Can scary movies and shows really harm your health? I asked the doctor

The fading heat of summer into the alluring fall means one thing: my annuals Gilmore Girls Re-watching the classic TV show is comforting and heartwarming in equal measure, and after a hard day (or week), it’s comforting to return to Star Hollows, where the biggest dilemma is whether Rory will get to Harvard or not. no. But with Halloween fast approaching, many people are getting into the spirit and lining up scary movies and scary flicks that provide a dose of adrenaline and suspense.

After stumbling across many wellness gurus like Steph Flockhart who credit consuming “cortisol-friendly content” with managing their stress levels and improving their overall well-being, I wondered if high-cortisol TV shows Watching movies (entertainment that is intended. To make us feel scared, stressed, or suspicious) can actually have a negative effect on mental and physical health. There must be a reason that draws me to it Gilmore Girls When I want to relax, but does that mean scary content has the opposite effect? Here’s what an expert had to say.

Does watching scary shows and movies raise your cortisol levels?

During the review Beetle juice Before watching the sequel in theaters might make you laugh or bring back fond memories, board-certified physician Dr. Azza Halim says watching horror movies and thrillers that rip your heart out has the opposite effect. “Watching thrillers, scary movies, or suspenseful television can increase cortisol levels and stress hormones through the ‘fight or flight’ response, which is the body’s natural response to perceived threats or stress,” Dr Halim said. is

You know though circle It’s just a movie and not your reality, your body doesn’t know if the threat is real or not; This will trigger the same stress response. When watching a scary movie, you may experience the same symptoms you would experience in a dangerous or stressful real-life situation, such as increased heart rate, increased heart rate and blood pressure, and rapid breathing. This, in turn, can cause the nervous system to release cortisol as well as adrenaline and norepinephrine (hormones that prepare your body and mind to act in a dangerous situation).

How does cortisol affect the body?

Cortisol is a hormone that is important for the body. Cortisol wakes up in the morning and sustains energy throughout the day, and it is also known as the “stress hormone” because it is released when the brain senses a potential threat, signaling various activities in the body. such as increased heart rate. Price and adrenaline so you can theoretically fight or run away from a threat. This process affects various body systems from the cardiovascular system to the gut to the immune system.

Where cortisol gets its bad rap is because most of us aren’t dealing with the occasional tiger that escapes, but we are dealing with stressors that stimulate cortisol daily, hourly, or even minute by minute, leading to chronic cortisol. Long-term elevated cortisol levels can cause adrenal fatigue, and negatively affect everything from inflammation to digestion.

So is watching scary shows and movies bad for your health?

Short answer: it depends. For the most part, watching a great new show or your favorite horror movie shouldn’t affect your health long-term, Dr. Halim said. These hormone spikes are short-lived, usually lasting as long as the content you’re viewing, and may include a pleasurable cum. “Such an increase in cortisol is short-lived, and for some people, it can help with the adrenaline rush during and immediately after viewing, which can be enjoyable because the suspense or fear is over.” Their bodies quickly return to rest, said Dr. Haleem.

While most people shouldn’t worry about cortisol spikes from watching stressful or fear-inducing content here and there, people who feel particularly disturbed by it may experience long-term effects, such as sleepiness. Difficulty doing or feeling anxious. What is perceived as stress varies from person to person, as does each person’s current stress state. If your body already has elevated cortisol levels from other stressors in your life, such as work demands or school commitments, mental health conditions such as anxiety, or negative events happening in the world, stress-relieving recreation Participating in can make it worse. “If someone is particularly sensitive to stress or already experiences high stress levels, exposure to intense media may contribute to long-term elevated cortisol and stress hormones,” Dr. Halim said.

Since everyone is different in their level of stress and resilience to stress, check in with yourself, create strategies for how to reduce your cortisol spikes throughout the day, and talk to your doctor if you feel like it. that you have chronic stress or suspect that you have symptoms of an illness. High Cortisol For example, you might consider a lighter form of entertainment instead of a scary movie if you’re feeling extra stressed. You can put yourself in a better frame of mind by boosting your endorphins and lowering cortisol before and after consuming stressful content, such as taking a relaxing yoga class, watching a funny movie, or listening to relaxing music.

Does watching lighthearted shows and movies lower your cortisol levels?

According to Dr. Halim, watching a light-hearted rom-com or a funny movie can be as effective in the short term as other cortisol-lowering activities like meditation or exercise. When you laugh, your brain releases happy hormones like endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. The release of happy hormones can reduce stress and significantly lower cortisol levels. In a 2023 study, scientists found that one session of laughing led to a 36.7 percent decrease in cortisol.

This doesn’t mean you should completely discount exercise and relaxation practices like meditation—both have great long-term benefits for reducing chronic stress and reducing mental health issues like anxiety—but adding laughter to your daily routine on a regular basis. can go a long way for your mental health. and physical health. Studies have also found that watching relaxing content, especially nature scenes, can lower your heart rate. If you’re feeling stressed, Dr. Halim suggests choosing “comedies, nature documentaries, animated shows, romantic movies, or anything else that lightens the mood,” as long as it “produces laughter and feelings of relaxation.” “, which can reduce your stress. Cortisol production in the body.

Low cortisol TV shows and movies to watch for a lazy girl fall

If you suffer from higher-than-normal stress, deal with chronic cortisol, or decide that high-cortisol entertainment isn’t for you, try one of these seasonal shows or movies without Serve webs from pressure.

1. Gilmore Girls

2. Hocus Pocus

3. When Harry met Sally

4. practical magic

5. Halloweentown

6. Sweet Home Alabama

7. Beetle juice

8. Pride and prejudice

9. Friday Night Lights