{"id":59677,"date":"2018-05-01T13:00:04","date_gmt":"2018-05-01T12:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/?p=59677"},"modified":"2022-12-19T19:03:08","modified_gmt":"2022-12-19T19:03:08","slug":"not-letting-sadness-win-how-the-wonder-years-lifted-me-from-self-loathing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alreadyheard.com\/staging\/not-letting-sadness-win-how-the-wonder-years-lifted-me-from-self-loathing\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Not Letting Sadness Win’ \u2013 How The Wonder Years Lifted Me from Self-Loathing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo credit: Jonathan Weiner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Think about a significant moment in your life, good or bad; the likelihood is there is a song or band that was the soundtrack to that moment.<\/p>\n

As editor and founder of this site, it will come as no surprise that music has always been a major part of my life. From being terrified by Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’<\/em> video when I was 4, to sneaking into my older brother’s room to borrow his Oasis and Blur CD’s, music has always been in my life. Even more recently, music played a big part in my identity at university, sound-tracked by the likes of Underoath, Fall Out Boy and Arcade Fire.<\/p>\n

No matter how big or small these moments are, music has threaded these memories and more together. Although there is an element of nostalgia to them, music has affected my life in a variety of ways.<\/p>\n

In recent years, I have experienced mental health issues. Spurred on by a combination of low self-esteem and finding myself in unfortunate work-related and social situations, I’ve had spells of depression and anxiety. Nevertheless, throughout these difficult circumstances and issues, there has been a selection of bands and songs that have been a source of hope and comfort. None more so than ‘Local Man Ruins Everything’<\/em> by The Wonder Years<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Philadelphia band emerged from the “pop-punk revival” scene of the early 2010s. While I enjoyed their early work, it wasn’t until I repeatedly listened to ‘Suburbia I’ve Given You All and Now I’m Nothing’<\/em> when I really connected with the words of Dan “Soupy” Campbell. For the best part of an entire year, ‘Suburbia\u2026’<\/em> accompanied me on walks to and from the dead-end job I had at the time. Fast forward to the end of 2012 and I had a meltdown which led to counselling and medication, both with indifferent results.<\/p>\n