Is the show playing into fears you’ve had for a long time? Is it making you think about yourself in a negative way? If you can’t shake it, consider talking with someone, either a close friend or family member or a professional. It’s about saying, ‘I want this for myself and know I can do it,’” Lindgren says.Īnd if something is really bothering you, ask yourself why that might be. “Empowerment is about someone choosing it for themselves versus someone else imposing it. Whatever you decide is up to you, and it’s important not to let others push you. Or maybe you are normally OK with watching something scary, but decide not to during a week when you’re particularly stressed out. Maybe you like spooky shows but aren’t into slasher films. Only you know what you’re comfortable with watching. (Yes, that’s true even if you watch “The Ring.”) Know your limits The goal is to make your brain realize that the thing you’re afraid of can’t actually hurt you - especially when it’s just on TV. Watch a single scene or part of a show that focuses on your fears, and gradually increase your exposure over time. If you aren’t ready to jump right in and watch Chucky to cure your fear of demonic dolls, take things a little slower. This is called exposure therapy, a technique used regularly by psychologists. If you have a phobia or other mental health condition, deliberately engaging with something that scares you can help prove to yourself that you can handle it. Think about what scares you: Spiders? Heights? Killer clowns? No matter what it is, it’s probably been featured in a horror movie. Record your shows so you can watch them earlier in the day or evening, or use an online streaming service to watch whenever you want. Though a lot of horror TV shows are on late at night, this is where technology comes in handy. “It can be hard to go to sleep because you’re trying to get the body to do two different things at the same time,” she says. That’s because all that suspense can increase physiological arousal in your body - the opposite of what helps you feel sleepy, Lindgren says. If the content of horror movies doesn’t bother you but you’re still experiencing insomnia, it might not be the best idea to watch something scary right before bed. If repeated, disturbing images of Pennywise or Hannibal Lecter keep flashing before your eyes when you’re trying to sleep, take that as a sign that you might want to re-evaluate your watching habits. Nightmares aren’t just for kids, after all, Lindgren says. Sometimes, your subconscious will send you signs that something is bothering you, even if you don’t realize it during your waking hours. Here are her tips for making sure that “American Horror Story” binge keeps you on the edge of your seat - instead of up at night. The specific things that, for you, might feel good scary or bad scary will vary,” she says. “For some people, that sense of fear feels good. There’s no consensus among researchers whether or not horror shows are good or bad for us. It’s probably not that simple, says Kristen Lindgren, Ph.D., a psychologist at University of Washington Medical Center-Roosevelt and an associate professor in the University of Washington’s psychiatry and behavioral sciences department. (Pun intended.)īut night after night of on-screen bloodshed might make you wonder: Is this hurting my mental health? After all, Americans are experiencing anxiety at higher rates, surveys show, and it’s not uncommon for us to be triggered by what we watch (“ 13 Reasons Why,” anyone?). Whether you’re more of a seasonal viewer or a die-hard horror fan, it’s fun to load up on your favorite gremlins and ghouls to get yourself in the holiday spirit. It’s Halloween season, and you know what that means: scary movie time.
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