Do you find that your current state of mind dictates what you feel comfortable listening to?
I know that if I am being affected by my depression or am just sad over something in general, I cannot listen to music that is melancholy or too emotive as it will make me cry. In fact most of my life I've avoided this kind of music even though I do like some artists that make 'sad' songs or delicate, heartfelt songs. I just find that it strikes me so deep that it is does not improve my mindset no matter how great the song is. For example, today I feel fragile so I wouldn't be able to listen to certain Jeff Buckley or Johnny Cash singing Hurt.
If I am down I find myself putting on rock music or indie/alt music that tends towards upbeat drums and loud guitars. Not angry music like death metal, just music that feels 'strong' like Audioslave or AC/DCor the Beastie Boys.
I have a dear friend with some problems, depression, anxiety, addiction to name a few and hey listen to music that often brings them to tears when they are down. They don't have a positive sense of themselves and they will love songs in which the singer is extremely down on themselves. Songs of self hatred which they will listen to on repeat for days or weeks.
Surely this is like an affirmation of how they feel? If you sing along enough times to "I hate myself" surely that's got to have some affect on you?
I guess I am just interested in how music makes you feel and how much of an impact it can have on your mood. Whether listening to sad songs when sad could be a good thing? Am I kind of being in denial by putting on music that makes my body move when my mind is curled up in a ball?