Lyrics:
“But I know someday I’ll make it out of here
Even if it takes all night or a hundred years.”
17. “Human” by Christina Perri
Human is a song about being willing to do so much for someone that you love, but also realizing that you’re not perfect and that you will mess up from time to time.
Lyrics:
“But I’m only human
And I bleed when I fall down
I’m only human
And I crash and I break down.”
18. “Cool Kids” by Echosmith
“Cool Kids” is a song about wanting to fit in and be one of the “cool kids”.
Lyrics:
“I wish that I could be like the cool kids
‘Cause all the cool kids, they seem to fit in
I wish that I could be like the cool kids.”
19. “i need to be alone.” by girl in red
If you are an introvert, then you really value your alone time. When you are feeling socially anxious, you probably want to be more alone than ever. This is a song about wanting your alone time.
Lyrics:
“I’m falling out of conversations
I can’t pay attention, repeat the question.”
20. “Fight or Flight” by Conan Gray
“Fight or Flight” is a song about being anxious while you’re going through a breakup. It can be really hard to control your emotions when going through something like this, and this song is all about how Conan Gray is trying to navigate the situation.
Lyrics:
“My eyes are welling up
As you admit there’s someone new
It’s my move, fight or flight?”
21. “Stressed Out” by Twenty One Pilots
“Stressed Out” is a song about growing older, leaving your youth behind, and becoming stressed out. There are so many things adults might deal with (social anxiety being one of them) and if you’re stressed out currently, you won’t feel alone after you listen to this song.
Lyrics:
“Wish we could turn back time to the good old days
When our momma sang us to sleep, but now we’re stressed out.”
22. “Anxious” by Dennis Lloyd
“Anxious” is a song about what you might feel like before a tough conversation with your partner. In relationships, it’s not always easy to have serious conversations, and it may never feel like there’s a good time to do so, and that’s what this song is about.
Lyrics:
“But I keep feelin’ anxious, baby
These are the nights when I just keep feelin’ nervous, help me.”
23. “i can’t breathe” by Bea Miller
“i can’t breathe” is a song about desperately wanting things to change because you feel trapped in your mind.
Lyrics:
“Wanna break all the clocks and the mirrors
And go back to a time that was different
A time when I didn’t feel like there was something missing
Now my body and mind are so distant
Don’t know how to escape from this prison.“
24. “You Will Be Found” by Sam Smith & Summer Walker (from the movie “Dear Evan Hansen”)
“You Will Be Found” is a beautiful song about keeping your head up and staying hopeful even when you are at your most lonely.
Lyrics:
“Even when the dark comes crashing through
When you need a friend to carry you
And when you’re broken on the ground
You will be found.”
25. “Xanax” by Lindsay Lohan
According to Lindsay Lohan, “Xanax” is a song about opening your “eyes to our opportunities instead of numbing the mind.” It’s also about that one person who can calm your social anxiety.
Lyrics:
“I got social anxiety, but you’re like Xanax to me, yeah
Social anxiety, when you kiss me, I can’t breathe.”
26. “Anti-hero” by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift wrote this herself about her song “Anti-hero”: “This song really is a real guided tour throughout all of the things I tend to hate about myself. We all hate things about ourselves. It’s all of those aspects of the things we dislike and like about ourselves that we have to come to terms with if we’re going to be this person.”
Like Taylor Swift says, everyone of us has parts of ourselves that we may not necessarily love. And I think we should all find comfort in that.
Lyrics:
“When my depression works the graveyard shiftAll of the people I’ve ghosted stand there in the room.”
Country & Rock Songs About Social Anxiety
1. “Every Day Is Exactly The Same” by Nine Inch Nails
According to Genius, this song is about how the singer knows he is “going to be happy, then sad, then feel dead inside, then maybe for a bit feel loved, but inevitably the cycle is going to repeat.” Being human means everything comes in waves and none of us are immune to that.
Lyrics:
“Every day is exactly the same
There is no love here and there is no pain (Every day).”
2. “Panic Switch” by Silver Sun Pickups
This song is about someone who is seemingly going through a panic attack. If you have ever had a panic attack, whether it be from social anxiety or something else, you are absolutely not alone. I’ve been there, too <3
Lyrics:
“When you see yourself in a crowded room
Do your fingers itch? Are you pistol-whipped?
Will you step in line or release the glitch?”
3. “Basket Case” by Green Day
“Basket Case” is an incredibly popular song by Green Day. It’s about the lead singer’s (Billie Joel Armstrong) experience with anxiety. Years later, he would be diagnosed with panic disorder.
Lyrics:
“Sometimes, I give myself the creeps
Sometimes, my mind plays tricks on me
It all keeps adding up
I think I’m cracking up
Am I just paranoid?”
4. “Head Above Water” by Avril Lavigne
This song is about feeling completely overwhelmed with life and just hoping that it gets better.
Lyrics:
“God, keep my head above water
Don’t let me drown, it gets harder.”
5. “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath
This song is about not being able to see the glass half full and not being able to find joy or happiness.
Lyrics:
“I need someone to show me
The things in life that I can’t find
I can’t see the things that make true happiness
I must be blind.”
6. “Keep Talking” by Pink Floyd
This song describes the thoughts you might be feeling if you are struggling with social anxiety in a public place.
Lyrics:
“There’s a silence surrounding me
I can’t seem to think straight
I’ll sit in the corner and no one can bother me
I think I should speak now (Why won’t you talk to me?)
I can’t seem to speak now (You never talk to me)
My words won’t come out right (What are you thinking?)
I feel like I’m drowning (What are you feeling?).”
7. “Fake Happy” by Paramore
“Fake Happy” is a song about faking your happiness. Some people are really good at making you think they are happy and doing well. It’s important to check on those people and to make sure they are OK, even if they seem like the happiest people in the world.
