Relieve stress by watching horror movies

Hong Kong Watching horror movies stimulates the brain to release endorphins, a stress-relieving hormone that helps the mind relax.

When Sana Shawkath Khan, then 10, watched the 1973 horror film The Exorcist, one of the genre’s most iconic films, she was terrified. The film’s protagonist, a 12-year-old girl, is possessed by a demon, forcing priests to perform ancient exorcism rituals.

Even though he couldn't sleep all night after watching the movie, The Exorcist still rekindled Khan's love of horror movies.

"I remember being in shock. There were a lot of startling scenes, but I didn't want to close my eyes or look away because I wanted to know what would happen next," she recalled.

Now, at 31, Khan still watches horror movies. She loves the tense atmosphere, the creepy, larger-than-life music and effects, the screams and slamming doors. Khan enjoys the feeling of being scared and the comfort of knowing that the fear will pass after the movie.

She is just one of many people around the world who share this interest. People turn to horror movies for thrills and adventure. However, experts also see mental health benefits from watching them. In fact, horror movies help relieve stress and control real-life fears. They reduce the impact of real-life stressors by exposing people to fear in a controlled, fictional environment.

According to Melanie Bryan, a clinical psychologist in Hong Kong, horror movies allow for the release of stress and all sorts of emotions in a safe space. The effect is similar to going to a concert.

Watching horror movies helps relieve stress. Photo: Freepik — Watching horror movies helps relieve stress. Photo: *Freepik*

She explains that the human response to fear is initially physical. Fear stems from similar past experiences or is instinctive (like fear of spiders, fear of flying, fear of snakes).

Stress hormones like adrenaline flood the body, causing the heart rate and breathing to increase. Once the physical reaction begins, the body takes some time to metabolize the adrenaline, allowing the person to calm down.

In a truly dangerous situation, a surge of adrenaline puts people in one of three states: fight, flight or freeze. People don't come out of this state until they feel safe again, says Dr. Bryan.

When watching horror movies, people feel comfortable and safe when the plot of the movie is resolved, such as when evil is defeated. At this time, the brain releases endorphins, a hormone that reduces stress, helping the mind relax.

This has a positive effect on people with anxiety disorders. They often perceive threats in everyday situations, so they often feel insecure. These dangers are not real and cannot be solved, so they rarely experience complete relief. The feeling of comfort after watching a horror movie will help them relieve stress.

A 2020 study found that people who regularly experience fear in fictional form (such as watching horror movies or playing horror games) were more psychologically resilient and adapted better during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In fact, during the stressful times of the pandemic, many people turned to horror movies as a way to relieve stress. Data from the Movies Anywhere app shows that horror movie revenue in May 2020 increased by 194% compared to the same period in 2019.

Despite the obvious benefits, Bryan says horror movies are not suitable for people with high imaginations. They may relive scary scenes and feel more anxious. She also warns people with stressful lives in general, or those who are emotionally vulnerable, to avoid watching horror movies or playing games.

Thuc Linh (According to SCMP )

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