Most people will experience anxiety at some point in their lives. Anxiety is definitely not a good feeling. It feels like your whole body is on high alert, as if danger is imminent. Your heart may race, and you may feel chest tightness and shortness of breath. This can lead to dizziness or even vertigo. Some people have stomach discomfort, like a worse version of stomach butterflies, or even urgent bowel issues. Your muscles might begin to tense up and cause a headache, too.
Your brain has a hard time dissecting what is really happening as opposed to what is meant for entertainment purposes. You can feel all of these feelings when you’re in danger, or when you’re doing something as simple as watching a scary movie. But why do we subject ourselves to what feels like a kind of torture, and why do so many of us seem to like it?
Fear Feels Different When We Choose It
One simple reason why we like being scared when we’re being entertained is that we are choosing when we want to be scared. We choose the scary movie or the scary book. We’re in a safe, controlled environment where we get to experience that rush of stress or danger. There is some interesting science behind the fun we have when afraid.
Choice
We decide when to engage with something scary.
Safety
We know a story or attraction is not an actual threat.
Relief
The frightening moment ends, and the tension subsides.
When we are scared, our amygdala sends us into fight-or-flight. This pair of almond-shaped nuclei is located inside of the medial temporal lobes, just in front of where the hippocampus sits. It’s a key part of the limbic system, which helps manage our behavior, memory, and emotions. When we get frightened and our fight-or-flight response is triggered, the amygdala floods our systems with adrenaline and cortisol. Then, as the fear passes and we feel safe again, our brains give us a little reward in the shape of dopamine and endorphins, which can cause a euphoric feeling. That’s why many thrill-seekers love to be scared – they’re chasing that feeling.
Why We Keep Looking at What Scares Us
It does seem that, as humans, we really can’t look away from danger. Think about when a car accident occurs and traffic forms because of all the passersby rubbernecking to see what happened. It’s interesting, and it arouses the brain when we get that adrenaline rush. There’s something to be said about the social aspect of being scared with others, too.
Bonding with others while experiencing recreational fear has been studied. One study shows that when groups of people are in a heightened emotional state together, it amplifies their sense of connection after facing the fear together. It acts almost as a “social glue,” according to the study. We’re all looking for connection with each other. And it seems getting spooked with others is one great way to do that.
When Entertainment Starts Following You Home
Consuming media that leaves you scared or anxious isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It only becomes concerning when it starts to affect your mental health. Overconsumption of anything is considered unhealthy. The same can be said for watching too many horror movies, reading scary books, or delving too deep into true crime. Sometimes, we take wanting to understand threats and being prepared for them a little too far.
If fear starts affecting everyday life, the experience may no longer feel like entertainment.
How can it affect your mental health? You might start feeling more anxious, and not just when you’re enjoying your media. Or maybe your sleep is being interrupted, and you feel a compulsive need to imagine the things that scare you. This is when the psychology of horror can start to become more crucial. It’s important to learn why you’re experiencing changes in how safe the world feels around you, and the best way to do that is through the guidance of a therapist.
You Don't Have to Prove You Aren't Scared
So, you’ve discovered you have firm boundaries when it comes to the horror genre, and that’s perfectly normal. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with setting personal boundaries when it comes to things you like or dislike. You aren’t being overly sensitive or “sticking your head in the sand.” You know yourself better than anyone else. Knowing when to walk away from something that disturbs you is a wonderful form of self-awareness.
Maybe the interesting thing about fear isn't that some people enjoy it and others don't. It's learning when fear is something we're choosing to explore and when it has started choosing for us. At the Center of Excellence, our licensed therapist will work with you to help you understand what you’re experiencing and find ways to feel more grounded.