Brat summer fading away into a more demure fall means one thing: my annual Gilmore Girls rewatch. The classic TV show is equally comforting and nostalgic, and after a stressful day (or week), it’s so soothing to return to Star Hollows, where the biggest problems are whether or not Rory will get into Harvard. But with Halloween fast approaching, many people are getting in the spirit and queuing up scary movies and horror flicks that serve up a dose of adrenaline and suspense.
After stumbling upon many wellness creators like Steph Flockhart who credit consuming “cortisol-friendly content” with helping” them manage their stress levels and improve their overall well-being, I wondered whether watching high-cortisol TV shows or movies (entertainment that is intended to make us feel scared, stressed, or suspenseful) can actually negatively impact mental and physical health. There must be a reason why I gravitate towards Gilmore Girls when I want to relax, but does that mean that that scary content has the opposite effect? Here’s what an expert had to say.
MEET THE EXPERT
Dr. Azza Halim, MD
Dr. Azza Halim is a a board-certified physician and anesthesiologist, and a national speaker and educator. Dr. Halim’s expertise has been featured in Vogue, GQ, Allure, SHAPE, Harper’s Bazaar, and ABC News.
Can Watching Scary Shows and Movies Increase Your Cortisol Levels?
While rewatching Beetlejuice before seeing the sequel in theaters might make you laugh or bring up fond memories, board-certified physician Dr. Azza Halim said viewing horror movies and thrillers that leave your heart racing can have the opposite effect. “Watching thrillers, horror movies, or suspenseful TV shows can increase cortisol levels and stress hormones via a ‘fight or flight’ response, which is the body’s natural reaction to perceived threats or stress,” Dr. Halim said.
Even though you’re aware that The Ring is just a movie and not your reality, your body doesn’t know if a threat is real or not; it will elicit the same stress response stress. When watching a horror film, you may experience the same symptoms you would in a dangerous or stress-inducing real-life situation, such as a pounding heart, an increased heart rate and blood pressure, and faster breathing. This, in turn, can cause the nervous system to release cortisol as well as adrenaline and norepinephrine (the hormone that prepares your body and mind to take action in a dangerous situation).
How Does Cortisol Impact the Body?
Cortisol is a hormone that is critical for the body. Cortisol rises in the morning to wake us up and sustain energy throughout the day, and it’s also famously known as the “stress hormone” because it is released when the brain senses a potential threat, signaling various functions in the body, such as increased heart rate and adrenaline so that you can theoretically fight or run away from the threat. This process affects various systems in the body from the cardiovascular system to the gut to the immune system.
Where cortisol gets its bad rap is because most of us are not dealing with the occasional tiger we need to run away from, but we’re dealing with stressors that stimulate cortisol on a daily, hourly, or even minute-to-minute basis, leading to chronic cortisol. Chronically elevated cortisol levels can cause adrenal fatigue, and negatively affect anything from inflammation to digestion.
So Is Watching Scary Shows and Movies Bad For Your Health?
The short answer: It depends. Dr. Halim said that for the most part, putting on a thrilling new show or your favorite scary movie shouldn’t have long-term effects on your health. These hormone spikes are temporary, usually lasting as long as the content you’re watching, and may include a pleasurable comedown. “Such a spike in cortisol is short-lived, and for some people, it can contribute to an adrenaline rush during and immediately after watching, which can be enjoyable as their body quickly returns to a relaxed state once the suspense or fear is over,” Dr. Halim said.
While most people shouldn’t worry about the cortisol spikes from watching stressful or fear-inducing content here and there, people who feel particularly disturbed by it might experience lingering effects, such as trouble sleeping or feelings of anxiety. What’s perceived as stressful varies from person to person, as does each person’s current state of stress. If your body already has chronically elevated levels of cortisol from other stressors in your life, like demanding work or school commitments, mental health conditions like anxiety, or negative events happening in the world, partaking in stressful entertainment can exacerbate it. “If someone is particularly sensitive to stress or is already experiencing high stress levels, repeated exposure to intense media could potentially contribute to prolonged elevated cortisol and stress hormones,” Dr. Halim said.
