My Gen X Playlist: Demons – Imagine Dragons

When I was in my early thirties, I experienced a panic attack at work. I was working 80 hour weeks juggling multiple client projects. The stress level remained high. I remember closing my office door, breaking down, hiding from the world.

I’d never experienced a panic attack before. It felt like the weight of the world came crashing down on my head. I completely lost it. I had always been the good soldier, so falling apart destroyed me, especially my self confidence. I couldn’t reveal this to the rest of the team. They were depending on me, so I pushed it down, hid it and put on a mask. And let’s be real, I was embarrassed and ashamed as well.

It’s difficult to recover from something like that. The residual effect stayed with me for about a year. I found recovery in the most unexpected place, on the Inka trail to Machu Picchu. My buddies and I planned an adventure hike to the ruins. It turned out to be an excruciating four day trek of pain. It tested both my physical and mental limits. I wanted to quit a million times. But somehow I didn’t. I survived. And when we made it to the sacred grounds, I felt something else – healing.

They say the Inka trail is a spiritual walk. Those were just marketing words to me until I made it to the end and walked among the ruins. I surprised myself that I endured and finished. I remember saying to myself

If I can make it Machu Picchu, I can do anything.

I still lean on these words today and repeat this mantra whenever I’m up against difficult circumstances. I’m not suggesting people jump on a plane and fly Peru to find their own personal cure. Instead, maybe start collecting small victories along the road to healing. Eventually the basket of wins will outweigh that feeling of self doubt and your self confidence will gradually be restored.

I’m not sure where I first heard Demons by Imagine Dragons. I only hear it when it comes on randomly. I’ve always liked the energy. Apparently, it’s a song about struggling through anxiety.

The Night Visions album title came together organically and ties into this song. Vocalist Dan Reynolds explained: “We all sat in a room and wrote out what the band and sound of the album means to us. We all deal with our own demons and anxieties but we find that nothing calms the mind more than creating. Many of the songs on the album were written late into the night, and some of the lyrical themes came from dreams I’ve had, even some nightmares. So when the title Night Visions came up, it just seemed to fit perfectly. We hope it inspires other to create, and push through their own struggles.”

Songfacts

I didn’t have a song I listened to when I was reeling from that anxiety attack. I wish I did. It probably could have eased my damaged mental state. I found a few people in the YouTube comments who used this song to help them get over their struggles. Music is truly healing.

When I was a child I used to love this song, I didn’t understand the lyrics back then, but now I relate to every single part of it. This song describes my life.

YouTube comment by louxfrless1690

This song is very personal. It’s helped me through a lot of mental darkness and I’ve grown stronger because of it

YouTube comment by demonwolf3286

Healing.. ❤ this song hits the right spot 100%

YouTube comment by jackiesmith6951

When the days are cold
And the cards all fold
And the saints we see
Are all made of gold

When your dreams all fail
And the ones we hail
Are the worst of all
And the blood's run stale

I wanna hide the truth
I wanna shelter you
But with the beast inside
There's nowhere we can hide

No matter what we breed
We still are made of greed
This is my kingdom come
This is my kingdom come

When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide
Don't get too close
It's dark inside
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide

At the curtain's call
It's the last of all
When the lights fade out
All the sinners crawl

So they dug your grave
And the masquerade
Will come calling out
At the mess you've made

Don't wanna let you down
But I am hell-bound
Though this is all for you
Don't wanna hide the truth

No matter what we breed
We still are made of greed
This is my kingdom come
This is my kingdom come

When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide
Don't get too close
It's dark inside
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide

They say it's what you make
I say it's up to fate
It's woven in my soul
I need to let you go

Your eyes, they shine so bright
I wanna save that light
I can't escape this now
Unless you show me how

When you feel my heat
Look into my eyes
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide
Don't get too close
It's dark inside
It's where my demons hide
It's where my demons hide