Opening Up About Our Mental Health

We're not experts in mental health, but as musicians who have experienced mental health issues, we hope by making this video, we can help encourage people to talk about this topic more openly, and remove the social stigma associated with mental illnesses.
If you're struggling with anything we mentioned, please reach out to friends or family members that you trust, or seek professional help.
Here are some resources that might help you:
www.beyondblue.org.au/
www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/
www.lifeline.org.au/
mhaustralia.org/
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S N A P C H A T: Brettybang | Eddy.Chen

[@twosetviolin]

Thank you all so much for the kind comments and for sharing all your stories. Also, we wanted to make a small correction. It's easy to become psychologically reliant on beta blockers, but they're not physically addictive. Thanks a lot to those who pointed this out in the comments!

[@9croissants]

We love you twoset. Like someone said, we aren't pushing you to make videos, and you can stop when you want!

[@Madamekittylein]

I was thinking a lot about what music means to me today. After 2 hours of crying I remembered why I wanted to do music in the first place. It's like I regained an important part of me. Thank you.

[@rinaakishami5358]

Thanks to you for talking so openly about this matter. As a suggestion, wouldn't it be nice to have a Women's Day video? Yo could show us or recomend to us some female musicians or composers that you like. Obviously we all love Hilary Hans but there must be other women not so well know (speacially to people like me, that did not receive an arts-related education). Just think about it

[@lltinkerbell]

In fact, if one day it is the case that you both want or need a break, or whatever is best for you, for your health, or happiness, you can be sure that your community of followers will support you, because we love you! 🙏❤️ And everything you've done has changed a lot of people's views about classical music. ✨🎻 I can say that for myself, that I started playing the violin again after 13 years .. 🙏🎻 So, you both are amazing, but also human. Count on us and our support IF one day this is the case. 🙏 We love you, twoset! 🙏🎻🎻✨❤️

[@MLC-melons]

@@rinaakishami5358 I would recommend their 2 videos on Classical Music Performances Everyone Should Watch. They mention many female musicians.

[@tasha2651]

"People aren't listening to judge your mistakes... they are listening to music, so give them music" ~ My violin teacher

[@michaelangelohenegan654]

I love this so much and needed to hear this!!

[@dorothearussell304]

Cool teacher

[@JoeHoltPiano]

Love it! Stealing this 😊

[@AS-lu7gm]

...wait...I don't know if that is a good thing... So, don't ever make mistake? Do I interpret the sentence right?

[@HellHell71]

Your teacher is the Bob Ross of music it seems

[@Lydianime]

My mom was a professional performing violist and teacher. She quit before she had me, and told me years later "If someone quit being a classical musician, it was never because of the music."

[@keiwasu]

I really agree with this. (Idk if I’ve stopped yet but...) I felt like I no longer liked playing violin cause it made me so stressed whenever I played but I love classical music so so much

[@AnastasiaGatilova]

It hits hard... cause it's so true Sending love

[@simplelivingbulgaria3662]

After a great 12 year career I also left, but not because of the music

[@DaviSilva-oc7iv]

@Hamza Mzali ok, this is epic, you yourself are promoting thy own self.

[@jortslover]

@@DaviSilva-oc7iv do you watch quackity..?

[@bekkison]

I'm a physical therapist in the US, and if anyone is interested, what Eddy experienced is called conversion disorder. It is a very real psychological phenomenon where the body manifests physical disability originating from stress, anxiety, and depression. This is sadly an often overlooked diagnosis and many are written off as being fakers, adding to the stigma that is mental illness. And for anyone still on the fence about this, think of a food that gave you food poisoning or the alcohol you got ridiculously hung over on. Do you feel nauseous? Yes? You just experienced a physical response based on a memory in your head. Conversion disorder is like that, but at a much deeper level mentally and more severe in it's physical presentation.

[@hellfirepictures]

I'm curious if Conversion Disorder and Fibromyalgia are actually the same thing. I have Fibro. And the pain and other symptoms went away when my stress decreased and depression improved. It's interesting that the treatment for fibro, along with cbt (which I didn't find helpful) is antidepressants!

[@sofi4364]

Thank you so much for this information it happened to me a few years back but no one had any idea of what was really going on, I also went to a physiologist and she said everything was fine, because I never really been depressed but I have always been and accident prone child and I often got sick so seeing my parents stressed over me and the medical bills really took a toll on me mentally without me knowing about it... A lot people said I was just faking it to have more attention to myself, it's good to know about this things thanks for giving me more insight of what happened to me when no one else could.

[@hellfirepictures]

Having read up further, conversion disorder does not manifest as pain, but other symptoms such as blindness and paralysis. In this case Eddie's inability to walk wasn't paralysis but pain. So what Eddie had is unlikely to be C.D. (though as I'm not a specialist I wouldn't say it absolutely isn't). It does sound more like fibro - which can and does stop people walking due to pain.

[@shinkamui]

@@hellfirepictures It's still under debate if FMS is a part of CD or even if it is a somatoform disorder altogether. There's evidence that indicates overlap between the two, but not on most cases, so the general tendency has been to dissociate the two as 2 separate things. But yeah you are right to notice similarities, however its not clear if they are even due to the same mental/physiological processes, or just happen to have similar symptoms/circumstances. Tough topic! lots of research still going around

[@sup5292]

@@hellfirepictures hi j a question: doesn’t antidepressants like make fibro worse? My friend has fibro and they said that it doesn’t rly matter what u do bc fibro makes u depressed which worsens the condition further, but antidepressants also worsen the condition somehow?

[@Wann-zo7rn2qn4i]

Do you realize how lucky you 2 are to have each other? The way you look at each other when talking about such a personal issue just makes me wish I have a friend like that too.

[@poojars5594]

Truee ❤️

[@idroppedmychicken]

I am so so so so so lucky to have a twin sister who I can always talk to about everything. We never argue, the closest we get to arguing is annoying each other by talking too much by accident, and we both just understand each other. We’re COMPLETE opposites. Not only by appearance, but with personality too! I like classical, she likes k-pop. I like realism, cubism, and abstract, and she likes anime styled art. I play violin, she plays viola. I get stressed all the time, she never gets stressed ONCE. I get nervous for no reason, and she doesn’t. The main thing between us two is that we’re both introverts. The only person we can confide in is... each other. And that to me is the most special form of connection. The amount of NIGHTMARES I have had about her being murdered, run over by a car, or just passing away from an illness..... it truly is my worst fear. Without her, I feel worthless; I can’t do anything. I’m tearing up just writing about it. She’s the sun to my world. She grows the life that’s on it. She feeds the beautiful plants with her rays of sunlight that she generously gives me. I can’t imagine a life without her, and if I hadn’t had her.... I might’ve just killed myself. I’m not joking. The amount of anxiety and stress I get causes psychological issues, as TwoSet explained. And without her.... I just can’t imagine a life that can thrive. It would all just wither away.

[@DebEternity]

@@idroppedmychicken Always feel free to let your sister know about how you feel. Considering the mutual love between you two, I'm sure that she'll appreciate your admiration & attachment towards her. :)

[@tink6225]

@@idroppedmychicken i hate my sister youre lucky

[@paulsmith6090]

Lovely message! Big hugs 🤗🙏

[@Egglyc1a]

Did you guys notice that Brett and Eddy did not wear their merch. Instead just a solid black and greyish-white t-shirt. That’s when you know they ain’t messing.

[@-zeno]

that's when you know they're serious

[@abigail40]

yea... ;-;

[@muskanchoradia]

Yeah, noticed that. It's just them and mental health today, nothing should distract

[@Feimicha]

I know...

[@wenafldo]

same i noticed that too

[@annale8234]

“The voice inside your head is just an annoying roommate. Just let them talk and they’ll calm down”. It really helps

[@gunnerskale4484]

thank you for this comment... I needed to hear that

[@neroyuffie]

It also helps me to give that voice a name. Mine is named Chelsea so every time she acts up I can be like " Shut up Chelsea! No one cares about your opinions!" Sorry to anyone named Chelsea

[@michealpersicko9531]

Yeah that's easy enough to say ion practice it's extremely harder than you think and the "they'll calm down thing" is a common thing people who are schizoids(and out of date and "non PC" term for someone with schizophrenia) try to do and fail. I've worked in mental hospitals before as a pharmacist i've seen the effects of mild to severe schizophrenia before(hint not pretty.) We all have inner voices but if it's getting to the point you're describing it as an annoying inner roommate that's a sign it's possibly interfering with some aspects of life. I'm just as someone who has cut themselves out of depression/anxiety due to my inner voice ignoring it can be detrimental to your wellbeing. hearing voices is a common symptom for a wide range of mental illness strangely enough not just schizophrenia and bipolar. All i can offer as "medical advice" legally(disclaimer i have a PhD in pharmacology but i am not a licensed doctor just i did the extra work to get a doctorate none of what i said should be taken as medical advice just a suggestion) is that if your inner voice gets to a point where its too hard to ignore or starts causing problems in your day to day life it would be a good idea to see a psychiatrist and get checked out because it could be the sign of something and suppressing it wont make it any better.

[@flyushkifly]

@@michealpersicko9531 thanks for sharing that info! Quickly, I think we need to make a distinction between "negative self talk" and "voices in your head". The roommate analogy might help for the former, but as you said, is dangerous for the latter.

[@agkdjsdjkd]

@@michealpersicko9531 this isnt super on topic to what you were saying lol but i didnt know the word schizoid was an out of date term for schizophrenia, i have schizoid personality disorder so thats the only reason i know the word

[@MenacingNoodle]

A good friend of mine attended uni for viola performance. After less than a year, she stood on the roof of a tall building, toes over the edge, and seriously considered ending it. In that moment, she knew that she couldn't continue and switched to something else. It's now several years later, and I don't think she's touched her viola since. Which is a shame, because let me tell you, I played in several concerts with her and she played beautifully.

[@wakingtheworld]

@@user-tg5mq8ky2y I was referring to the 'several years later' aspect when she would no longer be suicidal... and that if she once played beautifully, that love for music and playing an instrument might still be dormant, though any links with viola/suicide would need her to seek professional help to achieve this.... Sorry i wasn't specific enough...

[@thiennhan8763]

After watching this video, I'm so glad that Brett and Eddy have met each other. When Eddy was in his worst time, Brett was there, consoled him and Brett was also the first friend Eddy informed that he was getting better. Eddy recognized what was happening with Brett recently as well. So for everyone out there, and for me too, i hope that we will always appreciate the one that love us, stay beside us ( it could be your friend, family, pets and even your trees :>) And for you guys, who feel like they dont even have corner to release the stress, you have this comment, you can tell me your story. As a stranger, i wouldn't know what to tell you, but i still love you, and this Ling Ling community will love you too. I also feel so grateful that i have found this KZbin channel, it is just not ridiculous, it is the most wholesome channel and Ling Ling is the most heart warming community, foreverrrrrrrrrrr.

