Facing Fear: How a Song by Blue October Helped Me Stand Tall with a Disability

Music has always been a lifeline for me—a place to find myself when the world gets too loud, or when my body and mind feel like they’re turning against me. But few songs have ever hit me the way Blue October’s “Fear” did.

Living with a disability—whether it’s physical, mental, or both—isn’t just about the condition itself. It’s about navigating a world that wasn’t designed for you. It’s about invisible battles, long nights, misunderstood silence, and the constant pressure to “keep up.” It’s about fear—deep, bone-level fear—that you’re not enough, that you’ll always be held back, that people will only see your limits instead of your strength.

And then I heard these words:

“Fear in itself will use you up and break you down like you were never enough.”

It was like someone had finally spoken the exact storm I was carrying. Blue October’s frontman, Justin Furstenfeld, wrote this song from a deeply personal place, shaped by his own battles with addiction and mental health. But his words echo across all kinds of pain—and all kinds of healing.

For me, “Fear” became a mirror and a map. It didn’t just name what I was feeling—it gave me a way through it.

“I used to fall, but now I get back up.”

Those lyrics became a mantra. Not because I suddenly stopped struggling, but because they reminded me I didn’t have to stay down. Every time my body failed me, every time anxiety clouded my thoughts, every time I felt isolated or ashamed—this song reminded me that resilience isn’t about being untouched by pain. It’s about choosing to rise anyway.

Justin once said, “Sobriety looks good on me... and I like it.” That hit me, too. Because whether it’s sobriety, self-acceptance, or just making it through another day in a world that doesn’t always understand, claiming your power is revolutionary. And it does look good on you.

“Fear” is more than a song. It’s a lifeline. It’s a challenge. It’s a reminder that we are not broken—we are brave. We are not weak—we are warriors.

So if you’re reading this and you’re struggling… I see you. I am you. And I want you to know this:

You can get back up. You can rewrite the story. You are not alone.

And sometimes, all it takes is a song to remind you that even in the darkest places, you are still standing—and that’s enough to keep going.