Watching Horror Movies HELPS You Cope With Anxiety, So Get Your Scare On

A lot of us struggle with anxiety.

We get stuck in a pattern of thoughts that drag us down, make us feel uncertain and out of touch with everything around us, and we’re always trying to find new ways to cope. 

Well, according to some new research, there’s one way that can help you that you have probably never thought of before:

Watching horror movies. 

According to Broadly writer, Abby Moss, watching films filled with fear, panic and uneasiness actually helps us cope with those feelings in everyday life. 

The writer spoke with Dr Mathias Clasen from Denmark’s Aarhus University, who studies the psychological effects of horror movies. 

He told her:

"Exposure to horror films can be gratifying when the negative emotions caused by the film are manageable.

"Moreover, there's psychological distance when we watch a horror film. We know it's not real - or at least, some parts of our brain know it isn't real. Other parts - ancient structures located in the limbic system -respond as though it were real."

Through watching horror movies, they provoke a fight or flight reaction in us all, which is beneficial in a controlled environment.

"I'm not surprised to learn that some anxious individuals find horror films therapeutic. The genre allows us to voluntarily - and under controlled circumstances - get experience with negative emotion."

Well, well, well… maybe it really is time to plan a massive horror movie marathon for Halloween?

If you are concerned about your own emotional wellbeing, are experiencing a personal crisis or are concerned about someone else, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or at www.lifeline.org.au

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