![]() There’s no shame in turning away from a particular scene that’s chilling your spine in an unenjoyable manner. ![]() If parts of a movie are making you feel uncomfortable, you can always close your eyes or leave for a quick bathroom break. It’s key to monitor how many movies you’re watching a week and notice if it’s affecting your routine behavior.Īs with any film or TV show, it’s all about moderation. This can involve symptoms such as lack of control, negative health and social effects, feelings of guilt, and neglect of duties. Research also suggests that binge-watching can be an obsessive and compensatory behavior. The study also found that participants who watched more than 2 hours of TV each night displayed higher levels of depression than those who had shorter viewing times.īinge-watching horror movies also increases the regularity of adrenaline in the body, worsening issues with sleep. Although it may be tempting to marathon horror movies all month, this can come with some risks.Ī 2017 study by the University of Toledo’s Department of Health and Recreation found that binge-watching TV or movies can increase symptoms of anxiety and disrupt sleep, even when they aren’t horror movies. It’s also important to monitor not just what’s on the screen but how much of it you’re consuming. All narratives have conflict, but it’s about picking the level that feels right for you at the time. Remember, you can always leave the room and pick up a relaxing book instead. It’s 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.Īs Rutledge notes, “If you’re finding yourself short-tempered and anxious… forego a horror film and watch something that lets you escape into another world.” Don’t subject yourself to discomfort because others want to watch something you may find upsetting,” she says. “Be prepared to set boundaries and stick up for yourself when negotiating shared programming. Rutledge agrees with this sentiment of putting your needs first. “There’s no harm in avoiding horror movies, whether it’s in response to a moral value eschewing violence or a psychological desire to avoid unwanted images and sensations,” says Winston. The most important thing to keep in mind when watching horror films is your own comfort. If gore is your cup of tea, try “Human Centipede” or the “Saw” series. If bloodshed is more likely to haunt you long after viewing, try something more supernatural, like “Paranormal Activity” or “The Conjuring.”Īlternatively, if ghosts are more likely to keep you up at night, try opting for a psychological thriller such as “Black Swan,” “The Boy Next Door,” or “Look Away.” Find out what subgenre suits youĪn important tip to watching horror films is to find what level you can handle and what subgenre suits your preferences.Īs Rutledge says, “Know your own taste and tolerance.”įor example, not everyone is going to enjoy gore or mind games. There are also ways to lessen the impact of a scary movie while still enjoying the thrill. ![]() You may notice a physiological response from these hormones by way of pupil dilation, increased heart rate, and muscle tension. These can cause the release of the hormones in the body such as norepinephrine, cortisol, and adrenaline from the autonomic nervous system. Horror films are designed to elicit certain emotions such as tension, fear, stress, and shock. That said, there are some things to be mindful of. ![]() It’s a “prerequisite for enjoying horror movies,” she says. She describes the ability to have an experience and simultaneously observe it as “defusion” or “disentanglement.” Winston says that generally speaking, there’s no harm in watching for those who can process the illusion for what it is. This is similar to being on an amusement park ride, where you can feel terrified while at the same time knowing you’re safe. Sally Winston, licensed psychologist and executive director of the Anxiety and Stress Disorders Institute of Maryland, explains, “, your heart pumps and the adrenaline flows, and your attention narrows in, even as you know you are at home or in the theatre and there is no real danger.” Horror movies contain psychological tricks that create illusions of suspense and danger through the manipulation of images, sound, and story.Īlthough your brain is aware that the threats aren’t real, your body simultaneously registers them as if they are.
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