Watching Horror Movies Builds Resilience

On Halloween, I thought I'd do some research on why we like watching horror movies.

In my teenage years, my friends and I would have sleepovers and watch horror movies back to back on DVDs. In the 80's the most popular horror movies were

• When a Stranger Calls

• Halloween (the original one)

• Friday The 13th

• Nightmare on Elm Street

• Evil Dead

But have you ever wondered why we like watching horror movies or what it may do to our psyche?

Would you be surprised to learn that watching horror movies builds resilience?

First up, let's define resilience...

Health Direct defines resilience as the "ability to cope with unexpected changes and challenges in your life"

Just as a vaccination is designed to help build your immunity against diseases and intermittent fasting puts stress on your body, watching horror movies helps your mind cope with stressful and dangerous situations.

Sadly, I recently read that people involved in the massacre at the music festival in Israel survived by 'playing dead' under other dead bodies until the terrorists left. How did they know to do this? Was it instinct? Had they seen it in a horror movie?

The mind doesn't know the difference between an actual threat or non actual threat. And we react in one of four ways - fight, flight, freeze or fawn. This is survival mode and known as the Four Fear Responses.

Like any muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it becomes and so, the more often your put your mind in a perceived threat, the stronger your responses will become. So that when you actually need to use it, it will be ready to go.....

Be careful though, don't overdo it so much that you perceive threats as too real and live in constant anxiety. No Freddy Kruger is not going to get you in your sleep !!!

So enjoy Halloween, dressing up as your favourite super hero and don't eat too much sugar !!!!

Meagan Johnson is a social worker, psychotherapist, counsellor, homeopath and massage therapist who is committed to your physical and emotional wellbeing.

Book your free 30 min consultation