How Movies And TV Can Provide Stress Relief And Help Your Mental Health

For as long as movies and TV have existed, people have looked to them for stress relief. It’s easy to relax a little after a long day, have a laugh with friends or procrastinate a little with a soothing thought “I always can buy thesis online…” And binge-watching a favorite show or movie can be amazing self-care. Movies and TV can also be a way to educate yourself, and reflect on personal and social issues like mental health. But can they actually help improve or support mental health?

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in 2022 and beyond, we’re taking a look at cultural phenomena like “binge-watching” and “movie therapy.”

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We’ll examine some ways that TV shows and movies can support mental health. We’ll include 5 binge-worthy mental health movie picks, as well as resources like mental health hotlines and a movie list that actual therapists recommend for better mental health.

Binge-Watching For Stress Relief And Entertainment: A Short History

Around 2012, something happened (besides the Mayan apocalypse). Movies and all forms of visual storytelling evolved into streaming content for the computer age. The general need for stress relief and relaxation increased as access to streaming content increased. Reliance on movies and TV as an Rx for stress and boredom intensified and people began to increase consumption. As a result, they needed a new way to describe their changing behaviors and motivations as viewers. The phrase “binge-watching” was born.

Binge-watching refers to the now ubiquitous practice of watching a movie or TV series with little or no interruption.

Perhaps this was the Mayan apocalypse?

Joking Aside, WTF Is Movie Therapy?

Movie therapy is the practice of using a film, series, or TV show to address personal issues that impact your mental health. Some studies indicate that movie therapy can be effective for more than casual stress relief. It can help treat conditions like PTSD, anxiety, or depression.

Although it can be a form of self-treatment, movie therapy is often done with the support of a competent and qualified mental health professional.

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Movies, Mental Health, And Neuroscience

It’s counter-intuitive but watching sad movies can increase endorphins in your brain. And a study in Frontiers in Psychiatry found that participants who watched sad movies experienced a decrease in negative emotions like sadness, anger, and anxiety. Participants also reported feeling more positive emotions like happiness and love. This means that movies for depression can actually make you feel happier.

Binge-watching for stress relief can affect your brain, too, but in the opposite direction. While it’s generally harmless, too much binge-watching can change the brain’s dopamine system, which is responsible for rewards and pleasure. These changes can cause an increase in cravings and addiction-like behaviors. Too much binge-watching has also been linked to higher levels of stress and anxiety. It can contribute to behaviors that negatively impact mental health such as social isolation, sleep disturbance, or obesity.

Can Movies Really Help Mental Health?

The answer is YES, with some very important caveats.

Whether they’re binge-watched or consumed more casually, movies and TV shows can positively impact mental health when the content is appropriate to the goal and it’s consumed in moderation. Consumption shouldn’t create or perpetuate addictive patterns or other serious cognitive, psychological, or behavioral dysfunction that negatively impacts day-to-day function.

5 Mental Health Benefits Of Watching Movies And Film + A Mental Health Movie List

Watching films and series can potentially provide the following benefits. For mental health awareness month, or just a garden-variety mental health day, why not choose something from this list you need more of and match it with a movie or TV series pick? I’ve included suggestions to get you started.

Relaxation And Stress Relief

Maybe your idea of relaxation is checking out and being a couch potato for a while. Or perhaps you use movies or series like familiar “storybooks” to rewatch again and again. I get it. They can bring us so much comfort that we’ll even play them in the background as we go about our days. One of my favorites for this is Gilmore Girls, the network original series.

Increased Motivation

Have you ever watched a film or series and believed in yourself more when you finished it than when you began it? If so, you’ve already experienced the motivational impact of movies or TV. Watching something that models an ideal can also motivate change, or help build resilience and other character strengths. The Pursuit of Happiness, Fight Club, and Good Will Hunting come to mind as particularly motivational.

You can also use an anticipated movie or series as a reward for productivity or to provide a much-needed pause or break in a busy day.

Mood Boost

Remember endorphins? Mood boost movies and series give you warm feelings in your heart or make you laugh. Think cozy heartfelt dramas or rom-coms like Sandra Bullock’s The Lost City. They can also be documentaries, stand-up comedies, or anything that makes you feel a little lighter.

Support Bonding and Relationships

This is the domain of the classic friend or couple’s movie night. Pick something to inspire a cool conversation and a little connection. Just don’t forget to follow it up with the actual conversation and connection. Movies about mental illness like Silver Linings Playbook are perfect for combining social viewing with mental health awareness month.

Increased Inspiration, Learning, And Reflection

Some films and series inspire meaningful introspection and reflection. The Shawshank Redemption or A Beautiful Mind belong in this category. These types of films or productions aren’t always dramas, either. Hannah Gadsby’s Nanette manages to inspire deep reflection and a mood boost. I think it’s the perfect tragi-comedy, but in stand-up form.

Why Should We Care About Mental Health?

1 in 5 Americans suffers from a debilitating mental health condition. The World Health Organization states that mental illness represents 14% of the world’s global health burden, making it a significant barrier to wellbeing and survival across all regions and nations.

Movies and TV can be effective for stress relief, self-care, and even used therapeutically.  But they cannot and should not substitute for qualified and competent mental health care.

We hope we’ve inspired you to conduct a little movie therapy of your own.

More Resources For Stress Relief And Mental Health

15 Mental Health Movies Therapists Actually Recommend

Portrayals of Mental Illness in Film and the Impact on Viewers, Individuals with Mental Illness, and Mental Health Treatment

The American Psychological Association recommends these mental health crisis hotlines

Cynthia Larsen

Cynthia Larsen is a cat mom and writer working from North Carolina. She’ll be launching a substack newsletter about culture, creativity, and mental health soon. Until then you can find her on twitter.