Horror & Mental Health

“You're not afraid of the great world, Eddie, but of the small one inside yourself.” (King, Stephen. The Wastelands: The Dark Tower Iii. A Signet Book, 2003.) Perhaps we are all born with a healthy fear of the intrusive thoughts which our tell-tale hearts are capable of? Possibly, we invite personal demons into our tiny worlds by the casual over-exposure of visionaries' fears, personified in the media. Conceivably, the digestion of these horrors actually allows us to purge the dark and struggling sides of ourselves. Or just maybe, asking these ‘deep’ questions shows no justice to the fluidity of a universal audience, each person differing from the last. The conversation’s about the way horror media affects people have been long-lasting and strenuous for several years but the general idea that Horror is bad for you, is the most accepted/popular answer. What becomes of our mental health when we turn the corners of pages or look at the television to find figments of a scared imagination? The true response of this fault-line is that there can be no universal answer. Mental health is a near unfathomable spectrum within each human being. Never the same and always changing. Depending on the person, the horror genre could be a coming vessel of fear or a form of escapism from the vessel which lives in you. By no means am I an expert in the education of mental health, rather, I’m just a twenty-two year old woman who’s learning to cope with OCD, Anxiety and Depression. My personal experience and those close to me (who’ve felt comfortable enough to share) are the background from which I speak.

We, as people, spend our whole lives just learning how to cope with existence, a process which goes on in the background of our minds like a television left on in the next room. Learning our simple likes and dislikes in the younger stages, what we find solace in and what drives us away, and for some; slowly discover we need more help to function like those around us. A terrifying idea but completely normal. Hopefully, aid is accessible but for some it’s strenuous, difficult and too expensive. I was fortunate and privileged enough to make regular appointments with a psychiatrist and therapist once I realized I needed them. It was during a visit with my past psychiatrist that this topic of the Horror genre's effects on mental health came up. Media and pop culture in general can be a tricky subject for our mental well-being. Constant access to unlimited information and stories, be it real or fictional, can be more than overwhelming. I think Bo Burnham says it best in his special; ‘Bo Burnham: Inside’: “Could I interest you in everything? All of the time? A little bit of everything all of the time. Apathy's a tragedy and boredom is a crime. Anything and everything all of the time.” (“Bo Burnham: Inside | Netflix Official Site.” www.netflix.com). With this concept in mind, let’s pretend to fully believe in the world’s accepted idea that there is a broad divide of everything having either ‘Negative’ or ‘Positive’ interaction with an individual's mental health. Now, where do we place the whole genre of ‘Horror’ now?

Horror stories have been rooted in literature since around the 1700’s, making it an ever growing spectrum of sub-genres which have been portrayed in millions of different media formats, spreading like a campfire that can’t be snuffed out. Taking into account that large (almost endless) stream of various content which is generalized under the ‘Horror Genre’, we can take a step further into specifics by discussing the effect this ‘literary tag’ has on our mental health. The first option in this ‘binary concept of life’ we’re presented with, is that Horror affects most of the population negatively. That has been the most popular and most presented conclusion for several years. You might remember an adult figure in your life telling you something in the same vein when you were a child. Now, popular is not synonymous with wrong. Why else would this be the most main-stream answer if there wasn’t excellent proof behind it (and there is a lot). Feelings of fear can trigger a release of hormones, such as Cortisol, that can make sleep or relaxing very difficult and Horror’s ultimate goal is to elicit an array of emotions; Tension, Stress, Anxiety and fear, is it not? A lot of the time, writers establish this tone by using characters with misrepresented mental illnesses as villains. Those already suffering from Mental Health issues and anxiety can find it harder to enjoy scary movies when their body can’t help but react to the illusion of fear as if it were truly happening. This uncontrollable reaction can oftentimes be scarier than the movie itself.

