Posted by Amal on Sept. 21, 2014, 3:45 p.m.
THE MANY BENEFITS OF WATCHING SCARY MOVIES PROVE THE GENRE CAN HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT.
There are people who do not want to watch scary movies. Aside from the fact that they can soil their pants; they don’t want to get scared, period. They just don’t get the idea that being scared and entertained can occupy the same zip code. Surprise, surprise, surprise! Watching a scary movie has its benefits; more than just being entertained it can have a positive effect on your health and well-being, READ ON.
**SCARY MOVIES CAN MAKE YOU LOSE CALORIES:
Unknown to a lot of people, watching scary movies can actually make you burn calories. Now scary movies join the ranks with exercise videos in making you lose weight. You indeed burn calories when you watch horror flicks but not that substantial. In a recent study conducted by a university in the United Kingdom, depending on the movie, you can burn close to 200 calories. Watching scary movies is perhaps one of the most entertaining ways to burn calories!
**IT SOOTHES YOU:
According to another study done in New York, horror movies allow you to engage in an experience where you are in control. In some ways horror movies provide a soothing factor. While it can initially give you stress because of the uncertainties in the plot, it gives you an avenue to overcome stress which is helpful when you face real-life situations. It gives your mind some sort of diversion and helps you forget about those anxiety and stress you have in your daily routine. Horror movies are not only comforting but also soothing; now that is something unexpected don’t you think?
**IT GIVES YOU AN ADRENALINE RUSH:
Sometimes when you are stressed you need to get the adrenaline pumping. Medical professionals believe that engaging in a horror movie can make your adrenaline rush all throughout the body. The excitement and the uncertainty of the scary movie activates your adrenal gland to pump adrenaline all over which can give you that energy boost and could lead to the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain. It keeps you on your toes instead of being lethargic due to anxiety and depression.
**HORROR MOVIES ARE GOOD FOR THE BRAIN:
Watching horror movies can be beneficial for the brain. The roller-coaster ride of emotions that happen when viewing scary movies can lead to the secretion of certain feel-good chemicals in the brain such as dopamine, serotonin and glutamate. These chemicals may lead to the creation of adrenaline which can have an anesthesia-effect on the body which is similar to effects of drugs that could actually bring stress and anxiety down.
**BETTER CONTROL OF REALITY:
Watching horror movies may actually help people to have a better grasp of reality. Scary movies help you to prepare or prime you to a state of readiness which you can use in real-life situations. Add to that the improved ability to anticipate things in real life which you frequently do while watching scary movies. Horror movies actually prepare you to be more alert to situations that may arise after you have watched a movie.
**SCARY MOVIES CAN BE A TIME TO GET “HUGS”:
When you are jumpy because of the scary movies you tend to unwillingly hug the person next to you. Hugging could give you relief from the heightened emotions which are useful to be acquainted with especially when you are feeling too much stress and anxiety when you are no longer watching.
Scary movies can be beneficial too. It is a matter of perspective and how to use the changes that happen to the body when subjected to a roller-coaster ride of emotions. Being scared will make you stronger and horror movies will make it safer. Just don’t forget to bring your popcorn with you or a box of pizza and an extra large glass of soda. Watching scary movies with a group of friends may also prove to be stress-relieving. So, go ahead and call your friends now and invite them to watch scary movies with you.