[@mikotoeru96]

I feel like crying reading this comment - I really love Eddy and Brett's friendship! Always there for one another

[@jaeyoonsria2748]

I cried reading this comment. People are indeed amazing.

[@Cookie_Comment]

“even your trees” that’s adorable 🥺 love you too!

[@cutekeerthanavlogs5482]

Love you too ❤

[@emanueletagliabue6335]

Love you too... I'm really struggling with diagnosed depression since two years, and it's really tough... No tdoing homework for school, not practicing the piano 'cause i don't feel mentally right... 20 years old... What a shit age... I don't even want to go to school because i can't make friends. My classmates always say that i just "complain", if that's what they mean, just because i talk to my real friends in school about myself... I don't know what to do anymore... almost 7 years of school and i'm a fucking failure... Sorry, but i just had to let out all of this and felt the need to tell someone... Emanuele

[@sarahlim423]

Ling Ling only practised 39 hours, 36 minutes and 26 seconds today. He took the time to rest and watch this video for the other 23 minutes 34 seconds. If Ling Ling can take a rest, so can you.

[@kitkatkandy7835]

💛💛💛

[@ashima.kuriakose]

❤❤

[@yanneswiththebearr]

💗💗💗

[@ulysse__]

💚💚💚💚

[@huya1541]

ngl lowkey scared when i clicked

[@TylerMiller04]

Same

[@julianabramo245]

Ikr

[@ipsharoy7398]

Same

[@bran9490]

Same

[@vyrva5690]

same

[@Winry101]

So, I don't know if you will ever read this, but I wanted to say thank you. I come from a third-world country with limited access to certain things. This includes classical music. I started learning to play the violin at the age of 9 and loved it so much that I wanted to continue studying classical music after high school. Almost 11 years ago, I went to university intending to pursue a double major. One of those majors was in music. I assumed that university would be a perfect place to grow as a musician. I was right, but only to an extent. You see, I learned that (as the professor would word it) "my skills were so poor, there was no way I could ever be considered as a music major". I came to realize that for the 9 years I spent learning the instrument, my teacher had not been a very good one. There were skills and information I should have learned that I never did. My level at the time was comparatively low for a college musician. I never blamed the university for this. If I had a better-trained teacher growing up, I wouldn't have been in this mess in the first place. Still, I was determined to get into this program. I loved music and desperately wanted to improve. So, when they offered to accept me as a probational student, I agreed. By the end of the school year, I was kicked out of the program. Despite their lessons, I still wasn't good enough. I spent the next 2 years as a music minor, taking classes to improve my skills. By the end of my third year, I passed the audition and was finally accepted as a music major. I was happy, but only for a time. You see, I had endured quite a bit of bullying by a few music majors during this time, and when I became accepted as a music major, the bullying extended to some of the professors. I won't go into much detail here about what I went through, but it was absolute hell. My already high level of anxiety and depression spiked. My self-esteem plummeted. I was told things like "the only reason why I took you in as a student is because the department chair begged me to". Eventually, I had a breakdown and was forced to see a therapist on campus. Despite all of this, I pushed through, and in my 5th year of undergrad (yeah...still did the double major), I performed a successful senior recital. Professor (surprisingly) expressed pride in me. I was proud of myself too. I continued playing in the school's orchestra while working on my masters in the other major, but with time, the trauma of it all came back to haunt me. I found myself playing violin and piano increasingly less than before. Now, it's a struggle to even touch the instrument. I get literal panic attacks from seeing masterclasses now. My mental health is a wreck. But people made it seem like I was being dramatic...that I should be over this by now. So, seeing you talk about mental health and its impact on the classical music community made me really happy. Thank you for being willing to bring topics like these to the surface. Things like this matter to so many of us. I'm sorry this was so long. I don't know if you will even read this, but I wanted to share just how and why you impacted me so much. I definitely look forward to seeing what else you come out with. ❤️

[@juliee593]

Your experience is really interesting and it's very sad that you were treated this badly when you were just a student who wanted to get better at music. I hope one day you will be able to experience the joy of playing music again.

[@violabso]

@winry101 please turn yourself around, look in a new direction, and start again. With any instument play among friends, play in amateur concerts, play in folk groups, sing or accompany a choir (however bad, choirs love putting on concerts for family and friends). Play anywhere and the inner musical spirit that was always inside you will manifest itself again. Forget masterclasses if they make you miserable. My father said I wasn't talented enough for him to pay for music college, so I did normal Uni, and have had a string instrument under my chin ever since. From what you write, I have a feeling you need to find the right context well away from perfectionists, so you can again feel happy to pick up a violin, tune it and play.

[@samends8863]

You are not alone. I dont play any instrument, but i know very well that everything has its own pace. I had a car accident 2012 (minor bruises, not much damage) and since then i started to panic an cry as soon as my mother came up with "wanna try to drive today?". I developed a panic disorder, besides my depression disorder. I really hope that maybe one day you can find a therapist or whatever you need to disconnect the instrument and music from the feelings and memorys that haunts you. But take the time you need. You decide. No pressure please. I wish you all the best.

[@alexandrugheorghe5610]

@@samends8863 look into Somatic Experiencing

[@crazycatlady887]

I'm sorry to hear that, take care!♥

[@stevecochrane5376]

I have been a musician for over 40 years now , I cannot believe that you two young guys have acquired so much wisdom and humanity already. I spent years on the competition boards and can totally relate to all the darkness that comes with it. I was lucky and eventually found my way out, but Jesus , I wish that I had seen this video back in the 1980's. You lads are GOLDEN.

[@tecora7419]

Blessings to you Friend ❤

[@ipsharoy7398]

Our musician friends are talking about a very important topic which everyone should pay attention to. Stop with your practise and listen.

[@rifdifirebolt]

*take breaks

[@brytheguy4429]

As long as you still get your 40 hours in

[@swvtxx8774]

yes

[@iiCherryi]

There is a time where you have to draw the line and stop the practicing and do self care. There is also a time where we practice. We just gotta know our body to know when to stop and when to start. Don't push yourself too much and just do your best.

[@swvtxx8774]

@@iiCherryi yes, i agree

[@taddy4755]

"Stand up and walk." Your doctor sounds like Jesus, Eddy

[@blixten2928]

About as likely to find Jesus as a neurologist who knows what they're doing. It took Eddy a long time, a lot of people, alas, never find the person.... Thank goodness Eddy!

[@jesslynnathania6744]

Omg so true

[@ludmilabordei5884]

neurologist

[@dayannnnna]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA

[@adrnnn_]

this srsly reminded me of jesus so much lmaooo

[@SnorrioK]

Psychosomatic pain is what Eddy was talking about, it's there but it isn't there. It's also worth mentioning that my funniest friend is one of the happiest people I've met. Came as a shock to me when he was admitted to a psych-ward for a few weeks. The humor was a defense mechanism for his anxieties that caused a massive depression. Happiness and humour is not the equivalence of being without depression; if anything, it's often a marker that the person is depressed but has become very good at hiding it. Also, when a depressed person is being talked to, they get to forget their problems for a wee bit and show off a bit of their funny thoughts which looks like complete happiness to others.

[@judycook4314]

This is so true. So many comedians are depressed people.

[@Trooman20]

That sounds so much like me but, correct me if I am wrong in doing this, whenever I feel sad and depressed I just ask myself "what is there to be depressed about?" I just tell myself that I have nothing to worry about because nothing is in my control.

[@SnorrioK]

@@Trooman20 - That is all good up until when your brain decides for you and it becomes an actual psychological problem; a clinical depression. That's when one gets admitted to a ward having lost control of oneself and needs therapy.

[@Trooman20]

@@SnorrioK ah I see, thanks for your response

[@MelanaC]

@@SnorrioK it’s not quite truly psychosomatic …Eddy experienced conversion disorder. This is when the mental pressure actually rewires the brains pain receptors. The pain is extremely real but isn’t caused but injury or disease. So yes it starts in the head but the pain is real. In Scotland a research paper was written on the brain scans of people with conversion disorder. The pain shows up in brain scans as brain waves exactly the same as if the subject is being cut or stabbed etc.

[@flutechannel]

We need to be taught more about general brain health and how the brain and body are connected and need rest and doesn't work well in a monoculture lifestyle (ie: only practicing or over practicing). We're put with loads of stress in music and I try to tell people to do meditation or cardiac coherience and make sleep the #1 priority. The brain needs time to digest the day and it does that during sleep. I hope we all can share our tips and make our music lifestyle more healthy.

[@beepbeep1592]

Hey verified guy

[@flutechannel]

@@beepbeep1592 hi ya there!

[@beepbeep1592]

@@flutechannel your video on lips embochure helped me a lot.

[@flutechannel]

@@beepbeep1592 my pleasure! Happy to help

[@jennylynn3516]

​@Adil Tijani holy crap! Twoset is opening up about something very important and here you are spamming this link? No one likes you, and no one wants to listen to your piano, especially not when you're trying to shove it down our throats. I'm going to report you.

[@michelleikoma2953]

This is not just a musician issue, it is a society issue. Very important topic.

[@SaurabhGupta-xv4fk]

Facts

[@user-db5os6ie5i]

factual

[@Roozyj]

I have burnt out from anxiety in art school, when I was trying to be a comic artist. It's so hard to be creative under pressure while surrounded by people who are better than you... So yes, it's very important to talk about this!

[@ChristianParpartDev]

We talk a lot about this in home recently. My wife is a researcher, and there mental sickness is predetermined by definition. It used to be about science and now it is just about money.. - nobody take about it. I work in the IT where competition can least to burnout very quickly and overtime is often expected and made part of the IT startup culture. .- nobody take about it. My brother works on huge construction sites as electrician, which is heavily underpaid, sometimes having up to 100 hours overtime per month, and you cannot fight against it, as if your don't comply, someone else will do it for even less money. - nobody take about it. This is a global problem that nobody talks about. We concluded that this is modern slavery and no different from the past. It is just less obvious.

[@Madamekittylein]

I try to figure out how to deal with mental health problems, because I've been there and always am surrounded by it. Even if you do everything you can for years, it's still takes time. I am always so grateful for everything I learned and how I've grown, but I am struggling more than ever. Sometimes symptoms doesn't show when you are in the process but after you already made progress. A bit like getting sick in the holidays. It's okay to feel difficult feelings, it might sound awful, but they want to help you by showing that's something going wromg, that you need to look at and acknowledge something you might not be aware of

[@colintamiya]

Given the range that TwoSet have in their audience worldwide, this might be one of their most important videos for young and ambitious musicians. I don't see this awareness and support come in universities very soon. I rather have the impression, overambitious university teachers play a huge role in raising the pressure on their students.

[@olivieram7280]

Many professors just want the best for their students! Unfortunately, they also are under a lot of pressure from everywhere (parents, students, University administration, etc.) for the University to be always the best, or become better. Many professors also go through Burn Out, Depression, and Mental Health issues because of all the pression. They were also "raised" with the idea they are to be perfect for the job, otherwise they are not "worth" the job they are doing. We basically live in an over competitive world that is pushing us all over the edge. People should fight back against that instead of letting it rule over us.

