Put a word inside my inbox and i’ll tell you a fact about myself based off that word
Playing my music compositions was a big way I intentionally gave myself catharsis when I was young. I'd sit at the piano and play my compositions as I was currently feeling. That might start with sad or angry pieces. Over time, as my mood felt better from playing the piano, I'd be increasingly playing upbeat pieces. By the time the piano playing session was done, I felt great!
I miss having the ease of sitting down and pouring out on instruments like that. Me returning to music through banjo in the last two years has been a huge improvement on my mood; I was feeling dead without consistent music playing time.
I truly believe this is radically different from listening to music as other people do. Not that that can't do things, too, but it's different.