War inside My Head: Metal, Mental Illness and Psychic Energy
In: Can I Play with Madness? Metal, Dissonance, Madness and AlienationSearch for other papers by Colin A. McKinnon in
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Music has been shown to have many positive effects on mood, and there is much anecdotal evidence in the metal community that, in fans suffering from various kinds of mental distress and illness, metal can help those individuals to get through emotionally turbulent times. However, much has also been made in certain aspects of the media concerning potential links between metal fans and certain types of mental illness. Data from some studies have suggested that metal fans may be more prone to depression, anxiety, suicidality and schizophrenia, for example. Some have suggested that metal is therefore a contributory factor to adverse mental health in these individuals. These studies were therefore objectively evaluated. However, a more recent theory uses the existing evidence that some metal fans may be more predisposed to some mental health issues and disorders, but contends that something about metal may connect with and attract certain people with such predispositions. There may be various reasons for this from both psychological and physiological perspectives, one of which is that metal may tap into the unconscious, which can subsequently communicate to the individual’s consciousness, allowing it to act as a source of psychological energy and power. Another reason relates to feelings of alienation in mental illness, for which metal may act as both emotional release and refuge from the outside world. These theories will therefore be discussed from a psychological perspective.