[@peachydream2265]

it’s not solely about music actually, with the way many things are nowadays...

[@yanadnadya]

theres some prof thats actually encourage, and how they go to fangirl mode abt what they passion, of all the prof in my uni i can count only 3 in my degree thats still so passionate and even offer some project to collaborate with us students, i wish theres more profs like that world wide that would be beautiful and fun :')

[@SKJVc1945]

100%. I‘ve had a very manipulative, psychologically abusive teacher at conservatory and even after talking to all important people there no one was willing to do something. The only thing that happened was that I got to know many many other students who went through similar situations, sometimes even physical abuse. Conservatories worry about their reputation and they are putting their students future and their mental health at risk.

[@fredrickcampbell8198]

@@olivieram7280 Agreed.

[@dearmatt]

This feels like a full circle moment. I used to be in youth orchestra with you guys - even shared a teacher with Ed. I legitimately burnt out mentally before going to conservatory and had a shift in career trajectory . This is all so real. Thanks for opening up the discussion on this.

[@MirrorViewer]

Wow that’s pretty cool, being in youth orchestra with these guys

[@lauradasilvaribeiro773]

I cried while watching this. I'm having such a hard time with life in general at the moment and all of the things you've spoken about are things I've told myself over and over. I'm not a musician, I'm a writer but it stands. Being alone.... The spiraling of your thoughts... its like you carved this straight out of my brain. Thank you for talking about it and even if this never gets seen at least I got it off my chest. It's hard. It's so hard. It's also safer to comment here than anywhere else, tbh Edit: why am I getting likes? No one was supposed to even see this!

[@wakingtheworld]

Well I'm trawling down the comments - Imagine a lot more will have seen this than the 'likes' you received! I do hope things have improved for you in the intervening months, Laura. It's so sad when our passion turns against us...

[@domenicoliuzzo]

it's well written, hope things going better after 5 months, virtual hug

[@AllCloudsAreBunnies]

I cried the whole video through too. Same reasons.

[@Lethgar_Smith]

How ya feelin' ? Any better?

[@kalletorner4591]

A year had passed since you published this comment and people still see it. I hope you have been getting better, and I hope the Ling Ling community has constantly been there for you!!

[@orlyyap3387]

At this point Twoset is one of my emotional support pillars honestly

[@nobodynamedcharlene]

Honestly me too

[@alexandreaayapana162]

Yes I WUV EM ❤❤

[@cain_chamomille]

True.

[@anacarolinaanduray6662]

Same!

[@kevinnguyen552]

uwu

[@hsvjksvhajsgixnwyzla7521]

the fact that everyone agrees that they cried at least once during a lesson just proves how messed up this system is

[@haechanat236ridinmv4]

Not just music lessons, but education in general is pretty messed up

[@elizabethmartinez-ru4yu]

i’m pretty sure my teacher is just my therapist at this point i breakdown once like every two weeks

[@bmxzander8333]

not only in the musical community but the general education system. there was never one time where i did not feel anxious in class, whether it was in high school or uni. and it angers me so much because there was so much i could have done if this anxiety never existed- literally nobody is speaking up about this.

[@vanivashisht7305]

@@haechanat236ridinmv4 Agreed!! I can't remember how many times I've cried while studying. The pressure becomes too much to handle sometimes.

[@baldwinangel1218]

Its not just this system. Its the stupid expectation from society to be better than the other guy and perfection. I think everyone knows this is BS in their souls and it's bringing humanity down. I love how our young are calling out this BS and want more in life than depression and constant wondering in the back of your mind did I say the wrong thing, did I act the wrong way , do I look the wrong way. I think we are strong enough to allow others to be who they are.

[@rutmarybucarito5621]

It took me a while to watch this video. I'm not a musician but almost my entire family is. I have ADHD and dyslexia and I felt miserable because I was the only child who couldn't read music. It was so sad growing up and seeing my siblings playing instruments or singing and I was below average. My dad never gave up on me and it wasn't until a couple years ago that I actually realized I could sing. I'm a preschool teacher who sings to my kids to teach them. I'm not a professional but I practice everyday and work hard to improve my technique. Thanks a lot for your videos. Greetings from Colombia.

[@sonyvegas9838]

Hey, another viewer from Colombia.

[@sarahbeloved6066]

I used to play violin but after suffering major depression and borderline personality disorder I lost touch with music and stopped playing for 6years....I’m on the road to recovery and have recently picked up my violin and started playing again

[@tiffany89610]

Dude this happened to me as well, after some major accident I was diagnosed of MDD and some other things too, and I stopped playing piano for five years. I just couldn’t touch it. I’d started crying if I hear it. I love piano so dearly but couldn’t go near it. It took me 5 years to slowly recover and recently I’m finally getting back on track again.

[@Jo-lp1px]

Those are serious diagnoses. I suffered from type 1 bipolar disorder, my life turned to ash. Thank God I’ve been stable on medication for over 10 years 🙏❤️ I used to play piano but it was forced on me. Maybe I’ll pick it up again one day. Praying you’re well and at peace!

[@MemeII481]

It's happening to me tooo. Maybe it's because I'm quite a perfectionistic and anxious person. I had played piano for 5-6 years, and I have stopped it for 4 years. Recently I am trying to go through my ED. I am recovering from my ED, and I'm starting to want to go back to play piano. Back in the days, I played piano while I was crying. In that moment, I feel like I should practice, but I made some mistakes. Then I blamed myself, and thinking I am not good enough. Eventually, I stopped playing piano. It's kinda sad.

[@thomaskehl6205]

I'm a psychologist and I must say that this video is too precious. We need to stop pretending that mental health is a taboo and be open about it. Thanks for the courage to bring it up! Oh! And I must commend by how mindful and carefull you guys were about that.

[@juliarunn5009]

Yes!! I’m a psych student and I completely agree, the reason why I wanted to go into psych in the first place is bc I want to fight the mentality that mental health is taboo and that it shouldn’t be talked about.

[@monotyc6085]

Im God btw and I agree

[@yoshianimations6171]

That's easier said than done /: Not everyone is as kindhearted as in this community. Aldo I absolutely agree it shouldn't be a taboo

[@dread_nought]

Internet Certified

[@gabsl1552]

Thank you for bringing this up!

[@anyaaynova8758]

Eddy in 2020: "Cardio, no, not my thing" Eddy in 2021: "For me personally, cardio. It's so cool" Wow, Eddy, that's character development!

[@angieje]

Honestly tho, I’m trying to buildup stamina for my running test. For 10-13 mins is fine afterward it’s death

[@sarabensouda7422]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGi4XmSVat96ldk...

[@exmousse]

@@angieje Try a couch to 5k walk run program. There are many plans online for free. And remember to run at "conversation pace", which is that you are going slow enough and not breathing so hard that you can still hold a conversation as you run.

[@AugustinHadelichViolin]

Thanks for making this video! Mental health isn't talked about enough (not only in music). 15 years ago, I often was terribly nervous performing, and my bow would often shake at the start of concerts. I do know people who take beta blockers, but it's not a long-term solution. Even though beta blockers calm your nerves, I think they also sedate the most exciting and human part of yourself. But that's what makes a performance really worth listening to musically. Do we go to concerts because we want to hear everything perfect and played with the steadiest bow, or because we want to hear something beautiful, exciting, extraordinary, inspired? The main thing that helped me with stagefright was to pay attention to how I breathe in practice, and making sure I breathe the same way in performance. You mentioned sleeping well, that is huge. I also realized that in a hall, people who sit a few rows away already don't bow-shake all that clearly-- it's possible to get way too worked up about something that most of the audience didn't even notice- from a distance it can almost sound like vibrato to a layperson. And finally, we shouldn't make our own happiness dependent on how well a performance goes....... It's too easy to get into a sort of tunnel vision when you are practicing day after day. Over the years it became easier until the stage became my favorite place to be. But it was a long road and I remember what it used to feel like years ago! I feel for anyone who is trying to find their own way to cope with the nerves.

[@howardcohen6817]

But Augustin, we don't really care what they want from us that is to say, that's not what is frightening - it's what we want to offer and what we want them to hear from us that's making us afraid.

[@santimazo4037]

True.

[@user-gv9jy3ds6j]

Thank you for this wonderful comment Augustin. I also believe that the use of various sedatives and pills has both positive and negative effects on the playing. Now I also suffer very much from the fact that I can not play well enough on stage because of my fear - I do not have a shakying bow, but I clamp so hard (my hands are in great tension) that the sound on my violin becomes dimmer and worse than I could do. I try to arrange concerts in front of my friends every week (to be nervous) and it really, really helps. Anyway, for some people it would be very useful to talk to some people in the public or with friends, it sometimes really calms and instills confidence.

[@wendyshell8679]

Would anyone be willing to try Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, if anxiety is this bad? It works quite well, and if you’ve invested a good part of your life in learning this instrument, or any stage craft, it would certainly be worth the effort and cost, and you don’t continue on and on with sessions, as with other types of therapy. Just a suggestion.❤️

[@wendyshell8679]

Very good points, Augustin. I would definitely prefer the inspired performance!❤️

[@anaisjordaan]

My university started to incorporate a musician’s health module last year which focused on both physical health of musicians but also mental health and how to avoid burnout , depression and anxiety . I was so grateful for that class because first year music was sooo stressful , but having that knowledge and also support helped so much . Hopefully more universities will implement similar classes in the near future !

[@MusicMusings88]

This is really heartening to know!:)

[@kopanoblessingmoeti3277]

Which uni?

[@anaisjordaan]

@@kopanoblessingmoeti3277 University of Pretoria . It’s in South Africa

[@yoliz562]

I recently lost my friend. She was the brightest smartest person I knew. She burnt out and took her own life. Please everyone take a moment to love yourself, take a break, it’s okay. Theres so much more to live for.

[@sarahsings8468]

I'm so sorry for your loss, may she rest in peace. I genuinely hope you are doing okay during this difficult time. Thank you for sharing ❤️

[@BhavnaM]

I’m so sorry for your loss :( please stay strong -random internet stranger that is so proud of you for holding on in the world

[@uncommonbat8848]

@Hamza Mzali is this the appropriate place to be promoting ur channel 😡

[@eunecteschen7982]

sorry for the lost... im also thinking about not taking a break, but now i thinked about it and i understand why i need to rest now

[@Nicole-in9fe]

Oh god I'm so sorry for your loss, stay strong, hope you're doing okay 💗

[@ackoonsgaming]

"You wake up and there's nothing to look forward to." "It's like trying to get through it everyday." That resonated with me so much man

[@everythingissalad2969]

Hey, hope you're looking after yourself. I'm going to be here if you need to talk about anything.