Lyrics:
“I love makin’ you believe what you get is what you see
But I’m so fake happy, I feel so fake happy.”
8. “Crawling” by Linkin Park
This is a song about what it feels like to be insecure. Confidence is so helpful to have, especially if you are feeling social anxiety come on, but it’s also a difficult thing to drum up at times.
Lyrics:
“Without a sense of confidence
I’m convinced that there’s just too much pressure to take
I’ve felt this way before, so insecure.”
9. “Demons” by Imagine Dragons
If you would describe your social anxiety as one of your “inner demons”, then this song is for you.
“Demons” by Imagine Dragons is all about dealing with your deepest insecurities and inner demons.
Lyrics:
“Don’t get too close; it’s dark inside
It’s where my demons hide, it’s where my demons hide.”
10. “Stop And Stare” by One Republic
This is a song about feeling trapped where you are in life, and about not being sure that you’ll make it out.
But it also encourages you to keep trying, even when you’ve almost lost all hope.
Lyrics:
“Stop and stare
I think I’m moving, but I go nowhere
Yeah, I know that everyone gets scared
But I’ve become what I can’t be, oh.”
11. “Help!” by The Beatles
“Help!” is a song about feeling insecure and needing help from someone. If you’ve ever asked for help when it comes to your social anxiety disorder, you’ll definitely be able to relate to this classic song.
Lyrics:
“Help me if you can, I’m feeling down
And I do appreciate you being ’round.”
12. “Unwell” by Matchbox 20
According to Genius, Rob Thomas (the lead singer of Matchbox 20) wrote this song “for people who are ‘messed up and feel alone like that. We all feel a little messed up sometimes… you’re not alone.'”
Lyrics:
“I’m not crazy, I’m just a little unwell
I know right now you can’t tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you’ll see
A different side of me.”
13. “The World At Large” by Modest Mouse
This is a song about wanting to run away from your problems.
Lyrics:
“I move on to another day
To a whole new town with a whole new way
Went to the porch to have a thought
Got to the door, and again, I couldn’t stop.”
14. “Rose-Colored Boy” by Paramore
This is a song about the lead singer, Hayley Williams, talking to a “rose-colored boy” or someone who is much more optimistic as she is.
Sometimes, it can feel a little exhausting trying to be optimistic or positive, and that’s what this Paramore song is all about.
Lyrics:
“Just let me cry a little bit longer
I ain’t gon’ smile if I don’t want to
Hey, man, we all can’t be like you
I wish we were all rose-colored too.”
15. “People Are Strange” by The Doors
“People Are Strange” is a song about how when you’re down on yourself, everything seems a little bit worse around you.
It reminds me a lot of the law of attraction. What you think about, you attract more of. And in this case, when you’re down and having negative thoughts, you can unfortunately attract more negative things.
Lyrics:
“When you’re strange
Faces come out of the rain
When you’re strange
No one remembers your name.”
16. “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day
According to Boy Sets Fire, this song is about the lead singer feeling alone. “The singer feels like he is the only one who is struggling and that everyone else is living a perfect life.”
Lyrics:
“My shadow’s the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart’s the only thing that’s beatin’.”
17. “Happy & Sad” by Kacey Musgraves
This is a song about being so happy that you’re worried about when that’s going to change.
It’s almost as if you can’t truly enjoy your happiness because you’re so worried about when it’ll wear off.
Lyrics:
“No, I’ve never been this far off of the ground
And they say everything that goes up must come down
But I don’t wanna come down.”
18. “Anxiety” by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
This is a song about how defeating anxiety can feel.
Lyrics:
“Anxiety
Why am I never where I am supposed to be?
Even with my lover sleeping close to me
I’m wide awake and I’m in pain.”
R&B & Rap Songs About Social Anxiety
1. “Anziety” by Logic
This song is yet another reminder that everyone, no matter your status, fame, or wealth, can experience anxiety.
And how it’s so important that we prioritize our mental health.
Lyrics:
“The doctor said it was anxiety
But how could it be anxiety?
How could anxiety make me physically feel off balance?
How could anxiety make me feel as though I was fading from this world and on the brink of death?”
2. “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” by The Geto Boys
This is a song about paranoia, or what it’s like to feel like something’s about to happen or like something just isn’t right.
Lyrics:
“Everybody know me; it’s like I’m a movie star
But late at night, somethin’ ain’t right
I feel I’m bein’ tailed by the same sucker’s headlights.”
3. “Stressed Out” by A Tribe Called Quest Featuring Faith Evans
Social anxiety can be incredibly stressful. This is a song about overcoming stress.
Lyrics:
“I really know how it feels to be, stressed out, stressed out
We’re gonna make this thing work out eventually.”
4. “Lucid Dreams” by Juice Wrld
Juice Wrld described this song “as a “’therapy session’ that he chose to write while going through relationship difficulties” according to Optimist Minds.
If you have anxiety, or you’re going through something difficult currently, you may be able to relate to this song on a deep level.
Lyrics:
“I take prescriptions to make me feel a-okay
I know it’s all in my head
I have these lucid dreams where I can’t move a thing.”
5. “Self Care” by Mac Miller
This is a song about the importance of self care, especially if you are going through something as difficult as addiction, heartbreak, or mental health struggles.
Lyrics:
“Self care, I’m treatin’ me right, yeah
Hell yeah, we gonna be alright (We gon’ be alright).”
6. “So Many Tears” by Tupac
“So Many Tears” is a song about Tupac’s battles with various mental health struggles, including anxiety.
Lyrics:
“I suffered through the years
And shed so many tears.”
Final Thoughts
I hope these songs about social anxiety help you feel a little bit better. Which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below 🙂
This post was all about songs about social anxiety.
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