Analyzing Psychological Disorders through Songs:

“1-800-273-8255” by Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid

The psychological disorder that this song discusses Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and some of the Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). PTSD is a mental health condition that can stem from childhood trauma or witnessing or experiencing said traumatic event. Feelings of hopelessness are prevalent, as individuals suffering with this disorder may be feeling like they are stuck in a dark maze they’ll never make out of. In addition, some symptoms of this disorder consist of an abundance of intrusive thoughts, avoidance, hyperarousal, negative viewpoints throughout their lives, and a numbing emotional feeling out of the numerous symptoms. Many individuals claim they get flashbacks, nightmares, and intense emotional or physical reactions that are reminders of the event, feeling as though it is happening all over again due being simply triggered by a sound. Also, anxiety is a very common emotion felt psychologically and physically by individuals that display this disorder, as they may have frequent outbursts of feelings, self-destructive behaviors by engaging in risky behavior, and hypervigilance where they constantly feel on edge. These symptoms are similar to MDD. Moreover, MDD is a mental health condition that causes constant sadness, feelings of helplessness, and especially depressive emotions. This disorder can be caused by possible genetic, biological, neurological, or environmental connections. The symptoms of this psychological disorder are very similar to PTSD in the aspect of feelings. They consist of a lost interest in once passionate activities, irritability, low self-worth, and changes in appetite just to name a few. Individuals tend to deal with avoidance as well, where they avoid external reminders, such as avoiding social situations. Depressive thoughts usually have an underlying issue, whether it be a negative self-view or possible trauma. These feelings of detachment lead to persistent negative emotions in their life that can turn their world upside down by causing them to focus on the negative aspects of their life, rather than looking forward and overcoming these obstacles. While it is easier said than done, the steps to getting better for both these disorders are essential as it can lead one to live an emotionally healthier lifestyle. These disorders are present within the lyrics of this song as they reflect the experience of someone suffering from depression and suicidal intentions.

The title of the song, “1-800-273-8255” is the number for the National Sucidie Prevention Lifeline, known today as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This song discusses the artists’ troubles in his life, and how he feels as if there is no point when he does not have anyone he feels that cares for him. However, the shift of emotional meaning of this song occurs when the artist, Alessia Cara, begins singing about a sense of hope. The song then continues through the artist, Logic, where he expresses his hope to keep going even when things are hard, where he fights his suicidal thoughts that are in a dark place to find the light in his life. This emphasizes the importance of looking outwards for help in order to help oneself by only looking at the title of the song. Additionally, the lyrics of this emotion-packed song express intense feelings of isolation and self-doubt, which contribute to signs of depression and trauma in the beginning of the song. Some examples of these lyrics consist of the artist speaking of their past experience singing, “I never had a place to call my own, I never had a home, Ain’t nobody callin’ my phone” as he expresses that he is, “hurting deep down but can’t show it.” Looking at these lyrics, it can be understood that the artist has undergone or is speaking on the behalf of an individual that was battling the darkest of demons. Additionally, this displayed signs of PTSD, since there was a deeper, psychological reason why he may have felt he has no place to call “home.” As he continued to sing, he repeatedly sung suicidal lyrics that essentially conveyed his emotions of depression, which can be see through MDD. When an individual feels they have no place or person to call home, it can take a detrimental toll on their mental health. However, Alessia Cara sprinkles some hope as she communicates to him through the song, "It’s the very first breath, When your head’s been drowning underwater, And it’s the lightness in the air,” displaying an emotional metaphor. This symbolizes how looking forward in one’s life can be like a breath of fresh air, especially when they’ve been consumed with racing thoughts and emotions regarding the negative aspects of their life. Moreover, there also seems to be an emotional connection between the two main artists, Logic and Cara. The song portrays Cara as Logic’s emotional support and guardian angel in a sort of way, as she is encouraging him to be his best self and look at the positive aspectives of his life, pushing him away from negative thoughts. As a listener, this connection portrayed through the song causes me to look within myself and remind me to always know that things will get better. Looking at the analysis of the song, signs of PTSD and MDD can be clearly seen as he faces the struggles that have put him in a position where he feels his life is not “precious” as others are, which exemplifies a low self-worth and deep sadness. Therefore, this beautiful song discusses the journey of an individual that experiences these negative, self-harming thoughts based on their life; however, they overcome these feelings by looking outwards for help, even though it may be hard, they take control of their lives and look forward to bettering themselves.

In an interview, Logic expresses that he wants people to know that suicide is never the answer, despite feeling like the world is crumbling down on you. He wants people to know there is help available, such as the title of the song, and that everything is going to get better. Additionally, he claimed that he wrote the song about a story regarding someone calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, wanting to take action on their suicidal thoughts. Fortunately, after a conversation with a representative at the lifeline, the caller decided to not go through with this decision. Moreover, throughout his life he always loved to be with his fans. According to Genius, he went to New York City and spent some quality time with his fans. The fans that he had met had confided in him expressing how his music saved their lives and encouraged them to keep going despite the difficult times in their lives. In that moment he realized how many hearts he had, and can touch in the future. This song was one of the many that he produced and was featured that contributed to this encounter. Overall, he wanted to send a message through his music and save people from making these dangerous decisions. Logic also claimed that this song was difficult for him to write and produce because he had to go back to a dark place in his life he didn’t want to revisit. In addition, he stated that when listening to this song it takes him to a solemn place, but based on what he has heard, his listeners look to his music for comfort. While he did not suffer with PTSD or MDD himself, he grew up in an environment where he experienced poverty, immense drug addiction throughout his family, and domestic violence, which may have influenced his perspective on individuals with mental health issues. Furthermore, Logic’s lyrics and verses in the song portray the internal battle someone faces in their mind by using imagery and relatable language to depict feelings of isolation and hopelessness. As mentioned before, the song progressed through lyrics of hope and purpose, which mirrored the monumental journey he wants his audience to listen to and take into consideration. Even though the song isn’t specifically about Logic’s past, it takes in what he has observed throughout his childhood and through his fans' eyes. His advocacy for mental health is also displayed through the title of the song, which was specifically named after the National Sucidie Prevention Lifeline to get individuals that are struggling to reach out for help. Logic and the featured singers on this song track have publicly stated that they wish for the song to resonate universally with young people while reducing the stigma around looking outwards for mental health struggles and their respective treatment. The successful release and ongoing trend of “1-800-273-8255” shows the emotional impact on its listeners, communicating to them that they aren’t alone in their struggles.