Watch A Scary Movie If You Have Anxiety
just might help you, trust.
This is something that I have been saying over and over again-
Whenever I get on the topic of horror movies and why I love them so much, I say a couple of different things but do you actually know the real reason? Why do I love horror movies so much? It was sort of like an aide, before I was on any medication and in therapy. Horror movies are a good distraction for someone who is severely anxious. Like I was almost a year ago. (not to expose myself.)
It is definitely way more effective if you see a scary film in the theater, that kind of goes for a lot of movies, quite honestly. Anyways, earlier last year there was an event with someone that I really wanted to be with, despite knowing how bad they were to me. My anxiety was at an all time high, my depression crept back in. Life once again, felt unbearable. Everyday was a struggle to go through. Around this time, Evil Dead Rise just had its theatrical release. The event that had happened with me and my person at the time was always on my mind. I decided to go to the Anaheim AMC by myself to see this new movie. It was not the best scary movie by any means, but there were bits and images that genuinely were disturbing and terrifying. Grotesque even. Like nasty I mean.
I was scared, frightened, for moments throughout the film. It was effective, the job of telling a scary story got done. It help me escape my racing mind for just a little over an hour and a half. It was what I needed, I can’t really pinpoint the exact time when I figured this hack out. Like I’ve known for a good amount of time that movies and shows- other art mediums can all be a source of escapism for people, but I do not know when exactly I became aware that horror films can provide that for me. I have loved the genre since I was in high school.
But certainly at that time I was not making the conscious decision to watch like Halloween or something to leave my worried mind for a bit. Late high school is when I realized, in hindsight, that I was under an immense amount of stress. Just thinking of what happened during those years and how I would respond to it, how my body even responded to it. Way too much for a child to go through. Where was I going with this? Oh right, yes, that I did not know-or that I was unconsciously watching horror films because it was therapeutic.
Now why is it helpful? “How could it be helpful because I just feel even more stressed out when I watch a scary movie,” My ex used to argue with me on this using those exact words.
I believe them to be helpful as it is a distraction from your anxious thoughts, your own personal problems. You might have feelings of anxiousness, nervousness, and all the other scary big feelings. What is different about these feelings is that they are temporary and not yours. You are witnessing something that will not threaten you at all. Whether the evil thing goes away or not by the end, you know that it all ends there and does not affect you or your life in any way. It never did. And I feel like from there you can have the same thought process as I do and have adapted- that nothing lasts forever. In the most hopeful and comforting way possible. Whatever is plaguing your mind at the moment. Whatever troubles you are facing, it is all temporary and will eventually pass.
But of course as it goes for every lesson, only an individual must come to that realization themselves. Just like I did.
This is just an ideology of mine that I believe to be somewhat true. That could possibly work for some at least. I’m sure there are some studies on it.
some links I found talking about this if you want more of a concise piece, not just my blabbing:
Something about the horror genre really immerses me into this world that the movie is showing me. It has my full attention. Sometimes with other genres I find myself thinking about past memories. which then leads my mind to wander down other memories and before you know it I have not paid attention for the past couple of minutes. Causing me to miss the movie a tad bit.
One genre that I love is coming of age, but with that a lot of what films showcase are universal experiences. So it triggers my mind to think of my own experiences. Horror movies can still incorporate real life events and experiences, but the difference with it is they seem to be more grandiose. Too extreme and wild to ever happen to everybody, or at all, in real life.
Now For Some of My Favorites ATM:
Longlegs (2024) By Oz Perkins
man oh man. mmm this was definitely not a let down I’ll say that much. Don’t see it at home, go out to the theater for this one. Neon I love you and all that you’ve been putting out.
Pier 4 - Clairo
yeah yeah clairo is overrated and a big fat meanie(all those jokey allegations people made about her last year) BUT NEVER MIND THAT. This is such a beautiful song. The woman is keeps proving to us or me more like, that she is so far from that bedroom pop artist she was when she started out. She has redeemed herself. This binch knows her stuff…
Joy & Laughter - Paycheque
All I am gonna say is that I’m kicking myself for going to Texas WHEN I SHOULD HAve stayed home and seen them play at Gold Diggers in LA.
Alrighty. That’s all for this week y’all. Short and sweet. Not much of chisme piece for once. I thank you a hundred times for reading Greter, for getting to the last bit of this one. Love you and thanks for your time!