On August 17, Ariana Grande released her fourth album, "Sweetener." The album was highly anticipated by her fans and comes after a tumultuous period in her life. Last year, at her concert in Manchester, England, a terrorist attack killed 22 people and injured many others. This experience left Ariana heartbroken and suffering from PTSD. PTSD (or posttraumatic stress disorder) is classed broadly as an anxiety disorder along with other mental disorders such as general anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and panic disorder.
Ariana's openness about her experiences already made her a champion for mental health. However, "Sweetener" offers comfort for those with mental illness from someone who knows what it's like. As someone who suffers from general anxiety disorder and panic attacks, Ariana's new album made me feel content in my experience. Knowing that I was not alone in my experience or feelings. Having panic attacks or anxiety can often be an isolating experience, seeing other people handle situations well that would have you hyperventilating. It can make you feel like less than a person and more scared than you already feel.
Ariana relates these experience well. For example, on "Breathin" she relates advice told by therapists and yoga instructors alike to "just keep breathin'." Breathing exercises can help lower stress, anxiety, and can help prevent panic attacks. And in the throes of anxiety, it can often feel like you will die at any second, but by focusing on your breathing and remembering that that's the only thing that you have to do at that moment to live, it can often be extremely calming.
The first few lines of "Breathin" also allude to stigmas faced by those with mental illness. "Some days, things just take way too much of my energy. I look up and the whole room's spinning. You take my cares away. I can so over-complicate, people tell me to medicate." Here, Ariana is the often misunderstood symptom of fatigue. For people with anxiety and mental illness in general, everyday life can be exhausting, and it can come unexpectedly and mess with plans.
Also, the last line, "people tell me to medicate" also alludes to the fact that medication is sometimes viewed as a cure-all. However, not all people with mental illness choose medication, however, there is nothing shameful about choosing to medicate for mental illness symptoms.
However, that choice lies with the person with the symptoms and not those around them.
The last song on the album "get well soon" is the ultimate song about feeling disconnected from one's own body, being caught up in your own head, and feeling alone in one's experiences. However, with these experiences, Ariana assures fans that, "You can work your way to the top" and that "I'll be there." Ariana encourages her fans to "unfollow fear and say 'You are blocked.'" She took back her fear and her narrative and tells her fans that they can too.
Ultimately, I want to thank Ariana for being open about her experiences and struggles with mental illness. While she was lucky to have supportive people around her and adequate medical access, she acknowledges that not everyone with mental health issues has those same privileges. "Sweetener" is meant to bring a little sweetness to our bitter lives and add a little sugar to the lemonade in our minds.
If Ariana Grande can get back on stage after a traumatic experience, you can get past your anxieties and your worries. It doesn't have to control you, even if you can't fully control it. It's hard and can take months or years, but in the words of Ariana, "just keep breathin'."