Since each person differs in their stressors and levels of resilience to stress, check in with yourself, strategize how to minimize your cortisol spikes throughout the day, and talk to a doctor if you feel like you’re chronically stressed or suspect you have symptoms of high cortisol. For example, you might want to consider turning on a more lighthearted form of entertainment instead of a scary movie if you’ve been feeling extra stressed. You can also put yourself in a better mindset to consume stressful content by doing things before and after to elevate your endorphins and lower your cortisol, such as taking a relaxing yoga class, watching a funny movie, or listening to some relaxing music.
Can Watching Lighthearted Shows and Movies Lower Your Cortisol Levels?
According to Dr. Halim, putting on a light-hearted rom-com or funny movie can be just as effective short-term as other cortisol-lowering activities like meditation or exercise. When you laugh, your brain releases happy hormones like endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. The release of happy hormones can relieve stress and significantly reduce levels of cortisol. In a 2023 study, scientists found that a single session of laughter led to a reduction of 36.7 percent in cortisol.
This doesn’t mean you should discount exercise and calming practices like meditation entirely–both have great long-term benefits for reducing chronic stress and mitigating mental health issues like anxiety–but regularly adding laughter to your routine can go a long way for your mental and physical health. Studies have also found that watching calming content, specifically nature scenes, can lower your heart rate. If you’re feeling stressed, Dr. Halim suggested choosing “comedies, nature documentaries, animated shows, romantic movies, or anything else that lightens the mood,” as long as it “promotes laughter and feelings of calm,” which can lower your body’s production of cortisol.
Low-Cortisol TV Shows And Movies To Watch for A Slow Girl Fall
If you’re experiencing higher stress than normal, are dealing with chronic cortisol, or decide that high-cortisol entertainment is not right for you, try one of these seasonal shows or movies that serve the vibes without any stress.
1. Gilmore Girls
This quintessential fall series follows the lives of the residents of a tiny, idyllic town called Stars Hollow. In addition to largely focusing on Lorelai and Rory’s mother-daughter relationship, the heartwarming show feels like it’s set in a simpler time.
2. Hocus Pocus
This is the perfect Halloween movie for people who hate scary films. The Sanderson sisters/witches (played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy) deliver plenty of funny lines while plotting to steal the life force from children to stay young. It also serves up plenty of early ‘90s nostalgia.
3. When Harry Met Sally
Set against the backdrop of autumn in New York, this classic romantic comedy portrays two friends who finally decide to give romance a shot.
4. Practical Magic
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman play witches Sally and Gillian in this iconic 1994 movie, which gives comedy, girl power, and heartwarming sister moments.
5. Halloweentown
Another option for people who don’t like scary Halloween movies, Halloweentown –a DCOM classic from the late ‘90s–follows Marnie as she learns she’s a witch and has to save Halloweentown.
6. Sweet Home Alabama
For a low-cortisol movie that evokes autumn without any blatant references, watch Sweet Home Alabama. The plot is predictable but sweet, with Reese Witherspoon playing a designer who has to go back to her hometown in Alabama to divorce her husband, only to find that she misses what she left behind.
7. Beetlejuice
Now that Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is out in theaters, it’s the perfect time to refresh yourself on the original film with a rewatch. The Tim Burton film is more campy than scary, with appearances from a young Winona Ryder as well as Catherine O’Hara.
8. Pride & Prejudice
Bridgerton fans will enjoy this Jane Austen classic starring Keira Knightley and Succession’s Matthew MacFaydyen. The movie begins and ends in the fall and leans into the autumn aesthetic with numerous scenes filmed in the idyllic English countryside.
9. Friday Night Lights
If you’re leaning into football season, watch Friday Night Lights. The series is the classic formula of high school love triangles, small town drama, and eye candy.
