Self-Harm and "Monsters": Connecting with Music

For all of you radio-listeners out there, you have probably heard the song “Monsters” by Rihanna and Eminem being overplayed on the radio. For many people, the popularity of a song dissolves after hearing it numerous times a day for weeks on end. However, over the last week, I haven’t been able to get enough of the song.

Why, you ask?

The song’s lyrics seem to be directed towards those struggling with self-harm and mental illness.

Self-Injury and Connecting with Lyrics

The beginning of the song immediately makes anyone struggling with self-harm or mental illnesses relate to the words: “I’m friends with the monster that’s under my bed. Get along with the voices inside of my head.” After hearing those beginning lines, I began thinking of the years when I was addicted to cutting.

The monster symbolized my addiction to self-harm and it being hidden from the world – hidden relating to it being under the bed. Anyone with a mental illness struggles with some kind of voices. Those voices don’t have to be actual people or hallucinations, but it can be anxious thoughts or yourself fighting against yourself. Sometimes, as a self-harmer, those voices are what tell you to hurt yourself when your mind is in a negative place. Sometimes, it is hard not to listen.

Another part of the song that stuck out to me was this: “’Cause I need an interventionist to intervene between me and this monster and save me from myself and all this conflict. ‘Cause the very thing that I love is killing me and I can’t conquer it.”

This made me think about therapy and how it takes a long time to admit that you need help overcoming the battle, whether it is self-harm or mental illness. Many people see their self-harm as love, like in the song, and even though the pain makes them forget about what they’re upset about, they know it is wrong. It takes a long time for people to realize that what they love may not be safe and that they cannot conquer it alone.

Lastly, this line really hit home to knowing you’re not alone in a struggle: “But if one kid out of a hundred million who are going through a struggle feels and relates that’s great.”

Those words pretty much speak for themself. Many self-harmers feel alone during their battle with cutting or burning or bruising, but once someone can relate to their pain, the world becomes a tiny bit less dim. By just knowing that you are not “crazy” or alone makes hope a little closer to grab. (Reactions to Self-Injury Disclosure Important)

Music is the Ultimate Self-Harm Coping Skill

When this song came on the radio after a rough day at work this week, I blasted the song and started screaming the words. Not only did it feel good to let all my frustration out, but also I related to the music.

When bringing up coping skills during my school discussions about Noon, music is usually the first one brought up. Music is a universal way to connect to yourself and the world around you. It brings out emotions and thoughts that may have been locked away for some time.

Make a playlist and listen to that playlist when you are having urges to self-harm. Turn on “Monster” and scream the lyrics. Realize that you are not alone in your battle and that you can get through anything if you are willing to try.

You can also find Jennifer Aline Graham on Google+, Facebook, Twitter and her website is here. Find out more about Noon through Amazon.com.