Surprising Effects of Horror Movies in our Mental Health

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happy halloween i for one love halloween

ever since i was a child

dressing up trick-or-treating playing

pranks

visiting haunted attractions and telling

horror stories

i also love the excitement of horror

movies sitting around the tv with family

and friends

wondering who would jump first but going

to bed alone was never easy

all those scary movies can entertain us

bring us together and cause

burst of laughter when your friends jump

and scream they also keep us up at night

terrify us and instill a certain anxiety

and uneasiness

basically they can stress us out but why

do we love horror movies so much

welcome to beyonce today we decided to

look into the actual effects of scary

movies on our brains

our minds and our bodies dare you to

find out

some things might surprise you but

before we begin

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october for many of us means one thing

the spooky season

is upon us this translates to pumpkin

spice everything

creative costumes full of pop culture

references

and of course horror movies teeming with

bone [ __ ] suspense

and gore yet when seeking a good scare

from our screens

it is important to keep our mental

health in mind too

movies like jennifer's body the shining

the invisible man and get out are great

for suspense and thrill but sometimes

this care can become too real

taking care of our mental health is

important so it pays to know your limits

and how to watch in a healthy manner

now here are some of the effects of

horror movies in our mental health

number one physiological effects

horror movies contain psychological

tricks that create

illusions of suspense and danger through

the manipulation of

images sound and story although your

brain is aware that the threats aren't

real

your body simultaneously registers them

as if they are

a psychologist once explained that when

watching horror films

your heart pumps and the adrenaline

flows and your attention narrows in

even as you know you are at home or in

the theater and there is no real danger

this is similar to being in an amusement

park ride

where you can feel terrified well at the

same time knowing you are safe

generally speaking there is no harm in

watching for those who can process the

illusion for what it is

yet there are some things to be mindful

of horror films are designed to elicit

certain emotions such as tension fear

stress and shock

this can cause the release of the

hormones in the body such as

norepinephrine cortisol and adrenaline

from the automatic nervous system

you may notice a physiological response

from these hormones by way of butyl

dilation

increased heart rate and muscle tension

number two effects on sleep have you

ever experienced

thinking all those scenes in the movies

and sometimes it creates some illusions

that keep you up at night

although adrenaline contributes to the

overall experience of the movie

the elevated states can make it harder

to sleep

even for those who enjoy the emotional

rollercoaster

horror and suspense film can make it

harder to sleep but remember

getting a good night's sleep is

incredibly important for both

your physical and mental health number

three

mental health research has shown that

sleep loss or poor quality sleep

can negatively affect how the brain

processes emotions the following day

and can intensify negative emotions poor

sleep has also been linked to mental

health

issues it is estimated that 90 of people

with depression experience

poor sleep quality research also

suggests that going three or more

consecutive nights in a row without

sleep

can result in a perceptual distortions

delusions and hallucinations

some noted that for sensitive

individuals sleep can also be impaired

by internalizing the images

let's say from movies into dreams this

means that the horror on the screen can

trigger nightmares

which are proven to disrupt deep sleep

and cause poor quality sleep

if horror movies are keeping you up at

night it may be worth reconsidering your

viewing choice

and number four anxiety people who

suffer from anxiety are more likely to

be

negatively impacted by horror films

chronic anxiety

increases the sensitivity of startle

eliciting stimuli

thus making people who are already

stressed and anxious

more likely to respond negatively those

that suffer from anxiety sensitivity

are more likely to experience a negative

impact from watching horror films

the tendency to fear intrusive thoughts

and images

may be triggered and increased levels of

anxiety or panic

note that watching horror images could

lead to unwanted thoughts and feelings

so there is usually a major urge in

those who experience anxiety sensitivity

to avoid such experiences

now despite being full of gods and gore

horror films can have

positive effects on viewers too

generally people who watch horror films

tend to enjoy them for a variety of

reasons

so for most viewers it is a positive

impact

watching horror films can also be an

opportunity to confront

one's fears as the viewer withstands the

horror and gets to enjoy the payoff of

resolution

this can be especially true for viewers

with a certain mental health disorders

if someone is being treated for an

anxiety disorder

horror movies can provide useful

opportunities to face one's fears and

develop the confidence

that you can in fact endure unpleasant

distress and that is not dangerous to

you

however it is important to talk to your

doctor or a licensed psychologist about

whether this would work for you

personally

now here's our tip for healthy viewing

there are also ways to lessen the impact

of a scary movie

while still enjoying the thrill number

one

find out what subgenre suits you an

important tip to watching horror films

is to find out what level you can handle

and what subgenre suits your preferences

know your own taste and tolerance if

ghosts are more likely to keep you up at

night

try opting for a psychological thriller

such as block swan

the boy next door or look away number

two

set boundaries for yourself the most

important thing to keep in mind when

watching horror film

is your own comfort there is no harm in

avoiding horror movies

whether it is in response to a moral

value or psychological desire to avoid

unwanted images and sensations

it is important to assess your current

emotions and how you'll be impacted by

what's on screen

especially if you have a tendency toward

fear or anxiety

remember you can always leave the room

and pick up a relaxing book instead

number three take a break if parts of a

movie are making you feel uncomfortable

you can always close your eyes or leave

for a quick bathroom

break there is no shame in turning away

from a particular scene that's

chilling your spine in an enjoyable

manner

number four keep the lights on watch

with the lights on or during the daytime

this can especially help if you

experience extreme fear of the dark

and number five body up another tip is

to watch scary films with others

as they can help you feel tethered to

reality then there's the option of

cuddling

which can help you feel safe the bottom

line is

as with all genres of movies and tv

shows it comes down to individuals

preference and circumstance

to watch safely monitor how horror

movies are making you feel

notice how you feel the following day or

whether your sleep is impacted

remember you can always leave a viewing

if you are uncomfortable

or not enjoying the physiological

responses in your body

getting in the halloween spirit is fun

but taking care of your mental health

is far more important did you enjoy our

tips today

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