Betrayal Trauma Recovery Playlist
Betrayal Trauma Recovery Playlist
Recovering from betrayal trauma is a journey - and not an easy one. And it is not the same for anyone. From Discovery Day when your life fell apart to finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, from unexpected loss to unexpected growth, it is deeply personal. Oftentimes, I talk with clients who don’t know what they feel, worried they are feeling the wrong thing, or feeling nothing at all. Being inspired by some of my more musically inclined clients, I decided to create a playlist that begins to capture the highs and lows of betrayal trauma.
My goal in creating this playlist is to let you know that you are not alone. Music has a way of helping us put language to the intricacies of our souls and uniting us with a common sense of identity. You are not the only person who is doubting everything that they knew to be true. You don’t need to judge yourself for whatever you are feeling or not feeling.
I had such a hard time categorizing these songs. At first, I started categorizing them by feeling, but most of the songs were too complex for a single feeling. Then, I started categorizing the songs by stages of betrayal trauma recovery - but I didn’t like that either because it made the process feel way too linear (which it’s not). Next, I considered giving up categorizing the songs at all, but I really wanted to provide some songs that could be helpful for you without you needing to listen to the entire 10 hour playlist. I finally decided to sort the songs into common questions I get from betrayed partners. This categorization is my opinion of the songs and is by no means the “one right answer”, so allow yourself the flexibility of what works for you. The link to the full playlist is at the end of the article. Happy listening friends.
Note: Some of these songs are explicit.
Am I stupid because I didn’t know my partner was acting out?
Whipping Post - The Allman Brothers Band
99 Times - Kate Voegele
Everybody’s Fool - Evanescence
Heart of Glass - Blondie
Leave (Get Out) - JoJo
Am I supposed to feel this way?
Numb
Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
right where you left me - Taylor Swift
Mad World - Michael Andrews ft. Gary Jules
Numb Little Bug - Em Beihold
Paralyzed - NF
Sad
Jar of Hearts - Christina Perri
Down Bad - Taylor Swift
I’m Not the Only One - Sam Smith
Say Something - A Great Big World & Christina Aguilera
Little Do You Know - Alex & Sierra
Angry
Eye Hate U - Prince
Not Today - Mary J. Blige ft. Eve
Comfort Betrays - As I Lay Dying
Bullet with Butterfly Wings - The Smashing Pumpkins
I Hate Everything About You - Three Days Grace
Alone
Unraveling - Sevendust
Unwanted - Avril Lavigne
exile - Taylor Swift
Too Sad To Cry - Sasha Alex Sloan
How to Cry - Sam Smith
Vengeful
Cry Me a River - Justin Timberlake
Your Betrayal - Bullet for My Valentine
F.O.D. - Green Day
Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood
I Hope - Gabby Barrett
Insecure
unwanted - Camylio
tolerate it - Taylor Swift
Living in my Head - Kesha
Creep - Radiohead
Beautiful Girl - Sara Bareilles
Regret
Weak - AJR
Dumb & Poetic - Sabrina Carpenter
THE GREATEST - Billie Eillish
You should be sad - Halsey
making bad decisions - Bea Miller
How will I ever make sense of this?
Judas - Kelly Clarkson
You Give Love a Bad Name - Bon Jovi
Moral of the Story - Ashe
Cry - Benson Boone
Uncharted - Sara Bareilles
Am I allowed to want to stay in my relationship?
You’re Still the One - Teddy Swims
The Heart Wants What it Wants - Selena Gomez
Love The Hell Out Of You - Lewis Capaldi
We Are Broken - Paramore
Just Give Me a Reason - P!nk ft. Nate Ruess
Am I allowed to want to leave my relationship?
Take a Bow - Rihanna
Apologize - One Republic
Call Me When You’re Sober - Evanescence
Forgiveness - Paramore
Too Little Too Late - JoJo
What does it mean when I love my partner and hate my partner at the same time?
Resentment - Kesha ft. Sturgilll Simpson, Brian Wilson & Wrabel
Back to You - Selena Gomez
i hate u, i love you - gnash ft. Olivia O’Brien
get him back! - Olivia Rodrigo
I Love You So - The Walters
What will other people think?
What Other People Say - Demi Lavato
I Love Me - Megan Maroney
This Is Me - Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman Ensemble
all-american bitch - Olivia Rodrigo
Mad Woman - Taylor Swift
When will I feel okay again?
Out of the Woods - Taylor Swift
Not Today - Alessia Cara
Ghost - Ella Henderson
Through the Rain - Mariah Carey
Breathe Again - Sara Bareilles
Is there any hope?
You’re Losing Me - Taylor Swift
Chasing Pavements - Adele
Sitting, Waiting, Wishing - Jack Johnson
Shine Your Way - Owl City & Yuna
Denial - Judah & The Lion
Will I ever be able to trust again?
Resentment - Beyonce
I Don’t Trust Myself - Sara Evans
Lie To Girls - Sabrina Carpenter
Bad At Love - Halsey
the grudge - Olivia Rodrigo
Will I ever find myself again?
How Do You Sleep? - Sam Smith
Too Far Gone - Kesha
Miss Me More - Kelsea Ballerini
King - Lauren Aquilina
Work in Progress - Allie Colleen
What does my future look like?
Clean - Taylor Swift
Praying - Kesha
Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield
Fight Song - Rachel Platten
Here Comes the Sun - The Beatles
Where is God?
You Say - Lauren Daigle
MIRACLE WORKER - Forrest Frank & Tori Kelly
I’ll Find You - Lecrae ft. Tori Kelly
Hollow - Tori Kelly
A Prayer - Kings Kaleidoscope
The full playlist: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/betrayal-trauma/pl.u-EdAVz5WsvmGxJW
About The Author
Jorden Groenink, MS, AMFT, APCC an associate marriage and family therapist (AMFT136162) and an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC12906), supervised by Jeremy Mast, MS, MDiv, LMFT, CSAT, CPTT (CA90961). She has been trained in Experiential Therapy and loves working with couples and individuals who want to experience a more fulfilling life. Jorden wholeheartedly believes that every person is worthy of love and relationship. When not working with clients or listening to audiobooks, Jorden enjoys spending time with her family (husband, dog, & cat) and doing DIY projects around her house.
