The Soloist

After the first selection of chapters from "The Soloist", I got to thinking about how music seems to help keep people sane. As with Nathaniel Ayers, many people use music as an outlet for whatever might be troubling them. In Nathaniel's case, he has paranoid schizophrenia, but when he performs music he seems to revert to a more peaceful state where he isn't bothered as much by what might be happening around him. In other words, music lets Nathaniel enter his own world.
Looking around the music industry today, there are many examples as to how music helps keep people sane. One of the most obvious examples is Eminem, who has some pretty serious issues with drug abuse and violence. In my opinion, his music helps him just put things into perspective and get things off of his chest, while also letting him to vent some of his craziness in the process. A good portion of his earlier songs discuss his views on life, his tough childhood and upbringing, and his problems with drugs.
Another, lesser known, example is a rapper named Charles Hamilton. He is a very unique and crazed young man, who has issues with self confidence which led to some very serious drug abuse. He has done more drugs than I've even heard of, but he seems to be turning his life around. His songs have been known to show him putting music on a pedestal, oftentimes as giving him a reason in life.
My last example of music keeping people sane is Amy Winehouse. She is a woman with a cavalcade of issues, many of which I can't even name. Her songs are very blunt when it comes to some of her issues, and I suspect thats part of the reason she makes music. Music can be whatever you want it to be, and for Winehouse its just a way for her to put her problems out there.
In conclusion, while Nathaniel Ayers might have paranoid schizophrenia, his reliance on music is not something that hasn't been seen before.