When was the last time you willingly went to a horror film that had you jumping out of your seat? Have you ever stood in line for hours, eagerly waiting to be frightened to death by the fastest, highest rollercoaster, with all its steep inclines, loops and sharp curves? We love to be scared! Our hearts pound, we breathe heavily, sometimes we scream, and of course, there’s that tell-tale feeling in our stomachs. Have you ever wondered why we enjoy being scared by choice?
There is plenty of science and psychology behind our fascination with a good scare, accompanied by an adrenaline rush. According to “Psychology Today,” these voluntary, arousing negative experiences can help us learn to handle stress, boost our moods, and even create bonding experiences. When we are afraid, lots of things happen. Our bodies release adrenaline, cortisol and dopamine, all of which make us feel alert and energized, and once we feel “safe,” even happier. Our brains are incredible at evaluating the risk and letting us know how to react. A good scare can also make us feel more powerful, because we realize we can handle more anxiety and stress than we thought possible! It’s the thrill of overcoming fear that makes us feel empowered!
Speaking of being scared by choice, one night, I was watching “The Tonight Show,” and Jimmy Fallon announced that he had created an immersive Halloween experience called “Tonightmares!” It’s a spinechilling haunted house with killer scarecrows, brain-eating zombies, aliens, murderous AI robots, and an abandoned gas station (Supposedly Jimmy’s nightmares.) I got so excited, and immediately wanted to go, despite already feeling terrified! It was 11:45 PM, and I texted my sister, “Let’s go to Jimmy Fallon’s Tonightmares!” She texts me back, “Lol, I am watching him right now, that’s so funny! Um, haunted house? I’m scared of haunted houses! (With the scared emoji)” I texted her, “I’m scared but want to go! You can stand behind me. I will protect you!” Then she texts, “I know they will have scary clowns!” We ended up getting tickets, and we were thrilled to be voluntarily paying to get the living daylights scared out of us!
On the other hand, some fears are not enjoyable, because they are uncontrollable and irrational. Phobias like the fear of heights, fear of spiders, fear of flying, claustrophobia, fear of crowds, fear of the dark, fear of the water, and the list goes on and on. Do you have any phobias, or know anyone who does? Many of us, at one time or another, may have known someone afraid of commitment.
Fear of commitment is a genuine thing! (It’s called Gamophobia, in case you were wondering.) Believe it or not, phobias are prevalent. Phobias affect people of all ages, backgrounds and genders. Negative experiences usually trigger them, but mental health professionals can treat most phobias. We can also learn to abate our fears with soothing self-talk, relaxation techniques, and facing our fears.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “Exposure Therapy is considered the gold standard for treating phobias, successfully treating up to 90 percent of patients.”
I occasionally get claustrophobic, and I can tell you it’s no fun. I know precisely which negative experience triggered my phobia!
When I was about four years old, my mom took me to visit one of her girlfriends who had twin girls. The twins were much older than I was, and they delighted in traumatizing me. They threw me down the laundry chute! It was pitch black, and I remember screaming and crying! When the twins finally opened the door, their faces were covered with black netting, and they were making scary faces! Can you imagine? I can still see their squinted eyes and evil grins in my mind! Remember the movie “The Sixth Sense?” (It’s a great movie, if you haven’t seen it.) Remember when Cole was locked in that little closet by those mean kids? That scene triggered me; I got through it because I knew I was safe in the movie theater. I occasionally get claustrophobic and avoid confined spaces, but I have improved. I am fine in elevators now (lots of practice.) Exposure therapy worked for me! Let’s all keep in mind that having phobias and finding fear-driven adrenaline rushes enjoyable are vastly different. Phobias can interfere with our ability to function. Fear keeps us safe and can be healthy, and yes, even pleasurable.
We all know what it feels like to be afraid. Some of us relish the thrill of being frightened, and some of us don’t.
Regardless of your preference, remember our fears can often stimulate our imaginations, challenge our beliefs, and encourage us to explore and learn more about ourselves and our mysterious world.