[@ClockNet]

Same

[@hugnboba]

Same

[@koppfkino]

i just started crying

[@everythingissalad2969]

@@koppfkino hey, it's going to be alright Just take a minute, try to focus on breathing You're doing a great job

[@prettysaxy]

I suffer from severe depression and have a history of self harm and suicidal tendencies and attempts, two set is part of the reason i’m still alive today, watching their videos makes me smile and makes me so happy and helps me not think about any of those. now i’m a psychology major with a concentration in counseling, that plays saxophone, i love twoset and the community so much, thank you guys so much.

[@Mokshitha-lg5dw]

Honestly I cant imagine how It would feel like if i was you. Hope you get better soon

[@hey_how_are_you_doing]

almost same😢... I am 13 and last week my teacher found out I do self harm.... she sended me to therapy and told it to my parents... now I got more problems even tho I am getting better with other things... like friends, I finally got a good friend. I never had one or they were fake... but my brain still doesn't work in school, every test is getting worse... also because I have no concentration, because my grandpa is really sick for long now... but this week it got even worse... TwoSet helps me soooooo much. I hope you get better soon

[@hrmese]

I know a lot of people (like myself) come back to this video whenever they are feeling burnt out, depressed, exhausted or overwhelmed. Thank you Twoset, what you’re doing is impacting people on so many levels.

[@becklynsheher5270]

I'm so tired of the 'tortured artist' nonsense, this romanticisation of pain and suffering, this idea that 'oh the more I suffer, the more depressed I am, the more profound my art becomes.' when in reality it's more like...I can't get out of bed, how am I supposed to practise at all lmao. And the whole thing is just so profoundly toxic and ableist and classist (e.g. underpaying artists bc we're supposed to just do it for the art and 'artists are supposed to struggle anyway'). Yes, there is value in exploring pain and trauma through your work, but not when it means picking at an open wound over and over and over again, not when it comes at your expense as a human being.

[@madelynmelancon]

THIS. thank you.

[@martynakucinskaite]

Exactly! We were discussing this with other music students a few months ago, this romantization of a suffering artist has to end.

[@crowing3886]

I find that to be a massive human failing trait. To think people need trauma, pain and despair to be better, do better or even that you have to have a hard life to appreciate life or things. It is really weird.

[@Roozyj]

I'm toying with the idea of making a book about how the great minds of the past (like, great composers, painters, scientists, philosophers...) also doubted themselves and how they managed to do great things despite that. Kind of a motivational book for people who doubt themselves... I think I'm going to have to make it very clear in the introduction that I don't mean to romanticise suffering, but really just want to show that all 'great' people were only human too.

[@kiarraduca]

I got into school for music, and at the time I was so happy, but covid really burnt me out and I couldn’t even get out of bed to practice. All of a sudden, I was falling so behind and I wasn’t sure how to come back... so I changed my major. I hope one day I am able to come back to music and learn how to be able to do things again without getting depressed or stressed or anxious.

[@giambattistaleonardo1386]

I had a terrible teacher who morally destroyed me, although I won various competitions. Because of the teacher, I finished my music studies at an advanced level, but I was devastated and could no longer touch the instrument for 8 years. And guess what? I watched Twoset every day for a month and they said go practice and I got over my fear of the instrument. Now I have reached the level of a good student of a music school again! this is a victory, thank you

[@TheCarreys]

Same here😥 stopped for 3 years after my degree...my teacher bullied me called me stupid and through music in my face😥❤ so happy to hear that you started again

[@TheMusicalKnokcers]

wow this is epic, congratulations!

[@vijolica]

I also experienced the bully teacher, needed years to recover...

[@h5mind373]

There are quite a few famous musicians who absolutely hate music competitions. The idea there is one "winner" and everyone else is a "loser" is cruel. Everyone is unique; we all have a story to share. Welcome back to music!

[@Angel-pg5he]

Wow congrats....

[@eriklevy8914]

Dear TwoSet, During a very hard period of depression and anxiety, my classmates introduced me to your channel. I hadn't really cared for classical music and hadn't practiced my violin much before I found you. I started watching your channel, and you inspired me to love classical music. I could relate to many composers and their music, and it also helped me calm down when I was upset. When my mental health issues got so bad that I had to go to a psychiatric hospital, I decided to start practicing daily after lunch. The violin had no tapes on it, which I was not used to and was a size bigger than my usual size, I discovered that it fit perfectly, and I was ready to play without the tapes. I realized how therapeutic violin was, and it helped me a lot. I improved a lot there and listened to a lot of classical music. You inspired me to love and appreciate this amazing form of music, which I know is your goal. thanks so much Twoset! -Izzy

[@shanelleo3068]

eddy is so brave for opening up about what he experienced. it's so important to talk about these kinds of things especially mental illnesses that aren't that common.

[@hewittpaul6452]

Hi. I am a clinical psychologist and professor and I have specialized in my research and clinical work on perfectionism and the negative impact on everything from burnout, depression, anxiety, and performance. In my practice I see a lot of very creative people but musicians, and classical musicians in particular. This video is wonderful and I have been trying to educate classical musicians and students (in particular) about these issues. Moreover, as a former classical music student, there is a depth to these issues that can benefit incredibly from working with a very well-trained therapist. I will refer my patients to this video and I appreciate greatly the bringing of this information to awareness. Paul.

[@CathyZhang]

Hi Paul! Nice to see you here! I was a psych graduate student at UBC. You were on my Master thesis committee.

[@cherrybeom4181]

hey can I get myself professionally diagnosed? like I'm scared but I want to also know how to stop it.

[@mangoeisteegamer9351]

@@cherrybeom4181 Go to your local psychologist or psychiatrist. It only takes a few hours to find out what you may or may not have. I also wouldn't focus to much on the diagnosis. If you feel like you need help go for it. There are many professionals out there who would love to help you in dealing with you situation.

[@cherrybeom4181]

@@mangoeisteegamer9351 thanks for the advice ! it's rare to have any doctors that deal with mental health issues here since my country considers it as a taboo but I'll find someone to help, hopefully I could find someone within this year!

[@user-zl4dg5fg2o]

HI PAUL

[@ukaszstefanowski6296]

I love that fact, that we hear Rachmaninoff's 2nd piano concerto in the background because it is his comeback piece after a period of depression and he dedicated it to his therapist.

[@vvlams55]

All by myself...

[@williamrowell4942]

@@vvlams55 Which was copied by Eric Carmen off of this concerto. All by myself is credited to both Carmen and Rachmaninoff xD

[@DreamingCatStudio]

That is such a great point! Thank you!

[@FishingtonBurpPuzzle]

Yes, indeed. Someone's been reading the CD notes.

[@stephenmarmer543]

Bravo gentlemen. As a psychiatrist myself, life long lover of classical music, amateur French horn player and member of a high quality chamber chorus, who has also treated many professional musicians in my psychiatric practice, I congratulate you on this amazing video. Yes, medication is sometimes necessary and helpful but the deeper psychological and spiritual layers are generally even more important. I’m so grateful to have discovered your channel. Your humanity emerges from all of them. Thank you so much.

[@alexandrugheorghe5610]

Wise phychiatrist. Most would simply just want to give you pills and be done with it.

[@elijamorgan2423]

"The voice we all have is not really who you are" - Brett Yang, 2021 wow

[@leafjelly4615]

Timestamps 2:09 Stress and Burnt out 5:33 Eddy shares when he was in uni, over practicing, and experiencing intense pain in his arms that stopped him from playing. It eventually spread to his legs and he couldn't walk and was in a wheel chair. 9:43 How psychological issues manifest physically. 10:42 Depression 12:00 A bit about Bretts personal experience 13:16 Anxiety 14:46 Industry secret, people taking beta blocks/drugs to control anxiety and nerves. 16:57 Wrapping up Part 1, intentions with creating this video. 17:53 Sharing lessons they've learned. "Realize it's okay." Talk to someone. 18:50 "Once you realize it's okay to acknowledge you're going through something, allow yourself to seek help." 19:22 It's okay to experience an emotion, and not identify with the emotion. 20:33 The voice in your head is not really who you are. 20:58 They share practical things they've done. Build healthy habits. Your mind is apart of your body. 22:26 Overall closing comments 23:04 Ending credits This is a important video with a lot of info that can help people so I made timestamps of the different sections of the topic they went through, and things that stood out to me. I hope it helps.

[@namae.03]

Thank you

[@williamvanderlip4140]

thanks!

[@oldbird4601]

This needs more upvotes very helpful

[@sumosophy6823]

Thank you!!!

[@beckylikesushi]

Thanks

[@jhong1041]

This is such an important topic, thank you for bringing this up! Edit: I work in healthcare and the issues brought up are so real. It takes a lot of courage to share personal experiences, I'm really glad Twoset are able to do so. From a healthcare professional's perspective, it can also be immensely difficult to help people with mental health problems without proper training, empathy and experience. Thank you once more for bringing this to everyone's attention!

[@Cookie_Comment]

Agreed!

[@pascal9532]

I agree!

[@abigail40]

agreed! huge respecttt to themm

[@ipsharoy7398]

Yes!

[@violinchan7353]

It really is, I’m glad they’re talking about it :)

[@panika4108]

A character in a kids show once said “the fear is mine but I am not the fear” and I think that’s great

[@Jo-dk9my]

Can we just appreciate Twoset for being able to make us laugh for hours on end while, on the other side of the spectrum, they can talk about serious topics and help us all?

[@magusl9628]

Exactly. This channel is wholesome.

[@LuxeEnnui]

As someone with clinically diagnosed depression and anxiety, this is the best I have ever, ever heard two public figures talk about this sort of stuff. Raw, vulnerable, and really hoping to make an impact. This is such an important video, for both musicians and non-musicians.

[@faramia05]

I literally cried watching this video. #silentfighter

[@iruthayarajmuthiah8597]

I'm trying to listen but my ADD won't let me. I pray you don't hurt too much

[@joyfulhuman]

Agreed.

[@faramia05]

@@iruthayarajmuthiah8597 thank you for your words. Sending hugs.

[@iruthayarajmuthiah8597]

@@faramia05 Virtual hugs. I hope you gain the energy to make it through everyday, my friend. Even if everything isn't alright, I believe that you'll make it out alive😊

[@Bill-Burns]

these guys are just amazing, talking about things that others won't *everyone liked that*

[@abigail40]

yesss respecttttt

[@hugnboba]

And I love them for that

[@swvtxx8774]

Exactly

[@subzero4744]

What about the 16 dislikes lol

[@annap697]

@@hugnboba here you go, a hug and a boba! (And everyone else ofc) 🤗🧋

[@newtonsapple6656]

“What’s the point of living”. That hit me hard.

