Good For The Health? Study Says Participating In 'Horror Activities' Releases Feel-Good Emotions

Is being scared good for the health? What can watching horror movies and participating in “horror activities” do to your body?

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According to Medical Daily, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh conducted a study recently to find out why people like to intentionally scare themselves. In the study, guests who bought tickets to a haunted attraction volunteered to have their brainwave activity examined before and after the activity.

Margee Kerr, professor of sociology at Pittsburgh, said the guests reported a "significantly higher mood" after their activity; as they felt reduced levels of anxiety and tiredness. 

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“That little high kicks in after your fight-or-flight rush fades away, once you realize you are not in any real danger. The response also floods your body with feel-good chemicals like dopamine. In other words, this could explain why people run out of haunted houses screaming but also laughing. Scary, high-intensity activities in a controlled environment (i.e through a movie screen or haunted attractions) might be the most favorable context for you to feel fear in,” it was disclosed.

Kerr noted that one can use the "protective frame of entertainment" to shut down a part of his/her brain while feeling scared and immersing himself/herself in heightened scenarios.

"When scared, the body releases oxytocin, which can help people become closer and bond. The brain’s survival instinct is to pair with another human, or humans, to increase chances of survival," noted Kris Kendall, who has a Ph.D. in exercise physiology.

On the other hand, it was stressed that if someone who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder or extreme anxiety, such an event can worsen their symptoms; while those with heart problems are not the most suitable people for extreme fright either. 

"As a cardiologist, when I think about fear or certain stressors, I usually go to the bad place. But if the stressor is someone standing behind you and saying ‘Boo!’ I can’t imagine that’s bad for you. Just as long as you don’t already have a heart condition or have a risk of plaque rupture,” advised Nicole Weinberg, a cardiologist at the Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica.

This article was filed under Health, Health news, Healthy life news, Newshealth, Healthy Living, Health blogs, Health benefits, Fear, and Haunted attractions.

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Faith and Fear Do Not Co-exist

Are you afraid? You might be lacking faith.

Do you have faith? There is nothing to fear.

Faith and fear cannot live side by side, as well as love and hate. There are things in life that cannot be combined just like two sort of acids that will explode if compounded.

We have encountered lots of fear. Even the boxing legend Manny Pacquiao who prides and eventually made a trademark by wearing "No Fear" shorts and shirts and badges during fights have a lot of fears.

Everyday is a challenge. Everyday is a story of conquering fears and emboldening our faith.

We may not notice it but as we progress in our day to lives, we are strengthened by the many challenges we are facing as we surmount them or humbled by them.

Fear is the mother of anxities and depression. Fear is completely natural and helps people to recognize and respond to dangerous situations and threats. But there are fears that can evolve into unhealthy or dangerous fear, which can lead to exaggerated and violent behavior.

Faith in a religious definition is believing without seeing, hoping for things unseen. It is the complete opposite of my acquaintance named Doubt. Faith is courage, conviction, unwavering, and unfaltering, but faith is not just religion. I am not talking about one's faith or religion. I am talking about faith in general, the ability to believe and to trust to someone or something greater than us, irregardless of our faith or denominations. 

Faith to oneself is important in conquering fear. 

Faith to someone we believe to be all powerful, 

all-knowing, and yet loving and approachable will definitely eliminates all our fear.

A sense of purpose and understanding of 

who we are, 

what we are, 

what we are doing, 

why we are here,

 what we wanted to be, 

and where we are going, 

some of the most basic questions in life with 

answers that can only be filled by faith

is necessary in living life to the fullest.

A simple finacial measures, 

a small savings in the bank for rainy seasons will help conquer fear of security.

Faith to your self, and to your God will eliminate fear, coupled by a higher self-esteem and a sense of optimism for the future.

You can choose what kind of life you wanted to be.

Having faith and live life happily.

Or be stuck and stagnant by living with fear of things that scares you.

©2008 THOUGHTSKOTO