Ghost stories/scary movies, do they do more to people who have anxiety?

[MistaVega]

Do scary movies/scary stories do more to people who have anxiety? The reason I ask is because  I was recently VERY, VERY, scared by some  recent ghost stories. It started out with me and a couple of friends just drinking, then all of a sudden one of my fiends girlfriend brings up how her little sister talks to ghost, next thing you know EVERYBODY shares their personal  experiences with the paranormal and the discussion gets pretty intricate/deep. I got so into the stories I started feeling overwhelming fear, trembling sensations and above all a feeling of wanting to vomit, basically a lot of feelings I first felt when I had my first major panic attack that changed my entire world. After the long discussion about the paranormal I decided to go to the house for some shut-eye because it was like three in the morning. When I arrived home I felt a strange sensation, I would look at an object, look in a different direction and i would see the same object hovering there, kinda like if you were to stare at the sun then look in another direction and also your normal feeling sof derealization, which I pretty much grown a accustom too.

So have any of you have similar experiences to scary movies or ghost stories?

[ocdengineer]

I can't watch psychological thrillers or horror movies because they scare the living #$%^ out of me!  I will have nightmares and dwell on the movie for days.  It is part of my OCD to not let anything go and if I watch a horrifying movie then it stays with me for days and I can't deal with that.  So yes.

Later,
OE

[spoiledchild69]

Yeah, stay away from the scary movies. I have had many experiences with spiritualist stuff and the paranormal but they are NOTHING like those movies. However, the moviemakers want to try to make you scared of the paranormal, and thus keep you coming to see thier movies, so they will implant these horrific ideas in your head to keep you thinking about them. It's called sensationalism. I used to read Stephen King books all the time as a teenager, and they really warped my view of the paranormal and the afterlife, to the point I was even scared to have dreams at night. I would think that suddenly my furniture was going to start moving or my stuffed animals would start coming after me when I was alone. Really warped stuff! My answer to that would be to watch or read something POSITIVE about the paranormal. Maybe read some books by James Van Praagh or another famous medium who "talks to dead people" all the time. You will learn that 99% of their experiences are completely loving, positive, and life-affirming. I really hate it that our culture makes the paranormal out to be something evil. It's really not. We are encouraged to talk to saints and angels all the time and that's supposed to be OK, but god forbid if you try to contact your beloved Aunt Martha at a seance, that's supposed to be evil. Oh boy, don't get me started on this topic... 

[ocdengineer]

I read a lot of Steven King when I was younger as well and I really think it messed me up.  I was too young to be reading that kind of horror.  I was probably in the 5th and 6th grade and I still have nightmares that destroy me to this day due to my very active imagination in the macabre.  I avoid watching anything that is going to cause me to have nightmares and that eliminates most horror movies.

Take care,
OE

[MistaVega]

Yeah, stay away from the scary movies. I have had many experiences with spiritualist stuff and the paranormal but they are NOTHING like those movies. However, the moviemakers want to try to make you scared of the paranormal, and thus keep you coming to see thier movies, so they will implant these horrific ideas in your head to keep you thinking about them. It's called sensationalism. I used to read Stephen King books all the time as a teenager, and they really warped my view of the paranormal and the afterlife, to the point I was even scared to have dreams at night. I would think that suddenly my furniture was going to start moving or my stuffed animals would start coming after me when I was alone. Really warped stuff! My answer to that would be to watch or read something POSITIVE about the paranormal. Maybe read some books by James Van Praagh or another famous medium who "talks to dead people" all the time. You will learn that 99% of their experiences are completely loving, positive, and life-affirming. I really hate it that our culture makes the paranormal out to be something evil. It's really not. We are encouraged to talk to saints and angels all the time and that's supposed to be OK, but god forbid if you try to contact your beloved Aunt Martha at a seance, that's supposed to be evil. Oh boy, don't get me started on this topic... 

