Taylor Swift Songs about Mental Health: The Self-Titled Edition
At Council for Relationships, we’re all about making mental health care more accessible, and we know that getting folks to talk about mental health is one of the first steps in getting people the help they need. This is why we’re proponents of efforts, whether implicit or explicit, top open up avenues for mental health discussions. Enter: art. Since the dawn of humanity, we’ve been using art to express mental health ideas. Prolific songwriters such as Taylor Swift continue that expressive tradition today. In fact, since her debut in 2006, Swift’s music has served to open doors to discussions on countless critical mental health topics. Over the coming months, CFR Staff Therapist Meghan Rydzewski, MFT, will chronical, album by album, the lessons we can learn from the Taylor Swift songs about mental health.
Next album: Fearless (Taylor’s Version)
Map of the continental United States showing the stops for Taylor Swift’s 2023 Eras Tour.
My place in this world
I am sure you have all heard of the Era’s Tour; the sold-out world tour that was almost impossible to get tickets to, that had fans filling the streets and crossing boundaries everywhere. Swifties were extremely excited because it was a chance to see Swift perform some songs from each album she had never played live before. All ten studio albums would be brought to life in arenas full of 50,000+ people each night, all over the world.
Taylor Swift is one of the world’s most incredible artists, and underneath her albums, there are crucial mental health lessons.
Swift’s self-titled debut album, which came out in 2006, was just the start of Taylor’s masterpieces. I was a young girl when I listened to this album. I was driving in the car with my mom listening to “A Place In This World” thinking about if I’d ever fit in, or what I wanted my place to be. In the middle of a split household as an only child, I wondered where my place was. This album was extremely important in my development and I believe it can serve great mental health take always to anyone who inquires within. I feel like I finally found my place in this world being a therapist. Go check it out!
The following is my list of Taylor Swift songs about mental health.
Taylor Swift songs about mental health
A Place in this World
Figuring out one’s place in life can be quite a challenge, especially for young people. This song represents not knowing where one belongs, and relying on oneself to find it. It is important to rely on yourself and not someone else when figuring out what you want to do in life. But, just because one feels alone, doesn’t mean that you can’t lean on other supports in your life for help and guidance.
Cold As You
This song is important because it explains that no matter how much effort or love you put into a relationship with someone, it doesn’t mean they will love you the same way back. In relationships, the same amount of effort and love that one gives should feel equal and balanced. In this case, it seems one-sided, so the best thing might be to create boundaries and implement space to protect oneself from getting further hurt and disappointed.
Tied Together With a Smile
This song displays knowing your worth, as well as providing a message that is “not settling for anything less than you deserve.” It also displays how someone can appear happy on the outside with a smile and can be struggling deeply within. It is important to never assume that someone is okay just because they appear happy on the outside. Check in with family, friends, and loved ones.
Tear Drops on My Guitar
This song paints a picture of liking someone so much that you give them the power to be able to break your heart. In other words, building a home in another person and giving them the power to take down the home whenever they want, can be dangerous. It is important to try to build a home within yourself, and not rely on others to provide you with security and happiness.
Meghan Rydzewski, MFT (pictured here)
About the Author
Meghan Rydzewski, MFT, is a New Jersey Staff Therapist at the Council for Relationships. If you have questions about Taylor Swift songs about mental health or about Meghan’s availability to see new clients, go here.
See our Therapist & Psychiatrist Directory to find a different CFR therapist or psychiatrist near you.
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Taylor Swift Songs about Mental Health: Fearless (Taylor’s Version)