According to psychiatrists, binge-watching releases dopamine in the brain, which creates a feeling of pleasure and can help people to relax and relieve stress. [ 11] Psychologists say that finishing a series can give viewers feelings of control and power, which can be beneficial if viewers are not feeling that in their daily lives.
The most common answer is, however, most people use binge-watching as a stress reliever, especially in our current situation. Be a responsible binge-watcher and watch out for your health while enjoying the films and series you love.
This begs the query “Is binge-watching bad for your mental health?”
While a study from the University of Toledo said that binge-watching increases stress, anxiety, and depression, Dr John Mayer, a clinical psychologist, believes that the act of binge-watching can be a perfect stress management tool as it offers us a temporary escape from our daily lives.
What binge watching does to your brain?
“When engaged in an activity that’s enjoyable such as binge watching, your brain produces dopamine, ” she explains. “This chemical gives the body a natural, internal reward of pleasure that reinforces continued engagement in that activity. It is the brain’s signal that communicates to the body, ‘This feels good.
One of the next things we wondered was; what happens to your brain when you binge watch a show?
Here’s a look at what happens to our brain when we settle in for a marathon, and how to watch responsibly. When binge watching your favorite show, your brain is continually producing dopamine, and your body experiences a drug-like high. Watching episode after episode of a show feels good — but why is that?
D, a clinical psychologist, says it’s due to the chemicals being released in our brain. “When engaged in an activity that’s enjoyable such as binge watching, your brain produces dopamine, ” she explains.
Another popular query is “Why do I get High from binge watching TV?”.
You should keep doing this! ‘ When binge watching your favorite show, your brain is continually producing dopamine, and your body experiences a drug-like high. You experience a pseudo-addiction to the show because you develop cravings for dopamine. “.
Is binge-watching TV bad for Your Sleep?
Results in Poor Sleeping Patterns A study from NCBI reveals that people who binge-watch suffer from poor quality sleep and insomnia. Typically, when you binge a TV show, it may trigger “pre-sleep arousal”, which is caused by the bright light from screens.
Why binge watching good?
Binge- watching has health benefits like stress relief. According to psychiatrists, binge-watching releases dopamine in the brain, which creates a feeling of pleasure and can help people to relax and relieve stress.
For many viewers, binge-watching gives us an escape from the day-to-day grind. Entertainment has always offered a way to escape from the pressures of daily life, and binge-watching is no exception. But, don’t just take our word for it.
What are the benefits of binge-watching TV shows?
Binge-watching makes a show more fulfilling. While binge-watching, the viewer can feel the pleasure of full immersion (aka “the zone”), which is a great feeling similar to staying up all night to finish a book or project.
You should be thinking “What makes a TV show good for binge-watching?”
Shows made for binge-watching, such as Orange Is the New Black and Stranger Things, are often more sophisticated and have multiple intricate storylines, complex relationships, and multi-dimensional characters. [ 12] [ 13] [ 14] Watching several episodes at once tends to make the story easier to follow and more enjoyable than a single episode.
Is binge-watching like gambling?
Like gambling and other behavioral addictions, binge-watching activates the part of our brain responsible for “reward” functions, producing dopamine and making us feel good. Over time, though, our brains produce less dopamine from the same level of activity as we build up a level of tolerance.
In a survey conducted by Netflix in February 2014, 73% of people define binge-watching as “watching between 2-6 episodes of the same TV-show in one sitting. ” Researchers have argued that binge-watching should be defined based on the context and the actual content of the TV show.