That's certainly an unorthodox perspective, never heard that one before.  To me trying to contact the DEAD is naturally creepy, it's not because of what Hollywood makes of dead people, it's just naturally creepy. Then again I've never lost anyone very close to me, so I can't really understand the desperation of someone who would try to get in touch with the dead.

I can't watch psychological thrillers or horror movies because they scare the living #$%^ out of me!  I will have nightmares and dwell on the movie for days.  It is part of my OCD to not let anything go and if I watch a horrifying movie then it stays with me for days and I can't deal with that.  So yes.

Later,
OE

I have the same problem.  Why do we do that? why can't we block stuff like that out or mind like normal people?

You guys ever wonder how we will react if  we where  faced with a real difficult situation/scary situation as opposed to an imaginary one we drive ourselves crazy about?

[spoiledchild69]

That's certainly an unorthodox perspective, never heard that one before.  To me trying to contact the DEAD is naturally creepy, it's not because of what Hollywood makes of dead people, it's just naturally creepy. Then again I've never lost anyone very close to me, so I can't really understand the desperation of someone who would try to get in touch with the dead.


You guys ever wonder how we will react if  we where  faced with a real difficult situation/scary situation as opposed to an imaginary one we drive ourselves crazy about?

What's "creepy" about death is because people focus on the body instead of the spirit. They look at this decomposing thing that used to be a person and of course are horrified. And that's usually where it ends, they can't get beyond the dead body part. So they say why would anyone want to contact that realm? But after death the spirit is transformed and the physical doesn't really matter anymore. Most religions have this concept to some degree or another; it's just that there are many taboos about spirit contact in Western society becuse our mainstream religions forbid it. Our priests and ministers are the ones who are supposed to have the keys to the afterlife, the average Joe is not supposed to go tinkering around with the metaphysical, so they teach us that the boogeyman will get us if we try to explore the subject too closely. Again, don't get me started about this topic...

Regarding your other question: we tend to do REALLY well under extreme situations because we are too occupied with an actual crisis to be inventing imaginary ones. Generally anxiety strikes when there is not much other activity going on in one's life, it happens when we suddenly have too much time on our hands and we get the chance to sit and dwell on things and drive ourselves nuts.

   

[ocdengineer]

The only thing worse than death, is not living.  I think that is true.  I am spiritual, but I'd much rather enjoy my time on this little planet than worry about my inevitable demise.  This is why I don't prescribe to organized religion where death is a focal point.  I really could care less what happens after death, I just want to enjoy the time I know I have.

We are kinda diverging, but Mistavega, I have no idea why we can't get simple things like obviously fictional movies out of our head.  I know I have obsessive tendencies and due to that I get ideas or thoughts stuck in my head and it can be, at times, very difficult to let things go.  I think it is part of my anxiety disorder and personality.  Also, garbage in garbage out, right?  If you watch horror movies all the time then obviously it will have a negative effect on you even if you don't have anxiety problems.

I still enjoy a good ghost story though and am fascinated with the paranormal, but I have to be careful what I watch so I am not disturbed for days.  LOL.  It is part of my life I guess.  I get drawn into movies very deeply.

Take care,
OE

[coastiewife]

I really don't have any deep insights to the subtopics at hand. But ghost stories and movies really freak me out. Even just trailers for scary movies scare me. Don't let me lie to you, the paranormal somewhat interests me, but I cannot watch or listen to anything about it. It will get stuck into my mind and stay there continuing to scare the daylights out of me. Also, sometimes at night I'll get sudden feelings of something being near me or following me, which I'm sure is just my mind.

[retrogurl88]

Actually I love horror films and books... Guess that makes me the odd one out! 

[apple]

My Bad is mobster movies.  I hate them.  My husband loves them and sometimes tells me to watch one cause its really good.  I get real anxious watching them.  I had a panic attack the other day from watching one.  They make me mad and irritable.  I dont know why either.  Some horror movies I have to take a clonazepam just to finish watching it.  I like horror movies but get worked up watching them.