Cortisol is a hormone that is responsible for many of the processes throughout our bodies. For one, this hormone is a central factor in our response to stress. Watching media that scares you can unintentionally cause your body to react with mental and physical stress. While you may think you’re aware of the separation from the film and real life, your body may not be. Over consumption of Horror films can cause your Cortisol levels to sky-rocket. “Once the alarm to release cortisol has sounded, your body becomes mobilized and ready for action — but there has to be a physical release of fight or flight. Otherwise, cortisol levels build up in the blood, which wreaks havoc on your mind and body.” (Cortisol: Why the "Stress Hormone” Is Public Enemy No. 1 … https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201301/cortisol-why-the-stress-hormone-is-public-enemy-no-1). A build-up of Cortisol levels can lead to mental and physical problems including but not limited to; Anxiety, depression, digestive problems, trouble sleeping and memory and concentration impairment. A person might absorb this content only to internalize it & face intrusive thoughts about it later on. Horror, or more specifically Psychological horror, oftentimes causes this fight-or-flight response at the expense of a character that suffers from a mental illness. “46% of film characters with a mental health condition were perpetrators of violence.” (Smith, Dr. Stacy L, et al. Mental Health Conditions in Film & TV. https://assets.uscannenberg.org/docs/aii-study-mental-health-media_052019.pdf.) The dehumanization of Mental Illnesses commonly found in Horror films only normalizes toxic stereotypes.

Imagine what it feels like for somebody who’s a part of a Dissociative Identity Disorder system (Always ask what someone is comfortable being referred to as because it’s not always going to be the same, it’s human decency people.) to be exposed to movies like; ‘Split,’ directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Coming out in 2016 as a psychological horror film,which very obviously exploits symptoms of this disorder in order to market the villain as a terrifying antagonist. How do you think this portrayal makes somebody who actually has this mental illness feel? Horror films like this film only assist the general population that consumes this media to incorrectly stigmatize and demonize DID. Moreover, it’s concerning that in general Mental Health Illnesses are already very rarely portrayed in the films; “Out of 4,598 characters in film 1.7% experience a mental health condition.” (Smith, Dr. Stacy L, et al. Mental Health Conditions in Film & TV. https://assets.uscannenberg.org/docs/aii-study-mental-health-media_052019.pdf.) and creative heads on these movies are continuing to use these illnesses as a vehicle for ‘evil’. Now, I can’t speak for an illness I do not have, the best resources to educate yourself on DID are those who actually have this wildly misunderstood disorder. For example, an accessible source are video channels such as https://youtube.com/dissociaDID. Misrepresentation of Mental illness in Horror is harmful and triggering for those who are actually struggling and perpetuates disparaging stereotypes that encourages viewers to label them as crazy.

While it may seem this evidence definitively proves the effect is purely negative, the other side of this argument has just as much to say. For as long as there’s been the opinion that consuming fictional terror contributes to the internalization of mental and physical stress, there has also been the argument that horror is actually a form of expression that can help us purge feelings of distress and intrusive thinking. Wes Craven, a legend among horror creators, masterfully condenses this point with a simple comment; “What a horror film then does is not frighten so much as release fright .” (Fear in the Dark. Directed by Dominic Murphy, produced by Paul Cowan. 1991). The small worlds of fictional horror which come to life in our DVD players could possibly be a safe-space to release our intrusive thoughts. We might be able to alleviate the intensity of our own minds during an hour of a scary film or 300 pages of a horror novel. In doing so, we could possibly find ourselves mirrored in certain characters who, in that limited time, experienced trauma similar to our own. Forming these character-connections can be of great comfort for those of us who are struggling & certain film genres lack the vulnerability it takes to portray/handle such sensitive material. It’s not often that a Comedy or Romance movie dabbles in examining mental anguish. After all, there must be a reason why Horror is so often devoured by our friends and neighbors.

Intrusive thoughts are unwanted ideas that pop into our brains without warning and can oftentimes be distressing or even disturbing. Whether it be in the form of an image, a sound or statement, these undesirable thoughts can affect our mental state and behavior. Intrusive thinking is a natural human phenomenon that most everyone has experienced. In some cases the constant recurrence or the inability to stop fixating on these thoughts can be a symptom of Anxiety, Depression, OCD & PTSD. When it’s estimated that Generalized Anxiety Disorder alone affects 3.1% of the U.S. population, according to the The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), there is bound to be a healthy divide on what helps and what hurts. We’ve gone through the negatives of Horror so now let’s cover the positives. When an individual can’t help but continuously generate their fears into what feels like unstoppable thoughts, they search for a deserved method of relief. Watching portrayals of our own scariest feelings/images, be it on the big screen or drawn in ink, can provide a catharsis. These little worlds of fiction which we sit down & feel connected to are coming from inside someone else's head. Meaning, we are not alone in our Intrusive thinking. Finding a horror film that addresses a specific fear, thought pattern, or behavior that you’ve experienced or are currently experiencing can be incredibly gratifying; There is someone else out there who understands you. “Some works of horror, especially the psychological and surreal kind, are satisfying and even cathartic precisely because they find ways to illustrate the disturbing thoughts that accompany a mental disorder.” (Wortmann, F., 2020. Horror exposure and OCD | Psychology Today). When someone is battling unwanted thoughts relating to violence, sex, religion etc. it is terrifying to feel alone and it just so happens that Horror is the media genre which most often explores & illustrates these ‘taboo’ topics.

