Cinema as Therapy: Why Watching Movies Helps Cope with Stress and Anxiety 0 10

Indeed, it does! Watching movies can reduce stress levels and trigger specific physiological reactions – from hormonal changes to vascular responses, especially during moments of laughter. In this article, we will explore the benefits that cinema can bring and suggest how to use films to cope with difficult emotional states, as noted by norma-media.

How Cinema Helps Cope with Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety are usually felt not only at the level of thoughts. More often, they manifest physically: tension arises, pulse quickens, sleep is disrupted, and it becomes harder to concentrate. In such moments, it is important for the brain to switch gears and safely process emotions.

Watching a movie can help with this. When a person immerses themselves in the plot, they distract from anxious thoughts, and emotional tension gradually decreases through empathy with the characters. Research on the effect of narrative transportation shows that the more engaged a viewer is in the story, the more pronounced the emotional response and the impact of the narrative on their overall state.

Moreover, there is evidence that formats of cinema therapy and cinematherapy used in psychological interventions can reduce anxiety levels, including among students. This is not a universal remedy; watching films will not replace full-fledged therapy, but for some, it can become a good tool for self-support.

Therefore, the answer to the question of whether to watch movies during stressful times is: more likely yes than no. If you use cinema not to escape real life but as a way to recover and experience feelings, it can be a sensible strategy.

Why Watching Movies Triggers Emotional Release Mechanisms

During a movie, several stable mechanisms are activated in the psyche. These processes occur almost automatically, so the viewer does not need to think about them consciously.

Identification

The viewer recognizes themselves in the character: in their reactions, fears, doubts, and choices. A simple but important feeling arises: I am okay, such experiences are normal and understandable. In studies focused on the effects of storytelling, identification is considered one of the key mechanisms by which a story influences a person's emotional state.

Projection and “Containment”

A film can become a safe space for experiencing complex feelings. Anger, anxiety, shame, longing, or fear seem to be projected onto the screen and exist there without directly affecting real life and relationships. This allows one to look at their own emotions from the outside and reduce internal tension without suppressing it.

Catharsis – Emotional Release

Dramatic scenes help to cry out what has been bottled up inside for a long time, while comedies provide an opportunity to laugh sincerely and relax. This is not just a figurative description. Research shows that laughter and humorous content are indeed associated with a decrease in cortisol levels and subjective feelings of stress.

Restoring a Sense of Control

Every story has a structure: a beginning, development, and conclusion. Even if the ending is not straightforward, it gives shape and closure to the experiences. This is important for the psyche because uncertainty heightens anxiety, while a structured narrative helps the brain calm down and organize everything.

That is why films can be beneficial: they help give shape to emotions and provide the psyche with a safe, understandable way to experience them.

Can Good Movies Improve Mood and Lower Cortisol Levels?

In this case, it is important not to go to extremes and not to expect miracles from films with happy endings. This is not a universal remedy and does not replace other forms of support.

What Research Confirms:

• Meta-analyses and experimental studies focused on laughter show a decrease in cortisol levels after so-called laughter sessions.
• In experiments with short humorous videos, participants reported lower psychological stress and lower cortisol levels compared to control groups.
• Comedic stimuli that induce laughter are linked to improved vascular function, particularly with more pronounced vasodilation compared to responses to stressful content.

In simple terms, when a person feels bad, a movie with a happy ending or a good comedy can help the body exit the state of constant tension. This is one of the notable advantages of watching films to regulate one’s state, especially when there is no energy for sports or active socializing.

However, there is an important nuance. In cases of high anxiety or panic symptoms, horror films and intense thrillers can have the opposite effect: they can heighten the nervous system's arousal, increase pulse rates, and raise internal tension. In such states, this type of content often becomes an additional source of stress rather than a release.

How to Use Cinema as a Tool for Psychological Support

Many of us instinctively turn to watching films during difficult periods in life. As can be understood, this is not accidental. Cinema can indeed provide support and help cope during tough times. However, it will be an effective tool if used consciously and not as an escape from reality.

Determine What You Need Right Now

Before choosing a film, it is helpful to ask yourself a simple question: what state do I want to support or change? Sometimes it is important to calm down, sometimes to let out pent-up feelings, and in other cases, to regain a sense of hope or better understand oneself. A clear understanding of the task helps select a film that will truly work rather than intensify fatigue.

Choose a Film Based on Your Current State

If you feel overwhelmed and tense, calmer, “quiet” stories without sharp plot twists are more suitable. When you cannot release emotions, dramatic films can provide a cathartic effect and help experience them safely. During periods of emptiness and loss of support, stories of overcoming, where there is meaning and movement forward, often provide support. And if you want to understand yourself better, films that allow you to observe the motives and choices of characters can be useful.

Watch Movies Mindfully, Not as Background Noise

If during the film you are scrolling through social media on your phone or doing household chores, the movie becomes noise. In such a format, the brain does not have time to relax or process emotions. Mindful viewing involves paying attention to the plot, characters, and your own reactions, without the need to analyze everything but with a readiness to be engaged.

Give Yourself a Few Minutes After Watching

It is helpful to take a short pause and reflect on your feelings. What did you feel in key scenes? In which moments did you recognize yourself? Did your state change by the end? This can be done in writing or just mentally: even a few minutes are enough for the experience to be registered.

Transfer the Effect to Real Life

After the film, it is best to continue showing care for yourself: take a bath, drink a cup of hot tea, talk to a loved one, or go for a walk. This way, cinema ceases to be a means of escaping reality and becomes a bridge to recovery.

It is also important to remember boundaries. During periods of high anxiety or emotional exhaustion, intense thrillers and horror films can increase tension. If you feel worse while watching, it is okay to turn the film off.

What Are the Benefits of Films from a Scientific Perspective?

First of all, films provide an opportunity to safely experience feelings through stories and characters. Through identification and immersion, the viewer confronts their own experiences in a comprehensible and controlled form, without real-life consequences for their life and relationships.

Secondly, cinema helps reduce stress levels. This is especially true for humorous content: laughter and light comedies are linked not only to improved mood but also to changes in physiological markers, including cortisol levels.

Finally, films can serve as a tool for self-support. With mindful selection and attentive viewing, they help recover and stabilize one’s state if cinema is used not as a way to "disappear" but as gentle support during a difficult period.