Verified by 
Key points
- For some, immersive horror experiences can be cathartic and offer psychological benefits like stress relief.
- Pushing through challenges in controlled, frightening settings may enhancing coping and build resilience.
- Immersive horror can facilitate self-discovery by revealing hidden aspects of oneself.
- These intense experiences aren't for everyone, so use caution to avoid psychological harm.
Standing blindfolded, under a bridge, on an abandoned road in Leuven on a cold winter’s afternoon, my breath formed icy plumes as I eagerly awaited the arrival of my tormentor. My heart pounded against my ribs, the promise of horrors unknown electrifying my senses.
Out of the shadows, a masked man appeared, wordlessly directing me into a blacked-out mini-bus, which would transport me to a realm of unknown terrors. Laying on the cold, metal floor as eerie music played, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. But I knew there was no turning back now.
This was my first immersive horror experience, an interactive theatre production by Quietus Horror which placed me at the centre of my own personal nightmare. As the van rattled down the road towards realms unknown, I hoped facing my fears in this hyper-realistic setting would reveal hidden strengths within. Little did I know that I would find some unexpected mental health benefits from facing my fears in this highly controlled yet immersive environment.
What Are Immersive Horror Experiences?
Immersive horror experiences take scary movies or haunted houses to the next level by placing participants directly into an elaborate and terrifying fictional scenario. It takes the form of intense haunted houses, horror escape rooms, and/or interactive theatre productions. Through a combination of live actors, intricate sets, physical effects like heat and cold, and psychological "tricks" to help induce fear, these experiences aim to fully immerse people in a captivating narrative where you are the star of your own little horror show.
While immersive horror is not recommended for everyone, it had some surprising effects on my well-being and personal growth. Here are some of the ways it affected my well-being:
1. Stress Relief and Catharsis
The anticipatory excitement and unease leading up to and during these experiences result in the release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. This triggers the body's natural "fight or flight" response, which can provide an outlet for pent-up emotions and accumulated stress.
Further, completing the experience is exhilarating and induces a feeling of accomplishment, which is rather cathartic. This is supported by several studies that have shown that activities that activate one's fight or flight response within a controlled environment can help regulate emotions and relieve stress.
2. Strengthened Resilience
Intentionally facing fear in a controlled setting can gradually strengthen our resilience and ability to handle challenging situations. Immersive horror requires pushing through discomfort, uncertainty, and fear as you navigate through terrifying situations with unpredictable threats. Pushing through challenging physical or mental scenarios requires accessing inner fortitude and courage which is not really needed in everyday life. Studies suggest that voluntary exposure to moderate stress and fear may enhance emotional regulation and heighten your resilience over time.
3. Heightened Mindfulness
To successfully get through an immersive horror experience, participants must remain completely present and alert to potential threats. This requires a profound focus on the here and now, rather than dwelling on the past or future.
This acute state of mindfulness keeps the mind anchored in the present through heightened awareness of physical sensations and environmental cues. Research indicates activities causing a (eu)stress response can enhance mindfulness and attention to the present moment.
4. Confronting Fears in a Safe Space
One beneficial aspect of controlled exposure to fear is the possibility of gradually weakening negative associations tied to such and other anxiety-related triggers.
Immersive horror allows you to directly confront fears in a supportive and controlled environment whilst being immersed in a captivating story. Because you rationally know that what's happening to you is not real, you can practice facing the scary stimuli without the risk of real-world consequences
Exposure therapy techniques are built on a similar premise of incrementally confronting fears in a safe or controlled environment to help break associative learning that links the fear stimulus with harm. Studies show virtual reality simulations utilising horror and frightening stimuli can be effective at reducing real-world fears through this exposure-based process.
5. Social Connection and Bonding
Sharing an extreme experience forges deep social bonds with others and increases social support. This social cohesion provides emotional support and encouragement which helps to persevere through challenging moments. Several studies have indicated participating in activities perceived as frightening can increase positive social connections among participants.
6. Facilitates Self-Discovery
Horror movies and haunted houses generally provoke screams and terror in the moment, but we quickly move on after the credits roll or exit the haunted house. In contrast, immersive horror experiences force you to remain in an intensely fearful environment with no escape. This confronts you with your unfiltered, primal reactions when all illusion of control is stripped away.
The experience often provides insight into our deepest fears, coping styles, and thought patterns that we might not be consciously aware of in our daily lives. Facing the unknown therefore helps us uncover new aspects of ourselves. Research indicates that perceived growth and self-discovery are common outcomes of voluntary exposure to challenging situations.
7. Emotional Processing
Immersive horror also provides an opportunity to challenge and modify our irrational fears or beliefs. As you directly confront feared objects and situations, you learn firsthand that the imagined catastrophic outcome does not actually translate into reality.
This emotional processing allows for new learning about the irrationality of certain fears. Over time, decreased anxiety may occur when encountering those stimuli in real life due to the brain updating unrealistic threat assessments developed through past traumas or our overgeneralisations.
Of course, immersive horror experiences are not recommended for nor appeal to everyone. They can produce or worsen real distress and may be too intense for those suffering from anxiety or have trauma histories.
However, for thrill-seekers and horror fanatics, it can be an exciting and beneficial means to confront their fears, build resilience, and facilitate growth. For me, facing the depths of terror ultimately led to conquering my own anxieties, and a renewed my passion for engaging in life's little adventures.
References
Baer, R. A. (Ed.). (2015). Mindfulness-based treatment approaches: Clinician's guide to evidence base and applications. Elsevier.
Gerardi, M., Cukor, J., Difede, J., Rizzo, A., & Rothbaum, B. O. (2010). Virtual reality exposure therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder and other anxiety disorders. Current Psychiatry Reports, 12, 298-305.
Jetten, J., Haslam, C., & Alexander, S. H. (Eds.). (2012). The social cure: Identity, health and well-being. Psychology Press.
McEwen, B. S., & Wingfield, J. C. (2003). The concept of allostasis in biology and biomedicine. Hormones and Behavior, 43(1), 2-15.
Scrivner, C., Andersen, M. M., Schjødt, U., & Clasen, M. (2022). The psychological benefits of scary play in three types of horror fans. Journal of Media Psychology, 35(1), 87-89
Spratford, B. S. (2021). The readers' advisory guide to horror. American Library Association.
Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). Posttraumatic growth: conceptual foundations and empirical evidence. Psychological Inquiry, 15(1), 1-18.