Anyone who deals with anxiety can relate to the feeling of spiraling thoughts and fears. What the magic of Horror brings is a straight-forward focus onto a fictional point of fear, maybe the monster under the bed. You, the reader or watcher, know where this new fear is coming from and feel a sense of control that you’ve been unable to accomplish previously. Prepare for a long quote from Mr. Stephen King ala the Dick Cavett Show, 1980; “I think that a lot of kids feel like outsiders. They may feel a little monstrous themselves and they can go see a movie like for instance, ‘Night of The Living Dead’ and they may feel that they have some problems with their peers or whatever it is but the sheriff in that movie--somebody says ‘Well a chief are they hard to kill?’ and the sheriff says ‘Ah nah, they’re dead. They’re all messed up.’ And it makes a kid feel kinda good inside.” (The Dick Cavett Show Horror Masters Stephen King ... - Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk4bKL328Lg). While the language is sort of bumpy, Stephen King really hits the nail on the head with that quote and is able to explain that for those of us struggling mentally, maybe feeling monstrous or isolated in our anxieties, these scary movies and novels let us know we’re far from alone. Not only that, but we are also capable of persevering because of our struggles. It’s not always as hard as we’ve been convincing ourselves.

Now that we’ve explored the Negative and the Positive, do we know which one is the right answer? Of course not, because the answer is neither. There can be no universal answer because each person in this world is different, therefore their conclusions aren’t the same as their neighbors. The tiny worlds which exist in each human being on this planet, all go through phases and experience everchanging fluctuations in mental health. Therefore each individual’s answer is completely fluid in itself. Nobody, in good conscience, can provide a definitive ‘yes or no’ to the question: ‘Are Horror movies good or bad for your mental health?’ The only thing that matters is taking care of yourself and figuring out what is healthy for you! And if your answer changes in a week from now, changes again in a month then maybe shifts to something else entirely in 2 years...you are still completely valid. What’s good for someone else might be bad for you and that is OK as long as you’re happy and healthy! If Horror movies keep you up at night but True Crime Podcasts are your thing, that’s great! Finding limitations, using trigger warnings and exploring sub-types of Horror can be excellent methods for finding your happy place! Whether reading scary novels helps you to purge your bad feelings or triggers them, any answer is a good one when you’re making your mental health a priority.

Before ending this article, I wanted to share some of my personal experience that I very briefly mentioned earlier on. Again, I’m a twenty-two year old woman learning to cope with OCD, Anxiety and Depression and I’ve gone more in depth about this in previous articles (‘Thank you Stephen King’ & ‘It's 1:30 in the morning and my OCD is too much.’). But what I wanted to add on here is that Mental Illness can be truly painful and finding our safe-spaces is extremely important. My OCD has been very hard for me to cope with, there have been times that I’ve just been absolutely devastated with episodes of violent, depressing and terrifying Intrusive Thoughts. But the one constant companion I could lean on was Stephen King. I know that sounds weird but I honestly don’t know how I would have gotten along without his books and I’m very grateful to have found them. What really sparked my interest in writing this article was my previous Psychiatrist outright telling me that Horror was just plain bad for me. While it was not the only red-flag for me, it did really hurt me. I’d been talking to him for a long time at that point and to have him shut me down in the middle of explaining why Eddie Kaspbrak from ‘IT’ was so important to me….felt wrong. I don’t think he knew or understood me at all. At that moment, I insisted that Horror couldn’t just be bad for me. The true answer was fluidity. But the last few times I saw him, he continued on the same path and I had to realize he wasn’t helping me (which was extremely hard for me to do). He was a good guy but not the kind of Psychiatrist for me (for several reasons). What I wanted the point of this article to be was that we’re all different from each other and constantly changing so the idea to force a binary answer on a question to do with everyone’s individual mental health, is ignorant. I hope I haven’t seemed too all over the place because I have been hyper-focusing a bit too hard on this!

Look after yourselves and take care!