October 31 is marked by a very famous date around the world: Halloween. During this period, television programs and streamings are filled with horror movies for people to enjoy with friends or family - or alone, for the brave.

Horror movies are known to cause panic, and because of this, many people shy away from the genre. But there are also people who, even with dread, love it and watch it over and over again.

So, if you fit into any of the situations, have you ever stopped to ask yourself why this happens? The answer is rather complex.

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Halloween: Why are we afraid of horror movies?

According to cognitive psychologist Rejane Sbrissa, even though horror movies are fictitious, fear arises because we put ourselves in the place of the characters. It is natural to human beings.

"The mental protection system reacts as if the characters were real and raises danger alarms. Movies affect us physically and mentally even when we don't realize it," he explains.

Can fear become a psychological disorder?

Yes, but it depends. The psychologist interviewed states that if you like horror movies, it means that you like the feeling of fear that they provoke. Productions of the genre provide emotions and symptoms similar to those of an anxiety crisis.

"They can increase the heart rate and cause chest pain and increased blood pressure in people with cardiovascular disease. In addition, they cause an increase in adrenaline and cortisol levels, increasing stress. And they can also bring back memories of traumatic events that the person may have already been through in life," says Rejane.

Horror movies can cause some psychological disorder for those who are already predisposed, such as generalized anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, phobia, and insomnia, among others.

According to Rejane, there is no problem in watching horror movies if you don't keep your body under constant stress and tension level. In other words, the ideal is not to watch them every day.

Impacts on the mind

Rejane listed the possible impacts that horror movies can have on the mind, so check it out:

• Insomnia that can last for days or even months;
• Nightmares for long periods;
• Fear of a specific factor, such as death or the dark, for example;
• Nausea;
• Tremors;
• Generalized anxiety and panic syndrome.

Tips to enjoy horror movies on halloween

For Rejane, people who like this genre of movies and want to enjoy halloween should be mentally healthy. This is because horror movies can help desensitize people to violence, for example.

"While watching, observe how you feel and how your emotions are. Try to calm down and do some deep breathing. But if you are still under strong emotional impact, try to calm down and create awareness of where and with whom you are. Always try to have fun, and remember: if you feel any physical or psychological discomfort, stop watching and change thegender", concludes the psychologist.

Source: Rejane Sbrissa, cognitive behavioral psychologist specialized in compulsions.