When it comes to scary movies, most people either love them or hate them. While you may enjoy the adrenaline rush they provide, others prefer to avoid the images that seem to remain long after the movie ends. No matter how you view these creative (or corny) pieces of cinema, it’s important to evaluate what kind of impact they have on your sleep quality. Read on to learn why you may want to reconsider watching your next horror flick right before bed.
Scary Movies & Sleep: What’s Happening?
The blood-pumping, heart-racing, stress-inducing effects of scary movies not only take a toll on the body but also on the brain. Knowing what is real versus what is make-believe can be hard for the mind to differentiate, making the calming down process challenging, especially at bedtime.
Your sympathetic nervous system delivers a fight or flight response, which can overwhelm your parasympathetic nervous system, which encourages proper rest. As high levels of cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, are released, the ability to fall asleep and rest peacefully can be difficult. Not only are you likely to find it hard to fall asleep, but your body will be unable to fully relax.
If watching these kinds of movies is “normal,” the effects and emotions you elicit will begin to take a toll on your sleep quality, causing you to feel more fatigued over time. Without the necessary lifestyle changes and desire to prioritize your sleep, your frequent drowsiness will begin to impact all areas of your life.
What Necessary Changes Can You Make?
What it ultimately comes down to is whether you want to continue feeling tired and unable to function each day or if you want to start getting much-needed rest. Sleep specialists suggest choosing the latter, and they offer several ways you can start the journey:
- Swap a scary movie for a comedy, action, or rom-com
- Start reading a new book
- Establish a bedtime routine that ensures you get 7-8 hours of sleep each night
- Practice meditation or yoga before bed
- Stay away from snacking when nearing bedtime
If you aren’t willing to part with your scary movies completely, switch to watching them during the daytime so that your brain and body have time to calm down long before turning out the lights and going to bed.
If you’re still struggling to get essential rest, talk to a sleep specialist in the area who can help. By evaluating your symptoms and discussing your lifestyle habits and overall health, they can recommend helpful solutions to make going to bed and getting ample sleep a possibility.
About the Practice
Our team at Star Sleep & Wellness in McKinney is here to help you battle whatever it is that is keeping you from much-needed rest. Whether it’s snacking before bedtime or watching a scary movie, we can discuss ways to change your habits so that you no longer lie awake in fear or attempt to function at home or work while completely fatigued. Contact us to schedule an appointment if you want to keep the movies you watch from hijacking your sleep.