Fight, flight, freeze, fawn and flop aren’t personality defects (although perhaps the critical part—a fight part turned inward—would say they are). They’re ancient nervous system strategies that are trying to help you survive, even if they’re working off an outdated operating system.

As for myself, I was wary of the horror genre, convinced it would be too overwhelming. Eventually curiosity took over, as I gently creaked the door open to the demonic realms, gradually exposing myself to more intense terror with time. Eventually, it graduated from a fun, adrenaline-fuelled form of entertainment to something more, though I couldn’t quite pinpoint why. I’ve since heard similar sentiments from clients and friends, many of whom are trauma survivors. This post aims to explore the reasons why horror movies can be healing, both from my clinical perspective as a trauma therapist and a horror fan.