Why do we watch the stupid things anyway??  I know what happens to me but I watch it anyway!??  I'm nuts 

[spoiledchild69]

My Bad is mobster movies.  I hate them.  My husband loves them and sometimes tells me to watch one cause its really good.  I get real anxious watching them.  I had a panic attack the other day from watching one.  They make me mad and irritable.  I dont know why either.  Some horror movies I have to take a clonazepam just to finish watching it.  I like horror movies but get worked up watching them.

Why do we watch the stupid things anyway??  I know what happens to me but I watch it anyway!??  I'm nuts 

It's one of those things like slowing down to look at the fatal car wreck by the side of the road... disturbing, but you HAVE TO look anyway. It's human to be at once fascinated with and terrified by such things. Of course we take it to extremes, being anxious types. When WE get worked up over a violent or horrific movie, it's heavy meds time LOL! As opposed to your average teenager or whoever these things are targeted to. Got to admit that I like mobster stuff, action, and even sometimes war movies and stuff like Kill Bill. If the movie has a "moral to the story" then I'm OK with it. I am willing to roll with the adrenaline rush -- and yes, sometimes I do get symptoms when watching, but I know what they're caused by so I can handle it. If it's just gross-out horror with no point except to freak your mind then no thanks. 

[SilentHoveringOrb]

The Concept of 'Alien Abduction' has allways been a little nerve racking for me.

[MR.SNIFFLES]

I dont find scary movies scary at all, just corny. But i love watching ghost hunters at night by myself with no lights. I am quite jumpy afterward and my over active imagination does tend to get the best of me , But i kinda like the feeling of controlled fear. I also like when I have night mares.....Its just a cool feeling to dream some thing so intense that feels so real where any thing can happen, but never die . it feels like a very realistic video game.

[Crankcase]

I love ghost stories and anything paranormal. I watch Ghost Hunters on the Sci-Fi channel and Most Haunted on the Travel Channel even though it is corny. I'm sorry you got so freaked out that night though.

[clooneyfan]

I know this is an old topic but it struck a chord with me and I felt compelled to respond.

I've never been a big horror movie fan but I've seen my share in my younger days. Now that I'm older and know I suffer from OCD, I really don't need any more unneeded crap floating around in my head. I've got enough in there on my own.

Now that I'm older and wiser, I try to avoid things that I know are going to terrify me. My imagination is active enough on it's own. It does not need any help!

[lilmsflynn]

I absolutely love horrors, thrillers, and anything paranormal and though most may not agree I have never felt anxious because of them. I find they make me less concerned about death and dying to be honest as most movies are so far fetched and paranormal investigations actually give me some hope there may be life after death.

[Darklady]

I can watch most things, even violent stuff like Goodfellas or The Sopranos, but sometimes i feel nervous.
It just depends for me, maybe the nerves were buidling up already and i didnt realise it.
I dont know.

[fortheo]

I cant watch doctor shows any more. Anytime I do I start to worry there is something wrong with me, then the thought escalates into a mini panic attack.

I also try to stay away from really emotional dramas. I do a good enough job at making my self depressed, I don't need help from the t.v

[stateofemergency]

Oh. My. God.
I cannot believe someone else has the SAME PROBLEM that I have with anxiety!!
I used to LOVE horror movies and ghost stories but ever since I got my first major panic attack I absolutely, utterly hate them. It makes me terribly anxious and scared.
Actually, the reason why I got my second major anxiety attack and depression last year was because I saw the Human Centipede commercial and somehow that really triggered my anxiety and I had a full blown depression for a week (my first time having depressive episode too). I hate them so much now.
I hate Saw, The Ring, and many other original japanese ghost stories. I absolutely hate them.

So...you guys are guys too right? I'm 19 y/o male and to admit that I have this is kinda embarrassing lol