Did you know that watching certain movies can improve your mental health?
Research has shown that movies with positive messages can make us stronger, better, kinder, and more empathetic people. They can heal us, uplift us, and allow us a safe way to work through our struggles. In addition, watching movies with loved ones can foster a deep emotional connection.
Author Anne Feustel first discovered watching movies as a coping skill when she saw a childhood favorite, The Princess Bride, while experiencing a manic episode. Happily, she was transported to a magical realm, a place where her mania could not follow. It became her go-to movie when she was struggling with mania, depression, or anxiety. Later, Anne realized that viewing specific movies had eased her emotional struggles since she was a child, especially when she watched them with her sister.
Along with sharing her mental health journey, Anne explores the history of cinematherapy as a tool to create healthy coping skills and sustain personal growth.
Inclusion and equality are important criteria for the movies that Anne chose. Many films did not make the cut because of issues such as racism, sexism, fatphobia, homophobia, and extreme violence.
For each of the 12 movies reviewed in the book, Anne details how they can affect our mental health. She also adds caveats (aspects viewers might object to), triggers (scenes that might cause viewers to relive a traumatic event), and fun facts. The movies include Inside Out, When Harry Met Sally..., and The Princess Bride.
So, film fans, it's time to dive deep into your favorite movies!