[@kylecraft-violinist]

Dear TwoSetViolin: My name is Kyle Craft - Violinist and I wanted to express my thanks to both of you for taking the time to talk about this important topic. I agree with you both 100% that this a topic that needs to be discussed more in the Music Industry. I’m a Professional Musician myself and have had similar experiences to both of you guys that I would like to share. Hopefully this will be an inspiration to some of you reading this. I’ve been playing violin since I was 4 years old. When I was in high school I auditioned for the Precollege at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and after a successful audition, was accepted and studied there for 2 years. Unfortunately in my senior year of high school, I had a similar experience to what a burnout was. I was practicing literally 6 hours a day and that took its toll on me. My passion for music was still there, however it wasn’t as big as it was and it was pretty scary to me as this was what I have been doing my whole life. Luckily I developed a passion German and started to intensively learn German, which I did fluently. Music was still a big part of me but it wasn’t the main thing I did. I did a lot of traveling and studying German. One day my passion did come back as I started to produce my own concerts. However along the way, I got a horrible Carpel Tunnel Syndrom injury from overpractice. It was so bad that I had to put the violin away for more than half a year. I went to several doctors and they all told me to stop playing. Surgeons were like we can operate on it tomorrow and my physical therapist said that you are playing a lot so pretty much said the same thing as my doctor. I wasn’t buying it. My Choir Director recommended me to Chiropractic Care with a Chiropractor who studied in Switzerland and has treated string players with these kinds of problems. I decided to go for it and within 4 sessions, I was able to play again. I did a 4 month session with him and if it weren’t for him, I would not be able to play today. Chiropractic therapy saved my career and I regularly go to him whenever I feel something is not right with my wrists. I have daily stretches I do before I warm-up/play to keep my tendons in shape. When I had my tendonitis case, my physical and emotional health was not the best so I was forced to start excersizing which I hated at the time. I was introduce to Bikram Yoga and that changed my life. After a few months of doing it, I started to feel physically and emotionally so much better about myself. My eating habits were not the best so when the Bikram Yoga started to do its work, my body started to detox. I used to love Parmensan Cheese and Pasta and I had that for dinner one night. The next day I had an all day gig and a few hours after eating that dinner, I got so sick from it. So I was forced to change my diet. I started this Yoga routine in 2019 and when the worldwide shutdown came, I promised myself that I was going to continue to excersize and get healthy so I started running. Throughout all of this, I started to love excersizing and it has become a vital part of my routine: Bikram Yoga, Running, Workout, Healthy Eating and I make sure I get at least a full 8 hour sleep every night. Before the Pandemic hit, my music career was taking off which was great and I was doing so much performing. However when the pandemic hit, I felt run down from all the practicing, rehearsing and performing. So I knew that performing wasn’t just what I wanted to do. I wanted to do the whole nine yards (Performing, Teaching, Music Directing etc) and that is what I do now. In addition to that, I also started a seperate German Business which is also a big passion of mine and I love it. Now, I have a full balanced life: My 2 careers, healthy eating and excersize routine which I love :)

[@poojars5594]

❤️❤️❤️

[@shigumaRie]

I was diagnosed with a neurological disorder last year due to excessive stress and fatigue, and has been depressed since then. This channel has been one of the things where I can somehow feel a little bit better even for a short while. Take care, everyone.

[@somintan8346]

How u r feeling better 😌 ! (Edit: hope not how sorry typo)

[@nixxiewixxie4979]

Can I give u a Virtual hug?

[@nixxiewixxie4979]

**sends virtual hug**

[@Lewej1]

You better take care as well, please. Everybody deserves enough rest--it's a basic need

[@everythingissalad2969]

Hey, you'll get better! Just get enough rest and try to talk to people you trust. Hope you'll start feeling fine soon ❤️

[@user-bz5vn1kv5g]

It’s called psychosomatic pain and it’s real. How bad it must have been to be told ‘it’s just in your head,’ because it isn’t really.

[@ctthes]

Yes! More people need to know that mental health issues can manifest itself in so many different ways. I’m a med student and it’s been emphasised to us over and over to never discount a patients pain. Even if there’s no organic pathology involved we’ve been told to never make the patient feel like their pain isn’t real. It *IS* real.

[@jacquelinek5036]

As a nurse I tell my patients "I'm not saying your pain is all in your head, I'm saying ALL pain is in your head. All pain gets processed and recognized in your brain." When you are experiencing pain, what is happening in your head matters.

[@username.subject.to.change]

I’ve been dealing with this recently. Facial injury (I play trombone, so... bad) and tendonitis (see above parentheses) have been pretty bad for me. I’m certain it’s psychosomatic because I work myself so hard. My brain does it to me to protect me from something. It’s good you see it too.

[@OmenaOmega]

@@jacquelinek5036 exactly! And something being "in your head" doesnt make it less real. I remember seeing this comic recently about someone telling "but don't worry its all in your head" and the other answers "yeah, but that's also where I live"

[@leslichaosgrimalkin1404]

Yeah, I even ended up having FND (limbs went from painful to straight up not working)

[@wideeyedCY]

Thank you Eddy so much for sharing this. I’m a pediatric neurologist and there are so many misconceptions about conversion disorders or functional neurologic symptom disorder. De-stigmatizing mental health issues is so important.

[@wideeyedCY]

For everyone else, FND (or conversion disorders) should only be diagnosed by a trained neurologist to ensure that organic pathologies are not the cause of someone’s symptoms.

[@violinistgirl13]

I was a university burnout too... after my final recital I couldn’t touch my violin. I tried playing in the community orchestra just so I didn’t completely lose my chops but I was miserable even doing that and eventually just completely put it down. I play every once in a while and my heart breaks thinking about how good I was and how I will probably never get that back. I hope I can find a way to love the violin again because I sure do miss it sometimes. It used to be my safe place and my main way of expressing myself. I feel like I have lost a huge part of my identity. Thank you for talking about this. I also wish I had a mental health professional to help me through my college days because they were brutal and before college I was so full of passion for music. College crushed it out of me...

[@localyokel83]

Same- I went to music school as an older student but they just piled on so much, I got so burned out I just stopped touching music. I’m trying to engage with it now it a sustainable way. Wish music schools were formatted differently so it could be more sustainable.

[@aesaphyr]

I'm a medic and the part where Eddy and Brett are talking about how musicians take beta-blockers to get through performances hit me SO HARD because this was what happened during our medical school exams. For context, I actually have generalised anxiety disorder. But that means I know how to manage it. My colleagues however were total messes when exams came up. They let go of sleep routines, they stopped all hygiene, they ate crap (or nothing), they drank coffee constantly... and then they stopped being able to sleep or think clearly. Instead of dialling back and taking better care of themselves, they got beta-blockers. Almost my entire cohort was on beta-blockers for the exam period. It is such an unhealthy system and unhealthy approach. I wish it was more talked about, and I am so glad to see TwoSet doing that.

[@JustineAprilJ]

I was about to comment about this too! Taking beta blockers has been so normalized in our institution that even consultants are joking about it. I even wished I followed suit when I broke down WHILE taking our major practical exam, which was a very humiliating and traumatizing experience. I almost took some (asked my friend to get some for me) during our board exams but didn't anymore because I was feeling calmer than expected. But still I knew a few who did, or at least talked or joked about it. It's concerning that it's become so normalized especially since we considerably have easier access to it.

[@aesaphyr]

@@JustineAprilJ It just makes people push themselves to even more unhealthy extremes instead of learning how to look after themselves when the going gets rough. I'm sorry you had the experience you did; it is such an unhealthy and punishing system. :/

[@harrietwoods960]

@@JustineAprilJ When I was studying opera it was beta blockers during auditions, I myself tried it several times because there were times my heart was beating out of my chest and I couldn’t hear myself sing.... then when I dropped out and switched to Business, my classmates were all taking Ritalin. 😭 it’s an institutional problem.

[@suddenIypineappIes]

guys, your own mental and physical health should be your priority, and please PLEASE don't feel like we (twosetters) are pressuring you into endless content. we obviously love any videos you make, but if you need a break, for however long, there is no shame in that. we arent going anywhere!

[@abigail40]

yes, we'll support them for a thousand year... and a thousand more :')

[@sammk6783]

We support you twoset...pls don't ever pressurize yourselves.......

[@user-ux5zt7hw3o]

I was close to tears when I saw how much Eddy struggles with his emotions when he talks about this bad phase. I feel taken back to my youth when I studied violin and it got worse with stage fright from performance to performance. I played competitions and the pressure was unbearable. Among fellow students, these fears were not an issue and that made it worse. I could play the most beautiful notes at home, and on stage I was overcome by this horrible feeling that I might get nervous and not deliver what I was capable of. The sad end: I gave up my studies and didn't play, let alone practice, for decades. Five years ago, the violin and my passion for music somehow called me back and I had to start all over again, so to speak. Today I love to practice and work on my technique and tone, intonation.Since I didn't become a professional, I have less stress these days and tell myself I want to share my joy with the people at a concert. Most of the time it works!:) Thank you for your wonderful videos! Silvi

[@politereminder6284]

Like Eddy I lost my ability to walk and to use any of my limbs or fingers for two months. Afterwards I had to learn how to walk again like a toddler. I now play piano and it's a miracle. Worst of all, I totally lost my voice, for a solid year, which sucks cause I am a professional singer. I got stress related LPR , which is in recovery. *Watch out for burnout fellow musicians.* 💞

[@czh1558]

Can we just appreciate the fact that Twoset is really trying to use their influence to spread this issue and raise awarness about it like what influencers should actually do??

[@jessicarol.t1149]

They are the best 😭

[@annediss8706]

Agree!!

[@legoosetheythem2760]

As someone who is clinically diagnosed with depression, I can confirm at least for me the they described depression was exactly how it feels

[@adejokeakinbiola9211]

Like falling into a endless pit of sorrow and pain

[@hannahfox5422]

Seconded. I actually had to take a break from school, and before that from the sport I loved, and I felt exactly the same as Brett described. I think depression is awful primarily because it convinces you it isn't there, that you're just complaining, and by the time you realise it's often quite far developed and then it's a sod to get rid of.

[@cupa6285]

@@adejokeakinbiola9211 slowlyyy falling down there... that only some specific friends... or smth random could pic you back up temporarily...

[@legoosetheythem2760]

@@hannahfox5422 I almost got put in a mental hospital bc of how bad it got from too much stress and school and music

[@niceguy8935]

What a cringey comment. Stop faking depression to sound cool, it isn't.

[@user-vc9nb4tu8v]

I'm not even a musician, but if my roommate aren't sleeping, I'd cry out so hard😭. Though not in the music field, I understand the pressure to be perfect, and the stress and anxious come along. Thank brett and eddy let me know it's okay to be nervous. In the moment they comforted, I just broke into tears.😢

[@a.k7889]

As a fellow creative, Brisbane dweller and sufferer of chronic mental illness - THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO! Extra props must go to you for speaking up about this as men, given the stigma that unfortunately still exists where “men should be tough”. To that I say, “thank you for your vulnerability, consideration and desire to potentially help others.” Now THAT is strength!

[@magusl9628]

Very well said!

