Written by Lydia Wollard. Header illustration courtesy of Danielle Johnson (@dani_design04).

From time to time, we all have to confront feelings that aren’t easy to endure. When therapy won’t work, screaming and head-banging may be your only solution.

1. Depressed? Heartbroken?

Prescription: “Black” by Pearl Jam

Dosage: On repeat, alone on a rainy day

Potential Side Effects: Excessive tears, permanent Vedder voice

There won’t be much head-banging with this track, but if you need a good song to cry to, here’s your golden ticket. The fifth track from Pearl Jam’s 1991 debut album, “Ten,” “Black” is a sorrowful representation of letting go of a relationship, which is evident in frontman Eddie Vedder’s anguished wailing of lyrics like, “Now my bitter hands cradle broken glass of what was everything.” Even without paying attention to the lyrics, though, you can tell that this is a song of emotional depth thanks to its expressive, mellow instrumentation.

2. Frustrated? Stuck?

Prescription: “Would?” by Alice in Chains

Dosage: At least once daily in the car on full blast

Potential Side Effects: Loss of voice, earworm

Easily one of the most recognizable Alice in Chains songs, “Would?” is a powerful track written by guitarist Jerry Cantrell following the heroin overdose of Mother Love Bone’s lead singer, Andrew Wood. The song’s drenching guitar works hand-in-hand with singer Layne Staley’s heavy vocals to deliver a gut-wrenching sound with lyrics that tackle the topics of addiction and the perception of struggling addicts. Whether you’ve encountered addiction or not, “Would?” is relatable to anyone who has dealt with pain, resignation, or anger.

3. Overwhelmed? Tired of it all?

Prescription: “Blow Up The Outside World” by Soundgarden

Dosage: Once daily by ear at max volume

Potential Side Effects: Whiplash, extreme angst

Don’t be fooled by the calm strumming guitars and Chris Cornell’s distorted, quiet voice at the beginning of “Blow Up The Outside World.” The song quickly escalates into a thunderous chorus with banging drums, electric guitar, and Cornell’s resonant belt, showcasing Soundgarden’s impressive range. If you value personal space and seek comfort from the craziness around you, this song was written about that exact feeling.

4. Apathetic? Sick of society’s expectations?

Prescription: “Breed” by Nirvana

Dosage: Once daily for existential dread (Twice for confronting the status quo)

Potential Side Effects: High blood pressure, permanent disillusionment

This fast-paced, chaotic track from the iconic 1991 album “Nevermind” is a standout example of Nirvana’s early ‘90s punk-soaked style. It’s raw, ragged, and captures themes of alienation, youthful frustration, and defiance, all common within the grunge ethos. Frantic, repeated lyrics like “I’m afraid” and “I don’t care” express anxiety and resignation about the societal standard of settling down and starting a family.

5. Too sexy and awesome for your own good?

Prescription: “This Is Shangrila” by Mother Love Bone

Dosage: Increase during full moons or moments of doubt

Potential Side Effects: Temporary invincibility

This is a groovy glam rock track with confident, swaggering riffs. It kicks off Mother Love Bone’s 1990 “Apple” album with a mixture of classic rock and alternative edge, showcasing frontman Andrew Wood’s charismatic, theatrical vocals as he chants provocative verses like, “My bread is your body, the wine is blood, child.”

Fun fact: Mother Love Bone was formed by Green River members Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament, and Bruce Fairweather. Following the death of Andrew Wood, Gossard, Ament, and Fairweather went on to form Pearl Jam with vocalist Eddie Vedder.

6. Distant? Afraid of mortality?

Prescription: “P.C.C.” by Green River

Dosage: Again and again and again, preferably before entering a church, school, or city council meeting

Potential Side Effects: Compulsive air guitar

One can’t possibly write about Seattle grunge without mentioning Green River. Considered the “founders” of grunge, Green River delivers the iconic sludgy sound of the genre in this track from their 1987 EP, “Dry as a Bone.” With lyrics like, “What’s dead is now long forgotten, I never let it bother me,” “P.C.C.” is perfect for anyone who’s emotionally distant from the concept of death and uses indifference as a coping mechanism.

Fun fact: The original “Dry as a Bone” EP was released a year before the band broke up in 1988. The “Rehab Doll” album was released in 1988, around the time of the split. Both “Dry as a Bone” and “Rehab Doll” were later combined and re-released as a compilation by Sub Pop Records in 1990.

7. Corporate drone fatigue? Chronic over-polishing?

Prescription: “Touch Me I’m Sick” by Mudhoney

Dosage: Slam into the ears, chase with beer and/or bad decisions

Potential Side Effects: Spontaneous garage band formation

Joining Green River in laying the groundwork for grunge, Mudhoney is known amongst the genre’s founders. “Touch Me I’m Sick” is an anthem of grunge filth and glory, released as the first track on the band’s 1988 debut album, “Superfuzz Bigmuff.” Heavy guitars and fast, energetic drums accompany singer Mark Arm’s gritty voice as he yells, “Touch me I’m sick, fuck me I’m sick.” This track is for those who need to lighten up and learn to embrace life’s ugliness.

Fun fact: Mudhoney was formed by Green River’s Mark Arm and Steve Turner. Arm is credited for coining the term “grunge” in a letter describing his early band, Mr. Epp and the Calculations, to a Seattle zine in the early 1980s.