15 Songs I Listen To When I’m Stressed as Someone on the Autism Spectrum

When I was growing up on the autism spectrum, I fell in love with music. During the time I was dealing with sensory overload, loud noises would often bother me. But when I started listening to music, even if it was loud, my passion for music made it tolerable. Today I don’t deal with many of the same issues when it comes to noises. With that being said, I still love to listen to playlists whenever I’m stressed and feeling overwhelmed. Here are some of my favorites that have helped.

1. “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele

This song is soothing to me. As I explain in my article, “How Adele Helps Me With My Sensory Overload,” her music helps me find calm sometimes in the most chaotic of days.

2. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston

3. “Larger Than Life” by the Backstreet Boys

One of the first concerts I ever attended was a Backstreet Boys concert in New Jersey. These songs left an impact on me.

4. “Lose Yourself” by Eminem

I often lose myself in music when I’m having a rough day. Hearing the lyrics, “You better lose yourself in the music,” truly resonates with me.

5. “Hey, Soul Sister” by Train

6. “The Man” by Aloe Blacc

Whenever I need a confident boost about my abilities, I listen to this song.

7. “Confident” by Demi Lovato

8. “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson

This song helps me self-reflect and reminding myself that I can make changes in my life to help me improve.

9. “Never Too Much” by Luther Vandross

10. “Chandelier” by Sia

11. “Everything She Does Is Magic” by The Police

12. “Firework” by Katy Perry

This song reminds me about the impact all of us have.

13. “Happy” by Pharrell

For someone who struggled with emotional issues growing up due to a lack of speech, I often wish this song were around when I was younger. Positive reinforcement is key.

14. “Love on Top” by Beyoncé

Because in our community, to help our loved ones, everything starts with “love.”

15. “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey

This is what I tell all the families I speak with. Whether your child has autism or not, you can never stop believing in what your child is capable of. This song keeps me confident in my mission to make a difference for the people in our community.

A version of this story originally appeared on Kerrymagro.com.

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