By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    improving patient experience
    6 Ways to Improve Patient Satisfaction Within Hospitals
    December 1, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    What Are The Health Benefits Of Having A Degree?
    March 9, 2022
    custom software development is changing healthcare
    Digital Customer Journey Mapping and its Importance for Healthcare
    July 21, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Can Thinking Younger Make You Live Longer?
    April 20, 2011
    Image
    Obesity’s Outlook Unchanged
    June 13, 2011
    When It’s An Emergency Elderly Not Treated As Well in Hospitals
    July 16, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How Watching Movies and Shows Can Benefit Our Mental Health
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Mental Health > How Watching Movies and Shows Can Benefit Our Mental Health
Mental Health

How Watching Movies and Shows Can Benefit Our Mental Health

Alice Jackson
Last updated: August 23, 2022 9:05 pm
Alice Jackson
Share
9 Min Read
watching tv can be good for your mental health
Shutterstock Photo License - Tero Vesalainen
SHARE

Mental health is a greater concern than ever. An estimated 21% of adults in the United States suffered from a mental illness in 2020.

Contents
Watching the Right Shows and Moves Might Improve Your Mental HealthHow is watching movies and shows beneficial for mental health?Revitalize moodRelaxationEnhanced MotivationStrengthen relationshipsAbate stressInspirit cultural and social awarenessWhat is cinema therapy?Improve Your Mental Health By Watching the Right Shows and Movies

We talk a lot about various things that we can do to tackle the mental health challenges we face. We have mentioned the importance of therapy, which can actually save lives.

However, there are also everyday things we can do to look after our mental health. One thing worth thinking about is watching the right TV shows. Watching the right shows can actually help our mental health.

Watching the Right Shows and Moves Might Improve Your Mental Health

Watching TV shows and movies are often referred to as time-wasting activities or mere hobbies. What most people don’t know is that watching films can be a reliable source of several benefits for your mental health. However, the choice and selection of content is the key, and if you are looking to boost your morale, you must watch the best shows on Netflix.

More Read

repetitive stress injuries mothers
Repetitive Stress Injuries and How Moms Can Prevent Them
When The RN Needs To Relax: Solutions To Help Nurses Manage Stress
Behavioral Health and EMR: A Solution to Common Challenges
Here Is How Technology Is Transforming Mental Health Care In 2020
Discover the Mental Health Benefits of a Minimalist Phone

While an excess of screen time can be detrimental to your health and hurt your sleep, finding a perfect balance between leisure watching and binge-watching is necessary. In a modern-day life filled with hustle and bustle, occupying in the hobbies that keep your work-life stress away is a blessing in disguise.

If you love consuming online video content, you must read this article to find out how watching movies and shows can benefit your mental health.  

How is watching movies and shows beneficial for mental health?

Here are some of the benefits that come with watching your favorite movies and TV shows:

Revitalize mood

In case you have been suffering from depression or anxiety disorder, repercussions. Even if you are finding it difficult to find a work-life balance or are stressed about your family and professional commitments, watching a good movie or TV show can alleviate the depressing vibes and boost your overall mood.

As per a study published by BMJ Journals in 2016, cherishing leisure activities like watching TV shows and films could effectively uplift your mood and mitigate depression symptoms.

Relaxation

Entertainment that gives delightful distractions could yield relaxation and rest, as well as offers replenishing qualities, a 2017 research published on Taylor & Francis Online revealed.

Getting relaxation by the means of watching movies and TV shows might be more convenient than it appears. Watching video content can help you eradicate worthless distractions. If you are finding it difficult to get away with your after-hours office tasks or other routine stressors, you can keep everything aside and start watching a movie or a TV show as per your taste.

Romantic comedies, musical dramas, and other relieving genres could be an ideal distraction needed by you to relax following a hectic day.

Enhanced Motivation

Movies and TV shows can be an authentic source of motivation and morale boosting in several ways. Giving yourself a necessary break from the daily work-related stress and keeping your mind fresh is vital. You can do that by watching something motivational that can provide much-needed inspiration and make you more productive.

If a film revolves around an inspirational character or follows someone accomplishing their goals and dreams, it can ultimately give enhance your motivation to follow suit. A 2020 study published on Wiley Online Library found that watching motivational content can also inspire an individual to follow their dreams or chase a new aim.

Strengthen relationships

In case you have been feeling estranged from someone closer to you, be it the love of your life, kid, colleague, or best friend, watching films or TV shows together can bridge the distance between you two and have the capacity to revive your relationship.

Especially, if you two share the same preferences in the types of content, exploring something new to watch can bring you closer. It will strengthen your mutual bond while watching, and you will also feel a sense of harmony and revitalized connection while you and your partner reflect on the details afterward.

Abate stress

A quality comedy movie can give you a good laugh as well as will help you alleviate levels of your stress. A study performed in 2016 found that laughing can be a good exercise to reduce the hormonal levels within the body that causes stress, such as epinephrine and cortisol.

Even if you don’t feel like laughing or are rather sad and grim, try watching a drama with a sentimental story. Crying is also proven to be at service to haul down the level of cortisol in your bloodstream, as revealed in a study published on APA PsycNet in 2020.

Inspirit cultural and social awareness

If you like watching movies that are baked on quite tough topics, it can prove to become an intriguing experience from which you may gain something positive.

Whether you are trying to understand a contemporary social issue better or want to spark a dialogue about an opposite viewpoint, watching TV shows and films with social and cultural plots can help you educate and be well-informed.

What is cinema therapy?

Apart from just being a source of entertainment and diversion from a tough day, watching a TV show or a film can also prove to be a very therapeutic technique. Even video and cinema therapies are used sometimes as an aid in psychotherapy.

According to a 2021 study, therapists may use this therapy technique to disclose a character to you, who might share a related emotional encounter like you. It may also aspire you to see your situations from another perspective, which may suggest a new way to handle things.

A therapist can also choose the cinema in the form of a commercial flick or documentary linked to your hardships. If you are having any ups and downs in your love relationship, your therapist might ask you to watch content having a similar theme.

Also, you might even get some healing exercises to do prior to, in between, or after you have finished watching. The movie, theme, genre, and type will be chosen depending on your situation.

Improve Your Mental Health By Watching the Right Shows and Movies

Engaging yourself in free-time activities, like watching TV shows and movies can render several benefits. It can improve your overall mental health, strengthen relationships, and relieve stress.

Still, watching your favorite video content isn’t a cure or remedy for your serious mental health concerns. You must immediately consult a medical practitioner or a psychiatrist if you are unable to cope with your anxieties and daily life stress.

Medical advice regarding cinema therapy from a professional can help you determine whether it will work with your mental health condition lifestyle or not.

TAGGED:mental health
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Alice Jackson
Follow:
Alice Jackson is a business consultant, blogger, social media enthusiast, online market analyst, amateur designer and an avid author at Designhill. She has written on several topics including social media marketing, SEO, content marketing, startup strategies and e-commerce. When she’s not writing, she loves spending her time reading romantic novels. Connect with her on Twitter: @jackson_alice1

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

intuitive exercise
FitnessMental HealthWellness

How Intuitive Exercise Boosts Your Mental and Physical State

April 10, 2021

The Best iPad and iPhone Apps for Seniors

November 5, 2013
improve mental health by not driving people away
Mental Health

Improve Your Mental Health by Avoiding Pushing People Away

November 14, 2024
avoid stress from procrastinating
Mental Health

Reviewing Anti-Procrastination app Virtue Map

April 13, 2023
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?