[@shela404]

As an Asian American, I also wanted to add that mental health is an incredibly taboo topic among Asians - there's this mentality of, just keep your head down, don't talk about your problems, keep working. So I'd like to doubly commend these two for not only bringing up mental health for musicians but also for being brave enough to talk about this subject as two people who are Asian.

[@antheiaaurisedits8777]

Yes what you said is true. But honestly it is still the same, majority people still think that those suffering from mental health issues are abnormal people and that mental health issues are just excuses given by lazy people, it sucks :'(

[@CubicMeteor]

As a fellow Asian, I'd like to say that I'm proud of you!

[@shela404]

@@antheiaaurisedits8777 Thanks for pointing that out. Hope you find the help to get through everything you're going through right now ❤️

[@antheiaaurisedits8777]

@@shela404 I am fine :) hope you are doing good, one of my friends was suffering from depression, if it wasn't stigmatized maybe it could have been diagnosed before her physical health had gotten worse

[@shela404]

@@antheiaaurisedits8777 I'm really sorry to hear that 😔 Thanks for sharing the story ❤️

[@SuminaStuder1]

This is so important. I really appreciate you guys opening this topic up - not only for the classical music scene and asian community, but for anyone with limited resources to learn how to take care of our mental wellbeing. So, so inspiring - keep it up!!!

[@SunnyKhuranaViolin]

Hey I’ve seen your Instagram posts recently. Amazing playing.

[@abigail40]

Woah, hai Sumina and yes I agree, huge respect to them!

[@rosechen5978]

Totally agree with you🤩

[@nanwijanarko1969]

Even the queen agrees.

[@puravidafiolin4152]

Thanks! it means a lot that you made a comment to this video :)　NYでの活動頑張って😉いち日本人として応援してます🎻

[@JoelFinkel]

Many years ago, a psychiatrist told me something quite remarkable that helped me with performance anxiety. He suggested that eagerness and excitement can feel exactly like nervousness and dread. Perhaps, he suggested, I was not nervous at all, but was filled with eager excitement and a feeling that I wanted to be performing right then and there. Your mileage may vary.

[@sadiesbaby1691]

I'm a 14 year old violinist from New Zealand. I've been playing violin since I was six. When I was ten years old, I was diagnosed with anxiety, which my mother thought was from performance nerves. A year later, when I was 11, I started experiencing depression, and went to see a counsellor. Over a four-month span, he managed to decode that I was putting myself down too much, and had gone into that spiral that Brett and Eddy talked about. I had to put down my violin for a year, which was so hard considering I'd lived off of it for almost 5 years. The following year I picked it up again, but this time I knew I'd been depressed, and I had the counsellor's advice behind me. Now, while I still get nervous and still muck up, I enjoy my music so much more and I think that Brett and Eddy recognising this aspect of a musician's life is so important. Thank you!!

[@massimorusso1520]

Take care of yourselves. A friendly reminder :)

[@abigail40]

yepp and don't forget that we will all be here for y'all

[@eunecteschen7982]

thanks! (im not a musician or something but twoset educated me today once again)

[@nicoleoliveira1502]

for anyone who needs to remember this: you are NOT your mistakes or failures. you are bigger than them. you're kind, you're smart, you're important.

[@energeticstunts993]

@boughaleb samima dude, I know you're trying to create a following by recommending videos but I just lose all respect when you're trying to advertise a video on an important video like mental health. It just comes off as disrespectful

[@curiousangel1286]

Thank you and you are too :)

[@ocal123]

thank you

[@ocal123]

@boughaleb samima dude really?

[@lltinkerbell]

Same name and Brasilian too?! *-* Great words ❤️ Thank you for remeber us :') 🙏

[@lnt8756]

As an architecture student, I think we have a lot in common with music students - surrounded by likeminded people, critique all the time from peers and lecturers, constantly working on developing your skills (practice!). Studio culture is quite addictive, and if you aren’t careful, you end up completely in a bubble…

[@mementosnorri]

I don't play an instrument, but this hits close to home anyway because I've been caught in this type of echo chamber during my studies and it's really hard to recover from feelings of performance anxiety and "what's the point of living anyway". This has given me food for thought especially Eddy's story, as I have felt pain in my body for psychological reasons as well, but I didn't know it could get to the point of being unable to walk. Thank you both

[@aesthetewithoutacause3981]

'Your brain is part of your body.' This is so true, this is what people need to realise to understand how real mental health is.

[@llamalaverne994]

yes because it has effect on the other and harmful to suppress and harmful to push to ignore. was my favorite takeaway from this video with other points and bringing awareness to things, it’s important to take care of all of you

[@violinchan7353]

Exactly, people really need to realize this! Telling someone who is suffering from clinical depression that their pain is "all in their head" is like telling someone with a broken ankle that their pain is "all in their leg." Like bruh I know it's coming from my brain, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt

[@ankherin4360]

So important ! Everything goes together and one has to be well for the other to be too ^^ When I was recovering from depression I knew that the times I started not exercising and not eating well were the times I had to be extremely careful not to ''fall back'' It's perfectly okay to have bad days obviously, but overall exercise and diet honestly saved me ! When I'm depressed I feel strong joint pain, and that's the case of many people I know, so it can be hard to get moving, but with help and patience you can break the vicious circle gently but surely :)

[@farahboughaleb8943]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGi4XmSVat96ldk.....

[@alooze7]

"Strive for continuous improvement and not perfection." - Kim Collins

[@jugemujugemugokonosurikire4735]

I live by that statement every single day. It really helps. Many times it teaches me that I don't have to strive for perfection in one single day, and helps me balance things out.

[@deborahpablo786]

This is true! I was just thinking about this the other day, and when Brett and Eddy said that most people would quit because they wanted immediate results, it made me think about how people set themselves New Years resolutions but never go through because they’re not thinking about the LONG RUN. So if you want to be a great musician, you can’t burn yourself out, that “success” we get from burnout can only last for so long. It really depend on how we define success too. I was thinking about this the other day, on how people have different views of success; some people think burnout is success, others love the slow progress and the enjoyment of what they do, others think blowing up as fast as possible is success. Although they ARE reaching a certain goal, it really depends if they are happy an healthy after and during all of it. We gotta be careful we don’t do things that will harm us or other people JUST for recognition from strangers. We have to find in balance in these things

[@altoclef6688]

This is one big reason why competitions are detrimental. Who is the "perfectest"?

[@elizabetharias6989]

Oooff, I needed to knwo that

[@cke900]

Thank you for this!

[@PianoDawg1620]

I've suffered through depression before. There was this time in my life a few months ago when my parents used to always shout at me whenever I told them that I would like to have a career in music. A few days after this discussion about careers, my father finally confirmed that he would never let me have a career in music. I shot into a severe depression for a few months but I was able to hide it. Finally, I was able to make myself believe that whatever they said was for my own benefit. I now only play piano as a hobby but I do secretly believe that my dream of making this into a career will come true.

[@wait_whatt]

I am definitely not in a position to give any advice and I am sorry for prying into your business but the thought that someone has to give up their dreams just makes me unhappy. Why your parents decide your future for you? You are the one to decide, it's your life. Even if they will finance your education I feel that it's not right for them to choose for you... it's really hard to live with regrets about the course of life and wasted opportunities. It is also harder to become a pro musician once you get older. You can get a second diploma and become a teacher or a doctor or whatever if you will decide music is not for you after all. Most adults around me have switched their profession several times through their life. But imo It would be a lot harder to become a pro musician from scratch at 24-25. Your parents are probably want the best for you but it's better to discuss this things in a calm way without shouting imo. Maybe they get a point, maybe it's too early to pick a career path. I am sorry if all this sounds preachy and your family and your future are of course none of my business. But when the time to choose your career will come I think you should have the final word.

[@PianoDawg1620]

@@wait_whatt Thank you very much for this reply. It is very encouraging and is by far the best part of my week. You are correct. But in my country, it is very common for parents to choose everything for their children. They choose everything that seems to be the best for the child but this is often not the child's choice. I do have to reveal something. Where I live, it's all about money and status (most of the time). So, the parents on default think that the career that can get the most income is the best one. Music (arts in general) is not funded very well here. And so parents always disapprove of it.

[@wait_whatt]

@@PianoDawg1620 In my country it's quite common for parents to choose a career for their children too so I can imagine. Still giving up your dreams and making a wrong choice sucks. I made my career choice myself but somehow picked not exactly what I was good at and what I wanted. Now even though i am doing fine at my current job i still blame myself for that decision and can't stop to think about "what if" scenarios. It's really depressing sometimes. I can change everything but the thought of being 30 and working at entry-level job again Is kinda scary too :D I think if my parents chose a profession for me we would quarrel about it for the rest of our lives. I can understand your parents' worries though. In my country musicians' income is usually much lower compared to an average office worker's income :( But there are plenty of successful musicians too and society respect them. Who knows maybe you are the next world-famous soloist? I am rooting for you 🤗

[@PianoDawg1620]

@@wait_whatt Thank you very much for all the motivation. You are a very nice person.

[@wait_whatt]

@@PianoDawg1620 thank your for the kind words too!

[@timberwoof]

I've been watching your videos for years. You helped me and my housemate through the Covid pandemic. Olaf was right when he praised you for opening up the world of classical music to more people than anyone these years. This video was brave and necessary. It will help more people than you can imagine, and not just musicians. Well done!

[@j.p.1492]

TwoSet: bringing classical music to the world Also TwoSet: changing the world of classical music

[@phhuongtrang]

Instead of saying “Don’t get nervous”, i think it is better to say things like “stay calm”, because if you use negative words your brain only focus on that word

[@greentree2526]

This is really helpful

[@laurenspring1628]

Exactly. Your brain doesn't understand the words "no" and "not". So saying to yourself "don't mess up" translates to "mess up". It's very wierd

[@NapperNeru]

@@laurenspring1628 I learned that somewhere the more you try to not think of something the more you'll think of it, so I think that's why when you mention "get nervous" in your head when you think "DON'T get nervous" your brain just remembers the "get nervous" part, so yeah, saying "calm down" or "stay calm" helps more instead. I don't play any instruments as I am not a musician, but I did have to perform for things like dance, marching, or debate before and I would say "okay, I'm nervous, calm down, deep breaths and water, deep breaths and water," even if it's anxiety over exams in school. Having a mantra helps me when I get nervous before some sort of big event I have to do well in.

