For a South Jersey woman, finding solace in music has been a life-changing experience. Ryan Brown, 19 and a sophomore at Rowan University, has grown from a shy elementary school student into a confident singer-songwriter who finds comfort in performing the national anthem before sports games.
The journey began when Ryan's mom, Trisha, discovered her daughter singing songs she wrote as early as age six. What started as a hobby soon turned into an outlet for her emotional struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, and depression. Music has been a constant companion throughout her teenage years, helping her cope with the dark places life could take her.
Studies have shown that music triggers the release of endorphins, which boost mood and well-being. Additionally, listening to music stimulates dopamine, the "feel-good" hormone, fostering feelings of euphoria. Ryan's own experiences attest to these benefits, as she finds solace in writing songs and performing. The act of singing itself becomes a coping mechanism, pushing aside anxious thoughts when she takes the stage.
Despite her progress, Trisha acknowledged that learning to manage her mental health issues has been a long and challenging process for their entire family. However, witnessing Ryan's growth firsthand has been heartening. When her daughter is performing, Trisha says, "She's the happiest we see her."
Trisha and Ryan's father, Randy, have witnessed firsthand how music has transformed Ryan's life. Exposure therapy, medication, and a supportive environment have all played crucial roles in her journey. The family's emphasis on doing things that make her feel uncomfortable, even if they're outside of her comfort zone, has been particularly instrumental.
While performing still makes Ryan nervous, she's learned to differentiate between anxiety and debilitating fear. When she sings, those anxious thoughts fade away, replaced by a sense of joy and purpose. As she puts it, "If you're not nervous, you don't care."
The journey began when Ryan's mom, Trisha, discovered her daughter singing songs she wrote as early as age six. What started as a hobby soon turned into an outlet for her emotional struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, and depression. Music has been a constant companion throughout her teenage years, helping her cope with the dark places life could take her.
Studies have shown that music triggers the release of endorphins, which boost mood and well-being. Additionally, listening to music stimulates dopamine, the "feel-good" hormone, fostering feelings of euphoria. Ryan's own experiences attest to these benefits, as she finds solace in writing songs and performing. The act of singing itself becomes a coping mechanism, pushing aside anxious thoughts when she takes the stage.
Despite her progress, Trisha acknowledged that learning to manage her mental health issues has been a long and challenging process for their entire family. However, witnessing Ryan's growth firsthand has been heartening. When her daughter is performing, Trisha says, "She's the happiest we see her."
Trisha and Ryan's father, Randy, have witnessed firsthand how music has transformed Ryan's life. Exposure therapy, medication, and a supportive environment have all played crucial roles in her journey. The family's emphasis on doing things that make her feel uncomfortable, even if they're outside of her comfort zone, has been particularly instrumental.
While performing still makes Ryan nervous, she's learned to differentiate between anxiety and debilitating fear. When she sings, those anxious thoughts fade away, replaced by a sense of joy and purpose. As she puts it, "If you're not nervous, you don't care."
... I mean, who knew singing could make such a huge difference in someone's mental health? Ryan's story is so inspiring! But let's get real, OCD, anxiety, and depression are super complex issues that require more than just music to manage. It's awesome she found solace in it, but exposure therapy, medication, and a supportive environment are total game-changers too 
. And can we talk about how her parents are rocking this whole "facing their daughter's struggles head-on" thing? 
They're not just being supportive, they're actively helping her work through her issues.
gotta say, I'm all for people findin' solace in music, but are we really dependin' too much on it to deal with our mental health? 
like, what happens when the crowd's quiet and there ain't no rush of endorphins? is it just a crutch or somethin'? 
also, I'm not buyin' that just 'cause she's performin', all her anxiety just melts away. sounds too good to be true, you know? 
Ryan Brown is literally my ultimate inspiration as a fan of BTS, i mean, have u seen her perform at sports games?! 
and i can totally relate to how music has helped her cope with anxiety & depression 
i know it's not easy to deal with OCD, anxiety, and depression but music really does make a difference 
I remember writing songs just to express how I felt and now I've got this outlet to share it with others 
. Its so important to have people in your life who care about you and want to help you through tough times. And I think its awesome that Randy and the rest of the family are willing to do things that make Ryan feel uncomfortable - I mean, thats basically what therapy is all about!
but the fact that she can push aside those anxious thoughts and find joy in singing is just amazing 
.
It takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there and perform in front of people. But for Ryan, music is like therapy, you know? It's how she copes with her emotions and finds solace.
. She's like a completely different person now! 
... OCD, anxiety, depression... they're all these heavy stuffs that can weigh you down, but music is like this release valve 
... and it's not just about the singing itself, it's about the emotions behind it too. The fact that Ryan's writing songs to cope with her struggles just shows how powerful self-expression can be 
... and I love what her mom says "If you're not nervous, you don't care" 
... anyway, I'm just so grateful to see people like Ryan thriving through music 
Music therapy is literally the only thing that's been saving people from their mental health issues lately... like, have you seen the stats on anxiety and depression? It's through the roof 
. And it's all because we're not doing enough to help each other out. I mean, Ryan's story is super inspiring, but what about the ones who don't have a supportive family or even know where to start? The system is so broken 
. We need more resources and less stigma around mental health issues. Like, why do we still have to hide our struggles just to get help? 
I think its so cool how music has helped Ryan cope with her OCD, anxiety & depression! 
. It's amazing how something as simple as singing can bring out those feel-good hormones and boost mood 
! I'm sure it's not always easy, but the benefits are so worth it 
. I'm all for exposure therapy and medication too, but it's also awesome to see how music has helped her cope with anxiety & fear on stage 
. What I'd love to see more of is the conversation around mental health in schools – maybe incorporating music or art classes as a way to help kids like Ryan express themselves and work through their emotions 
️... music became her only escape from all that darkness 
... at least she found solace in singing 
. Ryan's story is so inspiring, you know? She went from being super shy to belting out the national anthem in front of crowds 
. Can we talk about how amazing it is that music has been her saving grace throughout all the struggles with OCD, anxiety, and depression? 
. It's truly a game-changer