More than simple escapism, films can provide an outlet for thoughts and feelings. “When we are feeling depressed, inspiring movies can serve as a kind of timeout from the way we are feeling,” says Howard Pratt, DO, behavioral health medical director at Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI).
Engaging in activities you enjoy, such as watching movies, can be beneficial. It could boost your mental health, relieve stress, and foster relationships. Still, movies aren't a treatment or cure for your mental health symptoms. If your symptoms interfere with your daily life, a mental health professional could help.
Cinema therapy is a form of expressive therapy, much like art or music therapy. In cinema therapy, a client will watch a movie that depicts a similar conflict to the one experienced by the client. Your therapist will “prescribe” a film for you to actively view and then you will discuss this during a session.
For many people, music and movies serve as distractions from stress and anxiety. A new study suggests that for women in an especially stressful place, there's a unique option that can help ease their burden: watching Disney movies.
Dramatic movies could increase feelings of gratitude and reduce feelings of isolation. They could also act as a reminder that everyone experiences struggles of their own and invite viewers to reflect on their own problems. Sad or tragic movies, while not a mood booster, remind us that we're not alone.
Individuals with binge-watching behavior are more likely to be affected by depression because depression makes people want to escape their current state of frustration and consume more TV to release this pressure [3].
Or, to be more specific, this study found that the sadness we experience when we watch a movie with a tragic plot causes us to reflect on our lives, particularly on our close personal relationships, which makes us feel not only grateful for those relationships, but happier.
This can be described as a tripling down effect. The strengths that are portrayed in the film help the viewer to recognize such strengths inside themselves, so that they put the strengths to good use for their own lives, and so they feel better and more connected to people and the world.
While depression looks different for everyone, if you've experienced it or know someone who has, then you know how challenging it can be. “Depression can help a person gain a deeper sense of compassion for others going through similar experiences or who have gone through difficult times in their lives,” Wind explains.
Even those who often have trouble expressing their emotions might find themselves laughing or crying during a film. This release of emotions can have a cathartic effect and also make it easier for a person to become more comfortable in expressing their emotions.
“Films show us different perspectives and lives different from our own. In this way, a movie's story gives us access to experiences and emotions that can help us feel better.” A good movie can also distract us from emotional pain or give us a place to put our unshed tears.
To cope with the substantial amount of pressure in our lives today, we find mechanisms that help us destress and relax. For many, this method is consuming content like films and TV shows. Watching a funny TV show or an action-packed drama allows you to be in the present.
Secondary research suggests that two unique elements of the cinema experience drove the findings: the focused activity and the shared social focus. These elements have proven long-term benefits on our overall brain function, memory, focus and productivity.
Who knew binge watching your favorite series could produce a "high?" It's true. When you're engaged in an activity you enjoy, your brain produces dopamine — a chemical that promotes feelings of pleasure, excitement and happiness.
Watching a movie is much more easily consumable way rather than reading a book. A motion picture is more visual and easier to remember, compare with written works like books. Reading can push your imagination cause you'll be a part of the story, yet a movie helps you visualize the situation easily.
For some people, experiencing symptoms of depression is temporary or for others it comes and goes. But this doesn't mean that your life won't have moments of joy, hope, and happiness. There is no magic cure for depression, but it's treatable, manageable, and doesn't have to stop you from living a full and happy life.
It's one of the most common and most treatable mental health disorders. With early, continuous treatment, people can gain control of their symptoms, feel better, and get back to enjoying their lives. There are effective treatments for depression, including medications (such as antidepressants), along with talk therapy.
Movies are the best tool for escaping reality. If you are feeling stressed and anxious, they can help you cope with stress. Romantic movies and comedies, for example, can help you overcome the issues in your real life. Comedies have been proven to decrease stress hormone levels and blood pressure.
Honestly, it isn't hard for a movie to change one's life — especially when you are a cinephile. Movies hold immense power, and their transcending, sometimes bigger-than-life storylines are more often than not quite inspiring.
The calming feeling of re-watching movies is 'experiential control', which provides 'emotional regulation'. To put it simply, because you know the ending already, you also know how it will make you feel.”
Evidently, sad films are renowned for producing stress chemicals in our bodies. Catharsis is an antidote to these chemicals. With an emotional release, we purge buried feelings and our awareness increases.
It may be that movies offer you the perfect environment to express those kind of emotions. Maybe it's the intimacy that you have when you watch movies or it's the lack of predictability of what can happen, compared with everyday life you may explore every event through logic and control.
The main chemicals that make up the emotions during films are Adrenaline or epinephrine (C9H13NO3) are stimulated during scenes that are thrilling or scary.