[@Madamekittylein]

Maybe even, "it's okay"

[@taeyangyb6073]

We learn that in nurse school this is actually really helpfull

[@booksandtea-]

I rarely ever comment on videos, but this one really hit home. I am not a musician (well I just picked up the flute after not playing since the 7th grade), but their experience resonated with me so much. I went to uni, and worked my butt off to get good grades, got the best internships in order to land my dream job. I ended up landing my dream job before graduating. After graduating, I started this job and worked full time. From the start, I felt this immense pressure to do well in my position. Deep down I felt like I wasn’t good and capable enough to be there. I felt anxious that people were going to think I was an imposter and that I wasn’t smart enough to be there. This job was very demanding. Extremely long hours, fast paced, competitive, and many many deadlines. My anxiety started to drastically get worse. I started to feel social anxiety during meetings when I had to lead and speak in front of CFOs, managers, and partners. I felt like they were going to find out how incompetent I was because that is how I viewed myself. In order to prove to others and myself that I was good enough, I worked extremely long hours -I am talking like 80 hour weeks on end. I wouldn’t sleep, I ate crappy food, I didn’t workout, I didn’t have hobbies, I isolated myself and disconnected from myself and others. This was during the pandemic, so I locked myself in my apartment and worked day and night. But the more hours I worked, the less productive I became. Then, I couldn’t think clearly and started to make mistakes. This all solidified what I already knew, that I wasn’t good enough. And when these feelings came up, the more hours I worked. It was a cruel cycle. I was so mean to myself. My anxiety got worse and I started to feel depressed. I also was suppressing my grief over the death of my friend. I saw no purpose in life. I dreaded waking up in the morning and didn’t have anything to look forward to. I would go to sleep praying I didn’t wake up in the morning. I get emotional just thinking about it. After a year, I got burnt out. I finally had to leave my job. I was honest with my manager about why I was leaving and luckily she was very understanding. She was supportive and told me that I can return if I choose to. I was so relieved to finally tell someone what I was going through. But at the same time, I was devastated because I had worked so hard to get this job and worked even harder to maintain it. I felt like I failed. To make it worse, my parents were not as understanding. I realized then that this wasn’t my dream job, this was my parents dream for me. I don’t blame my parents, I truly believe that they want the best for me and that they want me to have a financially stable job. However, not having their support hurts. They don’t believe in anxiety and depression which is crazy bc I’ve had anxiety since a teenager. I learned to suppress my emotions and live on airplane mode during my teenage years and young adult life. However, I realize that I need new coping mechanisms. I realize that I have to take care of my own well-being. I allow my self to grief (there have been a lot of tears but I welcome them now). I sleep better now, I eat better, i journal a lot, I meditate, I connect with people, I picked up new and old hobbies (hence the flute playing). Like Eddy, I love a good cardio workout -it’s so helpful. I still struggle, but like Brett said, making healthy habits takes time. I still have anxiety about the future especially when it comes to my career. But I practice being patient and kind with myself. I practice allowing myself to feel my emotions. I really resonated with what Eddy said about differentiating “being anxious” to “allowing my body to feel the symptoms of feeling anxious” and also not believing every thought as a fact -this shift in mindset has helped so much! I also am lucky to have access to affordable therapy which has helped tremendously. Recently, I’ve been really anxious about my future and my career. I’ve decided that I will stay in my profession HOWEVER, I will set boundaries, maintain healthy habits, try to maintain a good balance. I realized that my job doesn’t have to define me or even be fulfilling. It just has to cover my bills and allow me to invest in other areas in my life that are fulfilling. I am no longer living to work but will work to live. I am proud of myself for making it though this difficult part of my life. I don’t have it all figured out but I’m hopeful. And being hopeful is a beautiful thing especially when you’ve experienced hopelessness. Anyway, this ended up being a long comment but I just had to share my story. I started watching this channel a month ago and have been really enjoying it. Eddy and Brett are hilarious and genuinely crack me up. I am so glad I stumbled upon this video, I feel like I gained so much appreciation and respect for Brett and Eddy for sharing their experience and being vulnerable; it’s inspiring. It inspired me to own my experience a little more and be vulnerable too. I’m grateful for this channel where I can come to laugh about sacrilegious stuff but also resonate with something so deep. I’m grateful. Thanks Brett and Eddy!!!

[@jasminperez9289]

Thank you so much for sharing. It can very easily feel like we are living in isolation with our mental health problems and it was very touching to read your story. I feel like I can learn so much about my mental health struggles when I read/listen to other people sharing their stories, even more than the therapy sessions I’ve had. I’m glad to hear you are feeling hopeful, I am also trying to stay there right with you!

[@magusl9628]

Just in case you haven't figured this out yet, I'd like to point out that if you left your job and your manager told you you're welcome to come back, it's because you did a good job, which disproves all your previous imposter syndrome's thinking.

[@RobTai]

Really enjoyed this story-thanks so much. I can relate to a lot of it and am so glad to hear where you're at now. I want to try the cardio thing myself now!!

[@dungchan412]

*Can I just say* (in Brett’s voice lol) that although I know well that their friendship is exceptional, with or without this whole KZbin thing, I still love the thought that it makes the bond much stronger. I mean it’s like they have a shared child and it takes two to parent :D I wonder if it’s just me, or does anyone else also appreciate the fact that having such a Ling Ling best friend like either of them to the other is a wonderful and terrible thing at the same time. As each of them is LingLingy in their own way, I dare say it takes a whole lot of love and trust to be the type of friends we see they are today. Idk if I’m making my points clear enough here, but I guess most of you guys can relate, especially those who have exceptionally talented and hardworking friends. What they have for each other, to my extreme admiration, is unconditional support, understanding and just pure kindness.

[@lucycollison7914]

As someone who has struggled, and is still struggling, with anxiety and depression, I remember getting so anxious before concerts, and during practice sessions, in fear that I wouldn't be good enough. I remember having panic attacks before solos and completely dissociating during performances to the point that I felt completely disconnected from my own body. I have broken down into tears during practise sessions over the thought that I am not good enough. Thank you for doing this video. I think it is so important that we talk about this and to know that we are not alone. xx

[@wintergirldancing]

❤

[@ayushikedia8556]

Listen there u idk where u are or who u are but the fact that u opened up about it is amazing I could never :( Ur stronger than u think so be happy and be I N T E R E S T I N G be safe and remember u matter 💜

[@simrannair8949]

i relate entirely

[@DrAmaFie]

Very well said, and know that I (and I imagine so many others) get anxiety around performing too. I hope that knowing it's ok to feel like this and sharing here helps you in some way. x

[@danayang7712]

Yep, I relate as well. Imagine if we could make a totally imperfect orchestra. Being us just being gorgeously imperfect, giving imperfect performances, and BE GOOD WITH THAT? That would be amazing. I was a tiny bit sharp during some solos played in our last concert in september. That concert is out on facebook. And I STILL, 6 months later, cringe in my thoughts and hate myself for it, not to be able to intonate better than that! I was too nervous and then too sharp and too obsessed about playing all the notes and rhythms correct, I couldn't hear it. But I heard it on the take, and dude...! I only heard it twice and I m sooo ashamed! Thinking that EVERYBODY is mocking me for it! The truth is that after the concert, lots of the audience (who probably didn't even catch the pitchy-ness) were sooo impressed and proud of me! Some of them even got up to me and THANKED me for the performance! 😳❤ Still....I can't enjoy it. I can't listen to it. I played everything right, every note, every rhythm, I didn't have one split, nothing during that whole concert, and that is very much heard. But still, I was sharp. Means I'm a terrible musician. What an idiot-thought! I NEVER get these thoughts hearing any others playing sliiiightly out of tune. They are just unlucky, nervous, its good. But me? I was sharp. Can't play. Have no ears appearently. 🙄 God how silly! How to get rid of those stupid thoughts???

[@ElliePellie_]

My teacher once told me about a friend of hers. She didn't do anything else than practice and practice. She was going to travel to have concerts and stuff,while my teacher and other students went on social events and stuff. But at her concert, she passed out. You need to take rests. You can't only practice.

[@Ava-cw3jf]

My teacher once told me that rest also practises and that for every hour you practise you need at least an hour of rest doing something else you really enjoy

[@fullnessof_joy]

You need to practice your rests!

[@abigail40]

@@fullnessof_joy and 4'33 !

[@shreyachekkala3434]

@@Ava-cw3jf that's a really good advice I sing and honestly I just practice like 2 days a week or something because if you practice every day it hurts really bad some times I take like so many rest days because I get tired mentally and I think it's really imp to rest for sometime

[@fadlihermawan9123]

Practice and relax.

[@Denisetrystovlog]

AHH why do I all of a sudden appreciate my violin teacher asking "how are you feeling" at the end of each lesson

[@wrenclark4907]

my teacher literally told me to meditate as part of my practice, cuz i had a rlly big exam and i was getting rlly stressed. it helped, i recommend it. i’ve *definitely* experienced stress and burnout, and looking back, i have realised that maybe not all of my practice has come from the right place- often i feel like i’ve done it for other people, for compliments, to impress people, to prove something. and whenever i felt insecure because there was someone who was “so much better” than me or i felt intimidated, my solution was just to practise harder and harder, not address the mental health problems that i was so clearly dealing with. like once i had had a really confusing and tiring day and so i forgot to take my saxophone home one time, and when i got home (it sounds so wierd but) i couldn’t comprehend not practicing, and i was like “wtf do i do now?”. it was like i was dependent on practicing to give me some validation of my musical ability and it was never so clear to me as it was on that day. also some of the music teachers at my school really stress me out (my sax teacher is great tho) and that dosent help. OH and i haven’t even TOUCHED performance anxiety yet omggg. long story short i cried in my grade 8 exam, not because i messed up or anything, just because i had put so much pressure on my self and i had practised so hard for it and it had finally come around and i didn’t know how to handle it. it went really well it the end but omg that was the most intense musical experience i’ve ever had

[@abigail40]

huge respect to Twoset, they really are making such a huge difference to the classical music society

[@abigail40]

O>O and the world :DDD [cant edit comment I’m on mobile yt ;-;]

[@Eiko_Kisaragi]

As a nurse I need to THANK you guys for bringing this topic up to your community. Mental health is not a joke, and it is not something to be ashamed of. Take care of yourselves first, YOU are the most important ones in your life.

[@baldwinangel1218]

Nurse case manager here. My calls are getting heavy on the mental health help now that everyone lost their jobs and are spiraling. Not enough BH providers and you can't snap your fingers and create psychiatrists out of thin air. There's a lot of training in that profession. The wait time for a therapist is anywhere from 6 weeks to 3 months.

[@johannajohanna7068]

Guys, you are awesome! I am a mental health counselor, social services professional for mental health and wellbeing, and musician (former opera singer and a former member of professional choirs). I have to say that- what you are offering to your viewers and audience of your videos- is a great gift!! Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge to raise awareness! I find it extremely important and be certain that it can improve or even save lives! I always loved your videos. Now I adore them. Thank you, guys! God, the Universe, Nature, a Higher Power, God of Music, bless you!

[@letavik]

I wanted to quit guitar like two times, because I felt like I'm tallentless and selfish, run away to another city and be a part of the colourless mass, so I don't feel any pain anymore. I'm so happy I never sold my guitar.

