The life of a musician is often romanticised as one of passion and creative freedom. Yet, behind the curtain, a staggering number of artists grapple with the silent epidemic of burnout. Research shows a significant percentage of musicians experience high anxiety and mental health struggles, far exceeding the general population. For a therapy blog, understanding that burnout in this population is less a personal failing and more a systemic and psychological perfect storm is crucial for fostering self-compassion and seeking effective support.

This deep dive explores the interwoven professional and psychological factors that make musicians uniquely vulnerable to chronic stress and exhaustion.

For many musicians, creatives and performers, the stage feels like home. It’s a place of connection, catharsis, and recognition. But what happens when your sense of self-worth becomes fused with how well you perform, how loud the applause is, how many people show up, or how much praise you receive?

It’s not always obvious. It can feel like drive, ambition, a standard. But beneath that can live a more fragile truth: if you’re only as good as your last performance, your worth starts to feel conditional.

In my work as a psychotherapeutic counsellor—and as someone who also navigates the world as a musician—I’ve come to recognise some of the distinct needs creatives bring into the therapy room. This post explores how we, as therapists, can better hold space for those whose identities are entwined with creativity.

That familiar feeling many of us face, no matter our skill level. The stress of wanting to deliver a flawless performance can trigger feelings of nervousness, self-doubt, and even physical reactions like shaking or feeling sick. Often we can consciously and logically know we have the skills, or practice level to go out there and play perfectly, but unconsciously, something happens deep in our psyche that plays havoc with our physical self.

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