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Writer's pictureSam Eaton

75+ Songs to FIGHT Depression & Suicidal Thoughts

Please don’t hold me up as your role model or the person you wish to emulate—that’s too much pressure for this quiet, tiny-waisted Minnesotan to endure.

When I named this blog (and my first book if it ever gets published) I had no definition for RECKLESSLY ALIVE and, full disclosure, I’ve been trying to figure it out ever since.

In the worst moments of my depression, the shame of “you’re supposed to be the Recklessly Alive guy” swirls through the hijacked parts of my brain like an F-4 tornado.

Each time the stupid dark room comes back hard and fast, hope becomes harder and harder to hold on to like a honky tonk mechanical bull gone wrong.


Hope that it will ever be gone for good. Hope that the next medication won’t make me want to throw up all day. Hope for a normal-er life—whatever that means.

I’ve been alive long enough to realize that we’re all up against something: cancer, loneliness, infertility, greed, grief, obesity, addiction… on and on the list goes. But that’s the thing about life, you have to find something deep within that pushes you to keep that hope alive.

The Recklessly Alive life isn’t about perfection, it’s about showing up in the toughest moments and—despite all the odds—choosing to keep moving forward.

Forward, always forward. So I wake up every day and I keep doing that.

Speaking of RECKLESSLY ALIVE… this blog turns 7 years old this week.

7 Years Old. This blog is a freaking first grader.


When I sat down and created that first WordPress account 84 months ago, I never dreamed we’d be here together with over 1,000 of you coming to hangout with my words every single day.

It actually freaks me out if I think about it too much… 🙂

Instead of a party or something of that matter, I’m choosing to celebrate this blogaversary by doing what I do best: sharing hope and encouragement to anyone feeling lost and alone.

Thank you for all the kind emails and messages along the way. Thank you for supporting the blog and the videos and the speaking and the ministry. Thank you for being my strange, online family through the ups and the downs and the hate mail.

Here are some of my most popular posts about depression too, just for funsies:


If you’re fighting this fight with me, here are 75+ songs that have helped me along the way.

Some are songs that share exactly how I feel in the depths like “Heavy” by Linkin Park or “Breaking You” by Audrey Assad. Others offer that impossible ray of light into the darkness like “You’re Gonna Be OK” by Jenn & Brian Johnson or “Rise Up” by Andra Day.

Fighting the hard fights with you my friends and sharing words, laughter & music along the way.

Blessings,

  1. Rise – Shawn McDonald

  2. You’re Gonna Be OK – Jenn & Brian Johnson

  3. Keep Breathing – Ingrid Michaelson

  4. Out of the Dark – Matt Hires

  5. I’ll Find You – Lecrae, Tori Kelly

  6. I Won’t Let You Go – Switchfoot

  7. Rise Up – Andra Day

  8. The Broken Ones – Dia Frampton

  9. Heavy – Linkin’ Park, Kiiara

  10. You’re Not Alone – Owl City, Britt Nicole

  11. When a Heart Breaks – Ben Rector

  12. Through All of It – Colton Dixon

  13. You’ll Find Love Again – Brandon Heath

  14. Titanium (Acoustic Cover) – Collin McLoughlin

  15. Chain Breaker – Zach Williams

  16. 1-800-273-8255 – Logic, Alessia Cara

  17. Remain – Royal Tailor

  18. Let You Down – NF

  19. Breaking You – Audrey Assad

  20. Unsteady – X Ambassadors

  21. Come Alive (Dry Bones) – Lauren Daigle

  22. He Won’t Leave You There – Andy Garcia

  23. Never Been a Moment – Micah Tyler

  24. Not Today – Hillsong

  25. Million Years Ago – Adele

  26. Beloved – Jordan Feliz

  27. I Can Just Be Me – Laura Story

  28. Priceless – for KING & COUNTRY

  29. Shadow Days – John Mayer

  30. Losing – Tenth Avenue North

  31. Gravity – Sara Bareilles

  32. Beautiful World – Nathan Angelo

  33. He Knows My Name – Francesca Battistelli

  34. Alive – All Sons & Daughters

  35. What Do I Know? – Ed Sheeran

  36. Oh Jesus – Jon McLaughlin

  37. What A Beautiful Name – Hillsong Worship

  38. Undo – Rush of Fools

  39. I’m Not Who I Was – Brandon Heath

  40. Stronger – Mandisa

  41. Mansion – NF

  42. Live Like You’re Loved – Hawk Nelson

  43. I Am Not Alone – Kari Jobe

  44. Never Too Far Gone – Jordan Feliz

  45. Flawless – MercyMe

  46. Hollow – Tori Kelly

  47. Don’t Let Me Down (Cover) – Conor Maynard

  48. Take It All – Sawyer Fredericks

  49. Worn – Tenth Avenue North

  50. The Story – Brandi Carlile

  51. World Spins Madly On – The Weepies

  52. Come As You Are – Crowder

  53. All Too Well – Taylor Swift

  54. Bulletproof – Citizen Way

  55. Let it Go – James Bay

  56. Everything – Lifehouse

  57. Whole Heart – Brandon Heath

  58. Ghost – Ingrid Michaelson

  59. Awake My Soul – Mumford & Sons

  60. Stay Alive – Jose Gonzalez

  61. Begin Again – Matt Hires

  62. No Excuses – NEEDTOBREATHE

  63. Hurricane – Natalie Grant

  64. More Beautiful You – Jonny Diaz

  65. Fall Apart – Josh Wilson

  66. Restless – Audrey Assad

  67. Lost Stars – Adam Levine

  68. Not for a Moment (After All) – Meredith Andrews

  69. Strong Enough – Matthew West

  70. Hello Hurricane – Switchfoot

  71. Believe – Mumford & Sons

  72. Blessings – Laura Story

  73. Busted Heart (Hold On To Me) – for KING & COUNTRY

  74. Floodplain – Sara Groves

  75. Carry Me Through – Dave Barnes

  76. Overcomer – Mandisa

  77. Steady My Heart – Kari Jobe

  78. Outta My Mind – Anthem Lights

  79. Hold You Up – Shane Harper

  80. Fighting a Ghost – Matt Hires

  81. Breaking Now – From Ashes to New

  82. Reason to Breathe – Joe Guerra

  83. You Are More – Tenth Avenue North

Here’s the list on YOUTUBE for ya too.


Or over in the Spotify universe if you prefer.





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