Watching (and re-watching) your favorite movies and shows, like “Friends,” can actually be good for your mental health. The feel-good viewing session, known as comfort viewing, can help you relax, calm down, avoid negative thoughts for a while, and make you happier, says Cynthia Catchings, LCSW-S, a therapist at Talkspace. “We can think about it as a big plate of our favorite homemade dish or feeling safe at our childhood home,” she says. “Some of these shows are like healthy connections or regressions to better or happier times where stressful situations or anxiety were not present in our lives.” Comfort viewing can provide a safe space to process turmoil or distress, Catchings adds. Parade.com asked mental health experts to explain what comfort viewing is, how it differs from binge watching, and how it can benefit your mental health.
What is comfort viewing?
Comfort viewing refers to the shows you watch or revisit when you need to feel better, Catchings explains, “It’s what we turn to in difficult times, like a comfort blanket.” It’s not really the same as binge watching, though, she says. Binge watching involves watching multiple episodes of a series one after the other, but the show may not necessarily be comforting. “The experience of binge watching may bring comfort in a sense of losing yourself in the excitement or suspense, but not out of a desire to feel better,” Catchings says.
Why is comfort viewing good for your mental health?
Research suggests that re-watching your old favorite TV shows often brings a sense of familiarity and comfort, says Dr. Vanessa Kennedy, PhD, director of psychology at Driftwood Recovery. A study published in the Journal of Social Psychological and Personality Science in 2012 revealed that a day of focusing and putting forth an effort to complete tasks can deplete your brain, but comfort viewing familiar characters in old TV shows can re-energize your brain. “Recharging our brains can lead to improved mood and ability to tolerate frustration,” Kennedy says. “Who knew ‘Golden Girls’ or ‘The Office’ could have such an effect?” Comfort viewing offers many other mental health benefits, Catchings says, including:
Promoting emotional well-beingHelping quiet your brainSlowing down racing thoughtsHelping create a sense of happinessReminding us of good timesProviding hopeEnabling you to stop and be present
Comfort viewing has been a go-to for many people during the pandemic
During the pandemic, comfort viewing and binge watching were favorite pastimes. Comfort viewing can be a bonding experience with your family and increase feelings of connectedness when you engage with others over a show and have conversations about an intriguing or funny episode, Kennedy says. “Remember ‘Tiger King’ at the beginning of the pandemic?” she adds. “What a profound distraction from the scary, isolating human experience of quarantine we were forced to face together. The experience of watching a culturally relevant show that helps us escape for a little while and fully immerse ourselves in another world can be very relaxing.” Comfort viewing can teach you about a new aspect of life, inspire you to try new things, or explore the world. Kennedy says documentary, travel, or cooking series that celebrate other cultures and perspectives boost your intellectual curiosity and get you out of your comfort zone.
Are there any downsides to comfort viewing?
Watching too much TV or too many movies could become problematic, Kennedy says. “The goal of comfort viewing is moderation, as the desired outcome is improving our overall quality of life as opposed to decreasing it.” That being said, the escapism of comfort viewing can be a healthier alternative to negative or destructive behaviors, such as drinking too much, Catchings says. So, how do you know when comfort viewing becomes a problem? If you’re using comfort viewing to avoid important tasks or socializing, or if it’s interfering with your sleep, eating habits, mood, productivity, or important daily tasks, it may be time to take a break. Or if you’re changing your daily habits to watch shows or movies, it may need to be addressed, she emphasizes. “Extensive comfort viewing that involves hours of sitting or lying down can contribute to potential physical or mental health problems from inactivity, and if we are also eating unhealthy foods for comfort, the effect on our health can be compounded,” Kennedy says. If you’re getting too obsessed with a show and staying up later to watch “just one more” episode, you might be headed down a “slippery slope,” she adds. “Is ‘Yellowstone’ going to lead you to skip your workout?” Kennedy says. “Are you going to order pizza instead of cooking a healthy meal for yourself or your family in order to watch your favorite show? Are you going to bed later and waking up crankier due to watching too much TV? Are you going into work late because you stayed up all night binge watching? These are all questions to ask yourself to determine whether your comfort viewing is becoming a problem.” Next, read about the best free meditation apps.
Sources
Cynthia Catchings, LCSW-S, therapist at TalkspaceDr. Vanessa Kennedy, PhD, director of psychology at Driftwood RecoveryJournal of Social Psychological and Personality Science: Energized by Television: Familiar Fictional Worlds Restore Self-ControlPsychiatry Research: Binge watching behavior during COVID 19 pandemic: A cross-sectional, cross-national online surveyVariety: ‘Friends: The Reunion’ Was Almost as Big as ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ on HBO Max
