Why Do Some People Like to Be Scared?
Some people enjoy fear the same way others enjoy a thrilling rollercoaster ride. Adrenaline junkies flock to occasions that bring terror, for a surge of adrenaline is induced during fear. People who like being scared seek out physical and mental stimulation, because fear serves as a powerful stimulant.
Fear as an Adrenaline Rush
Adrenaline, commonly referred to as the “fight or flight hormone” is triggered by fear. This hormone is released into the bloodstream, producing sensations like faster heartbeat, rising temperature, and an energized feeling. People who like to be scared find these sensations exciting and eagerly seek out opportunities to be frightened.
Fear as a Partnership with Anxiety
For those who like to be scared, fear serves almost as a form of relief, especially when it is voluntarily induced. People who experience anxiety can sometimes find respite in occasions that are typically deemed as frightening — like visiting a haunted house — as it serves as a way to manage their anxiety levels. Fear overpowers anxiety and allows individuals a moment of relief from its paralysing emotion.
Fear as an Expression of Contempt
People who like to be scared sometimes seek out fear as a way to release emotions like anger or agitation. It provides an outlet for contempt and a call for justice. When the person manages to survive a fearful experience, it serves as a source of empowerment for them.
Types of Thrill Seeking Fears
Haunted Houses
For those who enjoy thrill seeking, a haunted house can be an exciting and often comforting place. A visit to a haunted house or an adventure to a ghostly destination is typically one of the most enjoyed forms of fear.
Extended Stunts
Extreme cautioners and thrill seekers might opt to participate in more extreme forms of fear. For instance, participating in activities that involve the ocean, such as shark diving, or stunts such as bungee jumping can provide those people a thrill that is incomparable and often life-altering.
Horror Movies
Horror movies has been a longtime way to experience fear that is not real. Watching a horrifying and often suspenseful horror movie can illicit such an adrenaline rush and exciting experience, that it can even become an addiction. People who are addicted to the fear of horror movies often watch the same movie over and over and continuously look for brand new ones that will bring them the same level of fear.
Where some people flee from fear, others embrace it and look for ways to be scared. Fear can be a thrilling and enlightening sensation. People seek out fear for its natural adrenaline and as a way to manage their intense emotions. Whether it’s a visit to a haunted house, extreme stunts, or just watching a horror movie at home, fear is an emotion that can be enjoyed when done on one’s own terms.
