Anxiety and Escapism: Why They Go Hand in Hand It is for this reason that many with anxiety turn to movies. This is especially true regarding films with a higher level of intensity, such as horror movies. Horror movies can be a form of escapism for those struggling with anxiety.
Some people with anxiety have shared how horror movies help them deal with their symptoms. Many people are fans of the horror movie genre, but for people with anxiety, it can be more than just a fun, spooky hobby. For some, watching scary movies is actually a powerful way to deal with their anxiety symptoms.
Why some anxious people find comfort in horror movies?
“By watching a scary movie, your brain feels it has accomplished surviving a scary situation, even though it knows you were never in any real danger to begin with,” it states. “Going through a scary situation in a controlled, safe environment can help to establish confidence in yourself.”
Severe anxiety occurs when the body's natural responses to anticipated stress exceed healthy levels. The symptoms—a racing heart, changes in breathing, and headaches—can hinder your ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.
Horror Movies MANIPULATE YOUR BRAIN (the neuroscience of scary movies)
What is the last stage of anxiety?
The fourth level of anxiety is panic level anxiety, or panic disorder, which is characterized by frequent, recurring, and unexpected panic attacks. Common panic attack symptoms include: Sudden onset of extreme fear and sense of doom. Heart palpitations or rapid heartbeat.
People who tend to experience negative moods are also vulnerable to distress after watching horror films because they show a poor reaction to human suffering. This means that individuals with depression, which is closely related to anxiety, may be prone to anxiety when watching scary movies.
Watching horrific images can trigger unwanted thoughts and feelings and increased levels of anxiety or panic, and even increase our sensitivity to startle-eliciting stimuli, making those of us who are anxious more likely to respond negatively and misinterpret the sensations as real threats.
What is the psychological reason for liking horror movies?
According to this theory, horror movies let us vicariously explore the nature of evil, both in others and in ourselves. They also allow us to grapple with the darkest parts of humanity in a safe environment.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Once a fear response is locked in one's brain, it resists new information and wants to reinforce itself. Retraining an anxious brain requires giving the limbic system new information. Ways to reduce anxiety include approaching fearful situations in small increments and examining fearful thoughts.
More specifically we expect positive association between caring and anxiety and a negative association between the other four Cs (competence, confidence, character, and connection) and anxiety.
It's also shown to reduce anxiety and make therapy more appealing. Film therapy was also shown to be particularly beneficial to certain groups of people. For example, research showed film therapy can help young autistic people identify their positive strengths and build resilience.
A specific phenomenon that has been observed is rewatching beloved movies and shows. Many people who experience anxiety rewatch media they've previously seen as a source of comfort and coping.
Scary movies might feel oddly comforting to those with trauma-induced anxiety. The years leading up to a child's fifth birthday are crucial for the brain. Traumatic events we experience during our early years can lead to the onset of memory problems, anxiety, emotional dysregulation issues, and even PTSD.
Anxiety sensitivity is elevated in panic disorder as well as other anxiety disorders. It is thought to contribute to the maintenance and severity of anxiety symptoms.
Although horror movies may positively impact mental health, it's vital to be cautious while using them as a “coping” tool. In some cases, they may cause more harm than good: Horror movies can negatively affect sensitive people and people with mental health problems, increasing stress, anxiety, panic, and depression.
For those who have celebrated Halloween throughout the years, it may evoke nostalgia for simpler times of ease. This may be particularly likely for those who developed anxiety in later years and especially so for those without childhood trauma.
Anxiety changes brain chemistry, and makes it easier for the mind to focus on the negative. You're not only more likely to have a scary thought when you have anxiety – you're also more likely to focus on the thought, have the thought cause more anxiety, and ultimately have more scary thoughts in the future.
For us sensitive people, this means a scene of violence can be difficult to stomach. Watching someone in pain can cause our brains to almost experience that scene ourselves, as if we were actually there. We cannot just watch and feel amused, pretending it isn't real (even if it isn't).
Overall, anxious people believe their anxiety symptoms are scary because they threaten their very existence. A common core fear is that anxiety and its symptoms have the potential to ruin or prematurely end a normal life. This core fear activates the body's most basic survival instinct.
Research shows that overreacting, constantly worrying, and living in a state of perpetual anxiety can reduce life expectancy. 1 If this describes your typical response to everyday setbacks and snafus, it may pay in the very, very long run to learn ways to lighten up and lower stress.
Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. Many people worry about things such as health, money, or family problems. But anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry or fear. For people with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time.
