Do you ever feel scared after watching a horror movie? Has a horror scene ever made you take a little jump in fear? Did that scary monkey from Toy Story 3 make you jump in fear? Don't worry, it's easy to overcome your fears after watching a horror movie. All you have to do is prepare and think rationally.
Steps
Step 1. Remember it's not real
It was made to scare you, but keep in mind that this is all fake! You are no less safe than before.
Step 2. Watch something quiet, funny or beautiful after the horror movie
Like "50 First Dates", or "Sooner or Later I'm Getting Married", or some girl movie!
Step 3. Remember that the film industry puts a lot of effort into making its films credible
Just keep in mind that the people taking part in the film are actors and nothing scary has happened - just imagine the director suddenly yelling "Cut!" and immediately afterwards the actors take off their masks saying "What did I do wrong now?", it will help you to understand that everything is a fiction.
Step 4. After the movie think about all the fake things and those that didn't scare you about the movie
Step 5. Think of something positive or something you will do on the following day
Step 6. Do something to relax and not think about the movie
Go out with friends or stay with family.
Step 7. Talk about the movie, because it really helps
It highlights how everything in the film is impossible, and that if the things that impressed you were real, why should they target you?
Step 8. Focus the scary scenes in your mind over and over again
Each time, you make the scene less scary. For example, if in the scene the killer jumped out of somewhere and stabbed someone, the next time you have the killer use a stick and the next time think of a cat fight. Make it more fun every time. After a while it will get hilarious! You won't be afraid of it at all. Do this for any scene that scared you. The next time you watch the movie you might end up laughing a lot while everyone else is shaking with fear!
Step 9. If the movie is on DVD, try watching "Behind the Scenes"
Seeing how the film was made will chase away a lot of fear.
Step 10. When a scene seems scary, joke about it by talking to a friend
"Come on, go talk to the scary stranger in a long coat and black hat, it'll be fun!"
Step 11. When they tell you the movie is based on a true story, it's not true at all
They just say it to scare you more.
Step 12. Think about the psychological reasons that prompted you to be scared of that movie
It will help you remember that it's all in your head.
Step 13. Remember that nothing that has happened to the characters has ever happened to you
Why should this happen now? Why should zombies exist after you've watched a zombie movie and not before then? And why should zombies or monsters be in your city?
Advice
- Think of fun things to do soon with family or friends that you look forward to.
- Watch funny movies after watching a horror movie or invite friends over to have fun with them.
- Remember, it's all about the head. If you start thinking "I'm really scared" then "randomly" things will start happening, you will notice shadows etc., because your mind is playing tricks on you.
- Try to imagine a person you trust or inspire you, or someone very strong, and imagine him beating the monster. It really works.
- Remember that these things don't happen in real life, for example: when you heard someone say "Someone took my arm off and then hit me using that same arm" it certainly never happened.
- Know this: when an actor stars in a horror movie he has a lot of fun! They think this is the time to finally let loose. Running and screaming all the time like children playing chase, and hiding from the bad guy on duty as if they were playing hide and seek. They think it's all fun. And that's exactly why you should think so too!
- Remember it's not real. Focus on the fact that it's all a script written by someone using their imagination. The actors who play in the film are just playing a part in a fictional story.
- Remember it's not real, or talk to someone about the movie and tell them it's not real. Maybe talk to someone older than you in your family.
- Sometimes it's best to watch a scary movie on a nice day. It will help you not to get scared during the night or when there is a thunderstorm.
- Watch the shows where they show you how to make costumes for horror movies, it will help you understand everything much better.
- Music can add a lot of tension to scenes; try to mute the TV at certain points in the film.
- Another way not to be scared is to imagine the monster coming out somewhere and you, after getting up and approaching it, looking at it grimly (or getting angry for bothering you), tell it to go away and stop being the plague, or imagine yourself killing him.
- If you are scared during the movie, sing silly songs very calmly while something scary is going on, like singing the unicorn song while the killer kills someone. You can't help but laugh.
- Imagine clumsy and funny monsters: for example, if the monster is a zombie, imagine him in a funny suit with a pig's tail.
- Look at the scene that scared you and imagine it as funny.
