(I am not asking for medical advice. Do not give medical advice.)
I am asking about others’ practices. What music do you listen to when you are overly stressed out? What music do you find relaxing?
Calm Mozart, or other gentle-tempo classical. Easy jazz. Acoustic guitar.
Depends on what sort of process you’re looking to work through… sometimes I find very heavy music is what’s called for – brood for a bit, rage a little. Other times, need to play something a little more chill – take a step back, relax.
For the former situation, I head for Disturbed, Muse, Foo Fighters, 30 Seconds to Mars, Deftones, etc.
For the latter, I have a nice collection of Acid Jazz and downtempo, quite a lot of orchestral music, some lighter rock/pop, Celtic music, etc.
Kate Wolf
David
First, are you somehow stressed out?
If so, then perhaps it could be worth your while to focus on eliminating such stress, and to not divert your attention with something such as music.
Yes, perhaps that could call for some introspection, and a thorough self-evaluation.
Please, however, consider the potential benefits of such an act.
And, no medication is required!
Morning Stress: NPR, Classical, Norah Jones, Natalie Cole, Judy Collins, Neil Young, that kind of stuff.
Afternoon Stress: Pink Floyd, Janis Joplin, Queen, Moody Blues, Emerson, Lake, & Palmer, Yes, Patsy Cline, k. d. lang, The Kingston Trio, that kind of stuff
Evening Stress: I watch TV.
Nightime Stress: Coast to Coast AM Radio
I don’t have that much stress in my life, It’s just that I’m in different places if stress pops up and my options are limited in each spot. If I could, I would watch TV 24/7.
They’re all fun even when you’re not stressed…doing dishes while the Fighters of Foo are playing makes it far more entertaining 
When I’m stressed…gosh…it really depends. Today it was piano concertos. Lots of them. Then some Foos, topped off with a bit of Ella and a smidgen of Billy Joel (although the latter wasn’t because of stress…). It also depends on the situation for me. I’ll do classical-ish type stuff just to relax if it’s that kind of stress, like Bach, Mozart, Beethoven or Chopin…etc. But other times, I need to have something fun to dance around to and get my mind off what’s going on for a bit. Then I’ll do Cake, Green Day, Offspring or something else that’s upbeat and not heavy in terms of lyrics. Something that I don’t have to think about, really.
In the end, when I’m really stressed, I get out my fiddle and just play, but since that’s not really what you’re asking, I’ll leave it at that.
I’m fine. It’s a friend of mine who is stressed out.
Playing some gentle music does seem to help. The human mind tends to focus on doing one thing, and playing music requires enough concentration to take one’s mind off the stress.
Listening to live music also has some power. Recorded music never did much for me.
Everybody can laugh and point at me and tell me it’s not trad - but for me it’s the Irish Rovers. Especially the early albums.
I have a feeling I’ll be playing an Irish Rovers tape at full blast going home from work tomorrow - it’s the day before Mother’s Day so everyone will want flowers, the weather is finally warming up so people are buying seeds and plants for the garden, it’s a Saturday, and we have the vet in for the low cost shot clinic - it’s going to be very stressful.
Who gives a flip? Music’s meant to be enjoyed, trad or no. It isn’t all for everybody, but all of it’s for somebody, and that somebody can enjoy it regardless of anyone else’s opinion of the matter. I never understood the whole music snob thing.
It’s like people who laugh at people who listen to Britney Spears. Why does it matter to them that someone else enjoys Britney Spears? What impact does that have on their life, their well being? Some people like it, some don’t. Get over yourselves and let people enjoy what they enjoy.
Sorry, not aimed at you, Charlene, or anyone in particular, just a general rant about something which annoys me. It’s also entirely off topic… 
Louis Armstrong. There. I just beat the internet.
Then please, take my earlier advise on this thread and pass it along to your friend.
It just might work wonders.
Otherwise, without addressing the cause of such stress, the stress might not go away.
Worse, it might fester.
Stars of the Lid
Rapoon
Glenn Gould
Doesn’t everybody?
It depends. Sometimes it’s the Bonzos. Sometimes it’s Beethoven. Once in a while it is John Martyn or Kathryn Tickell. Or “Oriental Bellydance” tracks.
Best is to go out and play whistle in the woods, though.
ahh…none o that hits the vein like:
Viol consorts (Lawes, Purcell, Holborne,) &
Music for solo Viol of St Colombe (le fils et le pere) & Marain Marais
(hint: Get the Jordi Savall 2CD set!)
Nine Inch Nails.
Failing that, Classical music, usually Glen Gould’s recordings of J. S. Bach’s Preludes and Fugues (books 1 and 2) from the Well Tempered Clavier (thanks again djm ).
I listen to the Blind Boys of Alabama when I am stressed or depressed. I also listen to Pink Floyd and Crosby, Still, and Nash, and sometimes Young. Irish music is always good too. 
I hope you get better pal.
When I’m really stressed, which seems to happen almost everyday here lately, I must PLAY music, not listen. I find that playing piano helps more than anything. As someone else said, the concentration required does not leave room in the old head for anything else.
If I can’t play then for stress relief, it must be classical, preferably baroque.