Need a Nervous System Reset? Surprising Health Benefits of Getting Scared

Feeling stressed, anxious or overwhelmed? Have you tried turning to ghosts, zombies and aliens for help? Yes, a surprising solution may be watching a scary movie! It sounds counterintuitive, but experts reveal that horror films (like Backrooms and Obsession), thriller novels and even roller coasters can powerfully reset your nervous system and melt away tension, making you more resilient in the future. Here, the science and startling health benefits of getting scared.

How safe scares reset your nervous system

Here’s what happens: First, the brain simulates a danger, and then the body responds. “After the original danger is over, we’ve now created an experience of relief,” explains Sam Zand, DO, a certified psychiatrist and the CEO at Anywhere Clinic. Why this matters: “This contrast can be very regulating for some people and can also be seen as a form of a controlled-stress type of workout for your nervous system.” In short: A quick scare can reset our nervous system back into the preferred “rest and digest” setting. This happens anytime we move through the activation-and-recovery cycle.

“Horror movies are a means through which the brain gets to experience a ‘safe threat,’” adds Carolina Estevez, PsyD, at Soba treatment center. It’s often called “recreational fear” or a “safe-threat workout.” She explains, “Many individuals find this to be a healthy way for them to develop skills to regulate their emotions.”

What happens when you get scared

What really happens in the brain and body during a horror movie or while walking through a haunted house, for example? Follow this step-by-step process to understand the biology at play:

Step 1: Jump scare

“The initial shock from a jump scare causes an instant reaction of fear in the viewer’s brain,” explains psychiatrist Lauren Grawert, MD, clinical advisor of The Garden Recovery & Wellness. “The ‘fight or flight’ response is triggered almost immediately through the rapid detection of a perceived threat by the brain’s amygdala.”

Step 2: Hormone release

This leads to the release of stress hormones like adrenaline and norepinephrine into the bloodstream.

Step 3: Recognition

“In a matter of seconds, these hormone releases increase the viewer’s heart rate, blood pressure and state of alertness,” Dr. Grawert explains. “Their pre-frontal cortex—the area of the brain responsible for decision-making—recognizes there is no real danger. The viewer’s body is physiologically aroused but intellectually knows it is safe.”

Step 4: Reward of relaxation

The reward system in the brain kicks in, “leading to increased levels of dopamine, which can lead to positive emotions including feelings of excitement and relief,” says Dr. Grawert.

Yes, the benefits of getting scared are real

“Horror movies are one of my favorite examples of the brain doing something completely counterintuitive,” says Jessica Meers, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Houston-based Rhythm Wellness. “People are always surprised by the science behind something they assumed was just a guilty pleasure.” But research shows experiencing fear in a controlled way can lead to improved mood.

How? It’s a tug of war between the reflex and the rational parts of your brain. “That tension between ‘my body thinks I’m in danger’ and ‘my brain knows I’m not’ is where the magic happens. You get the full experience of fear, then the immediate relief of safety,” explains Meers. A good scare is essentially a workout for your threat response system with all the benefits, none of the actual danger. Some instant health benefits you can expect:

• Energy boost
• Sharper alertness and focus
• Deep relaxation and calm
• Increased vitality

And when you routinely practice safe-threat workouts, you build resilience to stress and master your fears. The same can be said about cold plunging, visiting saunas or intermittent fasting—activities researchers call “eustress” or healthy stress on the body that makes it stronger.

Who can benefit from safe scares?

“For a lot of people who struggle with anxiety, this is a good way to experience and release excess tension,” says Dr. Zand. “When we’ve been able to control how we’ve interacted with a scary situation, we’ve shown ourselves our ability to deal with fear.”

And while streaming a movie alone at home works great, there’s an added bonus in a theater. “The social aspect of watching horror movies may enhance both bonding and shared regulation of emotion,” Dr. Zand adds.

Why women especially benefit from horror movies

The payoff may be especially big for some. “For women, I think this matters in a way that doesn’t get enough attention,” says Meers. “So many women I work with carry a constant hum of anxiety, the mental load, the hypervigilance, the sense of never fully being off duty.” She adds, “That post-scare glow is real. Dopamine, endorphins and, if you’re watching with someone else, oxytocin too,” adds Meers. “Your nervous system just sprinted and cooled down in ninety minutes. That’s not nothing.”

And Dr. Grawert says, “Horror movies can provide women with a sense of control over their fears, enhance their perception of self-efficacy and provide them with an opportunity for social catharsis.”

Smart tips for maximizing your scare benefits

For best results, consider these details:

Find your “optimal scare zone.” Research in the journal Psychological Science found that the best scares hit a sweet spot—thrilling enough to get your heart racing, but not so intense they leave you traumatized. Find the level that feels good-scary to you.

Scares should be voluntary. The benefits only come if you are open to feeling scared. If you feel forced to watch a scary movie by other people, it could backfire.

It’s worth noting: “The experience of watching scary movies is not the same for everyone,” says Dr. Zand. “For people with a history of trauma, it may actually create more activation rather than relief.”

The bottom line on the benefits of getting scared

“Horror films are like roller coasters. Our heart races, our senses focus. They give us a safe experience where we expect an adrenaline jolt,” says Susan Hatters Friedman, MD, a forensic psychiatrist. “And can lead to relaxation when we get to the end!”

Copyright 2026 A360 Media

This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM.