Putting this playlist together and following Gurathin's story from the beginning reminded me, things do get better. I can also personally attest to that. For the first time in a while, I'm going to bed at night looking forward to waking up in the morning and being where I am. There are still difficulties and things I can't control, but they're mostly just the problems I was already carrying with me or problems I'd be facing under any circumstances. And my environment has changed, I have much better support, and I'm adjusting to the feeling of being safe in a new way.

It took me years of struggling and small steps to get here, but I'm making real progress, and I'm starting to really feel it. I hope that wherever you're at right now, this playlist can help remind you that it's never too late for things to get better, and often it happens in gradual steps and in ways you didn't predict.

Also, if you're looking for some encouragement for trauma or addiction recovery, you might like to follow the blog "Use Your Damn Skills" by Dr. Glenn Patrick Doyle. He gives very practical advice that always helps me put things in perspective and focus on what's important.

Tracklist:

Gurathin Mixtape (Murderbot Season 1)

Choker (Twenty One Pilots)

Mad World (Tears for Fears)

INVISIBLE (Duran Duran)

Restless Heart Syndrome (Green Day)

Morph (Twenty One Pilots)

Bad Decisions (Bastille)

Popular Monster (Falling In Reverse)

Heavydirtysoul (Twenty One Pilots)

Gentle With Me (Carla Wehbe)

Footsteps (Pop Evil)

No Air (feat. Chris Brown) (Jordin Sparks, Chris Brown)

Tear in My Heart (Twenty One Pilots)

Jumpsuit (Twenty One Pilots)

Doubt (Twenty One Pilots)

Enemy (with JID) - from the series Arcane League of Legends (Imagine Dragons, JID)

Killing Fields (Shinedown)

Foreign Object (The Mountain Goats)

I Was Wrong (Social Distortion)

Download (WalkJog)

I See You (MISSIO)

Somewhere Safe (Nate Traveller)