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Bipolar Disorder in Song Lyrics Essay

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Songwriters write about their lives since their lyrics are a reflection of their personal experiences. Often, a coping mechanism for dealing with a problem is to bring the issue out in the open. The lead singer and song writer of alternative rock band Blue October, Justin Furstenfeld explains on a suicide prevention video that he has “battled with bipolar disorder, psychiatric tendencies as well as anxiety issues throughout much of his life and admits he self-harmed during his teenage years and has reoccurring suicidal thoughts” (Freunde fürs Leben, 2010). Many songs that he wrote are about his mental illness and problems he faced because of it. In the song X Amount of Words, Furstenfeld clearly wrote this song about his mental …show more content…

Oh! (We’re recording you)” (Furstenfeld, 2005). The feeling of being watched by someone is likened to a phobia, an intense fear of someone which would be considered irrational by others. The line “I never knew you till you left me with the crying disease” suggests a failed relationship led to major depression (Furstenfeld, 2005). It is not made clear whether it was romantic interest or a family member or friend but the wording may be intended to be very general. Further proof of Furstenfeld’s trouble with relationships is stated in the lyrics “Give me recipes for sorry I’m admitting I’m wrong”, which he blames his disorder on causing rifts in his relationships (Furstenfeld, 2005). Bipolar disorder causes unusual mood changes so it would be fair to say that it is a factor. Biological Factors Furstenfeld explains that bipolar disorder is a malfunction of the brain hence the lyrics “your brain is faulty wiring” (Furstenfeld, 2005) and recognizes that there is a biological mechanism that causes the disorder. According to Butcher, Hooley, and Mineka, “cortisol levels are higher in bipolar disorder patients and evidence of mood changes are caused by abnormalities concerning the hypothalamic-pituitary thyroid axis which

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