The fear that you overcome when you walk through haunted houses and Watch classic Michael Myers movies this Halloween can help reduce your stress levels in general.
According to Michelle Cutler, an associate professor of clinical psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, when done right, a horror movie marathon can even alleviate some of the anxiety you experience. through everyday.
“There’s actually a neurobiological response that occurs when we do something scary, especially if it’s done in a community with other people and if we can get over it,” Cutler said. .
“We get a rush of adrenaline, endorphins and dopamine, and that really translates into feelings of euphoria and gratification or even empowerment when that fear subsides.”
To enable this feedback, you need to be intentional and set up your environment for the best experience.
5 tips to use the spooky season to reduce stress, reduce anxiety
Here are some things you can do before or during a scary experience to have a positive impact on your mental health:
- Surround yourself with people who make you feel safe
- Remind yourself that you are in control
- Reaffirm that you are not in danger
- Deal with any injuries that may arise
- Tune your nervous system by taking deep breaths and by thinking about pleasant experiences or people that bring you joy.
“When something is manageable, when we know we’re choosing to do it, we know when it’s going to start and end, we know we can get away with it,” Cutler said. it, that gives us autonomy in the situation.”
“It’s not like this is happening to us. It’s what we’re choosing to do and that whole mindset can have a huge difference in how we’re impacted by it.”
Know your limits and stick to them
If you know that going into haunted houses or watching some horror movies will only increase your anxiety levels, then you can completely stay away from them, says Cutler.
You will only get positive effects from participating in those activities if they feel like an option, she adds. “You don’t want to do this if this doesn’t sound like a good idea,” she said.
“Realize where you’re starting and make the intentional choice, ‘Do I really want to do this? Will this help?’ know that it has the potential to increase the fear response.”
Consider doing other activities to celebrate Halloween and still experience positive emotions if scary movies and haunted houses aren’t your thing:
- Focus on wearing fun outfits
- Distributing candy to children at home
- Pay attention and focus on your child’s enjoyment
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