Auspicious…How Horror Movies Can Be Good for Your Health and REDUCE Stress

Although they may make your heart race, the jolts and jolts caused by horror movies could be good for your health, experts say.

Tense scenes from cult horror classics such as The Shining and The Exorcist release powerful chemicals in the brain known to reduce stress, a study suggests.

Dr Kristen Knowles, a neuropsychologist at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, said horror films help produce endorphins and dopamine chemicals linked to happiness and stress relief.

She told the Herald: “Researchers have found that watching horror films can improve pain tolerance through the production of endorphins.

Horror films provide a safe way for people to explore fear, because in films, “the objects of fear are more simplistic than in real life.” Pictured is a scene from The Exorcist

“The body’s response to fear or suspense is to increase the production of stress hormones, such as adrenaline, which mobilize your body’s energy resources.

“This is associated with increased heart rate and focused attention.

“This can all seem rather exhilarating when that tension is released at the end of the film.

“Doing this safely can feel good just because it’s exciting, consider skydiving as a similar activity that is scary but also exhilarating.”

Endorphins are used by the body to make us feel pleasure and reward.

They are produced by the brain when we eat and exercise, but also when the body experiences pain or stress, such as during a scary horror movie.

Dr. Knowles added that horror films provide a safe way for people to explore fear, because in films, “the objects of fear are more simplistic than in real life.”

She added: “Through this safe interaction, we can learn to cope with negative emotions and develop resilience in the face of fear and stress.”

His thoughts are supported by a 2012 study from the University of Westminster which showed that watching a 90-minute horror film and enjoying a short walk burned the same amount of calories.