[@medhaphor7521]

A lot of people have said this, but Brett and Eddy mean so much more to us than just KZbinrs who entertain us with music and music-themed comedy. They have saved so many people from mental health disorders, suicidal tendencies, and negative feelings in general. Hearing them be so open like this means a lot to all of us, and it gives us the courage to be open about our own problems, instead of hiding them away until they destroy us. Thank you so much TwoSet, for all the lives you saved, and all the happiness you spread to the world!!

[@ghitacherkaoui1244]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGi4XmSVat96ldk.....

[@30tjbhhh]

First time they’re not wearing two set apparel in a long time

[@dolphinsandsunsets]

noticed that too

[@kaizenchen5003]

That's how we tell they're serious I suppose

[@puravidafiolin4152]

Really glad with this.

[@katieturek7734]

Thank you for talking about this. As an audiologist, I often help people understand, manage and cope with tinnitus. That must have been very stressful to experience. I think there is room for growth in the connection between audiologists and musicians.

[@jennifertejada1645]

I’m a mom of a couple of very young players and I really appreciate this video. Great example you set.

[@Mr_Mooo]

I can't help but see the irony in all of this, that most people listen to classical music to relax, but the musicians performing the piece are stressed to the max!

[@tasha2651]

This is too true :( never thought about that but it's true

[@morwenna]

The benefit of it is that it's also a total endorphin rush!

[@vanilla5576]

What a situational irony it is.. I feel bad for musicians..

[@afolger1929]

I realized that I had felt this way about classical music when someone said to me that they loved listening to classical music on the way to work every day and I was thinking to myself, “how could you?” I’m a violinist of 37 years.

[@andreachin5146]

I really do hope that Brett and Eddy realise that they are so much more to us than just 2 violinists who had a successful KZbin channel, that they've changed the perspective of the classical music industry and created such a safe space for all of us musicians and non-musicians. I couldn't be more grateful to have stumbled upon their channel.

[@blixten2928]

Andea Chin Is that true, I didn't know? That these two were *that* revolutionary, was classical music so tightly boundaried before?

[@jenadyhiaberrios1165]

Omg, yes. They deserve much more then what we can give.

[@andreachin5146]

@@blixten2928 of course it isn't to say that what they're doing is revolutionary, all I'm saying is that it's really impactful that they're using their platform to have these type of conversations that have been long overdue, especially since a large portion of their audience are youths.

[@roele2413]

​@@blixten2928 TwoSet make classical music interesting for a mainstream audience. KZbin as a platform is incredibly important these days, especially towards the youth. I For example, I have never actively searched for a classical channel and still stumbled upon TwoSet and they got me hooked. And I am just an example of thousands. Their collaboration with Dave504 and Roomie, just to name two big names, are extremely valuable as well

[@yunyunnie]

I like to come back to this video every once in a while to check up on myself and remind myself to not burned out. I realized that music used to be (and kinda still is) all about competitions and fighting to get the best spot instead of just, MUSIC. Having fun playing music and playing with others but not feeling the need to obsess to the point of burning out.

[@ash81818]

I had no idea about the beta blockers. I've played piano for 20 years but I still get bad performance anxiety. Whenever I see pianists performing for huge crowds I'm kind of like "wow, I guess I'm just a nervous wreck and everyone else isn't" but the fact that people take beta blockers explains so much

[@pppp-zp2vo]

a non musician here, but even with academic fields, i strongly relate to this. i think this actually applies to ALL fields. and i feel so safe to see my favorite people and my role models having went through these hard times and sharing their views and opinions for us. i’ve seen them as ‘nearly perfect, disciplined’ two individuals. i was undergoing my ‘depression periods’ about my academic grades, and always envied how refined they were about their profession. they seemed too far different from me. however, today they opened up their sides that they could’ve felt somewhat uncomfortable of. i learned that they also underwent those negative periods, just like me, but in the end, they overcame it. now they’re spreading classical music to 3M and more people, worldwide! what i learned from this is, i gained confidence and faith that i can also do it, just like them. though it may be hard at some point, things will be solved one day. thank you brett and eddy, now i reinforced my thoughts why you guys are my role models!

[@AnastasiaGatilova]

I agree, this can happen in any point or field of your life. I'm very glad you're doing better now, stay strong and safe! You are loved and important

[@cerseilannister2983]

So true, this happens in a lot of careers. There is a disconnect when what you love becomes your job. It becomes a source of stress instead of relief. So you need to balance that.

[@HA-lq4tt]

I feel so bad for all the musicians who are struggling during the pandemic. Here in NYC, some members of the Philharmonic can’t event continue to live here anymore because they haven’t been paid since April 2020. I can’t imagine how big a toll that takes on mental health. Sending you both my best wishes! ❤️❤️

[@thehistoryaxis]

It’s a sad moment. We all must stay strong and help support others.

[@betsybarnicle8016]

Not being able to perform in front of a live audience and sense their reactions...live...That's hard for a live performer.

[@macwinter7101]

You made a disclaimer that you may not be the most qualified people to discuss depression, but with an official diagnosis or not, if you are starting to wonder what the point is of living, or if you have nothing to look forward to, you certainly qualify to speak on the matter. Mental illnesses like depression are much more common than people realize, and it's easy to downplay one's own suffering and think one doesn't suffer "enough" to have a diagnosis, but suffering is suffering, and a diagnosis isn't necessary for that to be valid. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@natashazlobinsky4662]

I only recently found this channel and I am really enjoying it. Thank you @TwoSetViolin for the work you do! This is really valuable. What you spoke about are the reasons I first stopped pursuing a professional music career and then stopped playing altogether. Now, the fear of hearing myself as a beginner again or having to start from scratch after such a long break has held me back from taking it up again at all. But I've recently also felt a big part of my identity is missing. Hearing others having felt similarly to me has given be the courage to go back.

[@deocommunist988]

Oof as a practicing physician, when Eddy talked about the doctor who just prescribed him meds and told him that it was all in his head I cringed. I'm sorry Eddy, I understand exactly what's it like (parents heavily pushed me into being a piano at 2, and developed severe tendonitis at 15, my physician at the time just prescribed me meds, and disregarded the pain I was feeling) that type of apathetic mindset is exactly what we've been trying to change over the years, and one that made me want to go into the medical field in the first place. I hope only the best for you and Brett in the future, cheers lads🍻

[@blixten2928]

You'll do for the medical world - at a minimum - just what TwoSet are trying to do for classical music. Please continue to be inspiring, you are needed.

[@pawseds]

The depression section hit really hard. I'm not clinically depressive and I don't know if you could call it a depressive period, but there was this one person who I used to be friends with. He knew I played the violin but never actually heard me, and kept saying how I must've been this prodigy and etc even though I kept saying I wasn't. And when he did actually hear me play, he did go 'wow I thought you were at a prodigy level', which I'm honestly fine with. I am so incredibly far from that lmao, it's just the truth. But then that led to 'jokes' that were like 'haha played for 10 years but still can't get intonation right', '*plays audio* this is how it's actually supposed to sound like', etc. At first I was fine with it since I can take jokes like that and also regularly self deprecate. Basically I was used to it. But then the frequency of the jokes grew way past being funny. It also really didn't help that this guy, who's a pianist, wasn't at a prodigy level but was seriously good at playing the piano, especially compared to me on my violin. When Eddy mentioned his friend who couldn't even touch her violin without crying, that one hit really, really hard. Because in this one period of time where I was doing my best to practice frequently, those 'jokes' would constantly be running through my head on how I was pretty much a failure, on top of my preexisting regret of not practicing harder all those years before. And then that would lead to tears - I practiced through tears so many times and that even happened three times in front of my tutor, which was embarrassing. (My tutor doesn't know about this.) But yet, no matter how much I practice, I still sound like crap. (So the study on situations like this making your musical abilities worse was kinda a relief to hear, as if it's not just that I'm that hopeless? Haha) This eventually lead to me making more self deprecating jokes, except there were less of the 'haha funny' kind and more of the 'cry for help' kind. I would tell those to said person along with briefly touching on how I felt like crap, basically. But every time I did, he'd just brush it off and say 'enough, I'm tired of hearing this' every time. (Which isn't very much since I don't confide a lot to begin with, but hey, now the internet's reading this!) The last time we talked was when I directly confronted him saying that 'your jokes make me feel like crap, please stop making that.' The only response I got was 'well I have feelings too', which doesn't even make any bloody sense. Since when was being nothing but honest for the other person's benefit equal to degrading someone's self esteem daily? That, along with a crap ton of other trash, finally made me realise how bloody toxic he is. I've cut him off, but the effects still follow me to this day, whether music related or not. I've barely touched my violin now and I'm pretty sure I'm avoiding it by playing the piano a lot more frequently now. Even talking or even writing about this specifically makes me tear up from all the humiliation. But I really hope that I'll gather my wits about and just get back to the violin, because I miss playing it and there are so many things I want to learn on it. Thank you so much TwoSet Violin for making bringing this topic to light. You guys really are the pioneers of classical music in today's age. (And sorry for the long comment essay lmao, just had to get it off my chest. And hopefully this could help others too?)

[@tasmonic]

Such a sad story and you've already made a good step in removing yourself from this toxic person- I hope you will one day realise that this person's strategy of trying to feel good by putting someone down is actually on them and nothing about you. I hope you will one day learn to love yourself again and rediscover the joy you had in your playing before this happened.

[@ankavoskuilen1725]

Jokes that make you feel bad about yourself are not jokes. They are abuse. It will always hurt your self esteem. I am glad you stood up to it. In general you better keep away from such persons. You should start telling yourself other stores about yourself and I think you can help yourself by searching professional help for that. I hope then you will have a more realistic view of yourself. YOU ARE WORTH IT, whether you believe me or not!

[@bc3839]

i’m really sorry that this person treated you that way. i wish you well for the future and i hope you find your passion for the violin again. just take it slowly, step by step and i’m sure one day you’ll find yourself playing again! thank you so much for sharing as well, it must be difficult but sharing your own experience is a really brave thing to do

[@everythingissalad2969]

Wow, what a shitty friend! While it may be true that you could still find yourself improving with your music, that's no way to talk to anyone! Time and practice along with your health will definitely bring you to where you want to be - no one else's opinion honestly matters, and I'm glad you did great to distance yourself from this person.

[@nanwijanarko1969]

Glad you at least cut him off. That's the first step! I believe with time you'll be at peace and finally ready to play your violin again. If I may humbly offer my opinion, I think after years of self-deprecation and receiving negative "jokes", you may subconsciously think that there's no point in playing if you're not good enough, hence why you keep being reminded of his words and avoided playing it? If so, I hope slowly you can experience joy playing the violin again and overwrite those thoughts. By the way, I play classical piano, and some point I totally dropped it having the thoughts I mentioned before. I started playing again years after that, after knowing Animenz and seeing how anime piano songs are fun to play. I'm practicing for fun now, both anime songs and classical, and very thankful for that.

[@angelabrown6598]

Just because it’s “in your head” doesn’t mean you made it up or caused it. Thanks for sharing, from a person diagnosed with a major depressive disorder and trying to live a life Xx