"And for horror games, the blue light, social interactions, and highly stimulating activity make it that much easier to keep playing deep into the night," they add. "The curse of it all is that the next day you’ll feel sluggish and be more prone to mood swings."
Some people with anxiety or trauma might want to steer clear of scary content altogether. It could trigger them or leave them replaying a disturbing scene over and over again.
But others with anxiety or trauma could actually benefit from consuming scary content. That's because horror can act as a type of recreational exposure therapy.
"It gives them the chance to face fear in a controlled way, and sometimes can help them build emotional skills to manage it in real life," explains the Newport Healthcare site.
The important thing is to know your own limits. The line between having fun, conquering fears, and feeling distressed is deeply personal, say the experts. "For anyone, scary content should be managed based on how it makes you feel, and if it’s too much, hit pause."
