Basket Case

Who it's for

Billie Joe Armstrong wrote this about his panic attacks and anxiety before he understood what they were.

Feelings it meets

• Living With Mental Illness
• Panic Attacks
• Anxiety

What it is

"Basket Case" is a Green Day song from the album Dookie (February 1994), issued as the album's second single in August 1994. Billie Joe Armstrong first wrote an early version around 1992–93 as a love song, then rewrote the lyrics around his own experiences with panic attacks. In a 2024 interview he called that rewrite probably the best decision he had made as a songwriter.

Where to find it

All major streaming services.

Before you start

Heads up: Mild sexual and drug references.

Age: Suggested 13+

Much of your pain is self-chosen.Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet, “On Pain”