Why Writing Horror Is Great for Your Mental Health (Seriously!)
Think writing horror is just for adrenaline junkies or people with a dark side? Nope!
Turns out, spinning spine-chilling tales can actually help your mental health. Nothing says relaxation like wrestling with your deepest fears on the page, right?
Science backs this up – expressing fears through storytelling can be cathartic. Instead of horror fiction being bad for your brain, it might just be the creative outlet you need.
So, let’s crack open this coffin and unearth why writing horror is actually good for you.
Helps You Face Your Fears
Think about the last time you felt anxious. That creeping dread. The racing thoughts. That feeling that something bad is just around the corner.
Now, instead of spiraling, imagine putting all of that onto a page.
When you write horror, you control the fear. You shape it, analyze it, and – best of all – defeat it. It’s like exposure therapy, but way more fun (and way cheaper!).
Instead of letting your fears run wild in your head, you trap them in a story. And you get to decide what happens next.
That kind of control? Super empowering!
Why Writing Horror Is Good For Your Brain
Let’s get right into all the top reasons why writing horror can actually be good for your mental health!
Safe Way to Explore the Dark Stuff
Let’s be real—everyone has intrusive thoughts. Those random, unsettling “what if” scenarios that pop into your brain uninvited.
- What if I lost control of my car?
- What if there’s something under my bed?
- What if my reflection moved on its own?
Instead of pushing those thoughts away, horror writing gives them a home. It lets you explore your darkest ideas in a safe, controlled space.
You’re not actually summoning a demon – you’re just writing about one. And that means you’re acknowledging the darkness without letting it take over.
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Process Your Stress
Ever finished a horror movie and felt… weirdly relieved? That’s catharsis—an emotional release that helps you process stress.
Writing horror does the same thing.
When you put your characters through terrifying situations, you’re externalizing your own stress. You get to pour frustration, fear, and rage into something outside yourself.
And when your protagonist makes it through (or doesn’t – your call), you feel lighter. It’s like purging emotional toxins, but way more entertaining than talking about your feelings in a fluorescent-lit office.
Build Resilience
In a world obsessed with looking polished and put-together, horror writing lets you be raw. It’s messy. It’s chaotic. It’s unapologetically honest.
Horror doesn’t care if you’re polite. It doesn’t ask you to package your pain in an aesthetic Instagram post.
It lets you feel everything—the dread, the grief, the rage – without sugarcoating it. And in doing so, it teaches you how to sit with discomfort. How to acknowledge fear without letting it take over.
That’s a skill that goes way beyond writing.
Boost Creativity
Horror forces you to think outside the box.
- How do you build suspense?
- How do you twist a familiar fear into something unexpected?
When you stretch your imagination to create eerie settings and terrifying scenarios, you strengthen your creative muscles.
And the more you practice, the more your creativity flows into other areas of life—problem-solving, storytelling, and even day-to-day decision-making.
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Understand Human Nature
Want to get better at reading people? Write horror. Great horror is about the human psyche just as much as it is about monsters and ghosts.
- What scares us?
- What pushes people to their breaking points?
Writing horror helps you tap into deep emotions like fear, desperation, and survival instincts, making you more observant and empathetic in real life.
Connect with Others
Horror has a huge community, and writing scary stories can be a great way to connect with like-minded people.
Whether it’s through sharing stories online, joining horror writing groups, or just bonding over your love for the genre, horror can bring people together.
And let’s be honest – there’s something satisfying about watching your friends’ reactions when they read one of your terrifying tales.
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The Brain Science Behind the Scares
There’s actual neuroscience backing this up.
Engaging with horror – whether it’s books, movies, or writing—triggers dopamine release, the same feel-good chemical you get from exercise or chocolate.
It’s a controlled fear response, like riding a rollercoaster. Your brain gets the thrill of danger without the actual risk.
Plus, storytelling in general strengthens cognitive function and emotional resilience.
When you are writing a horror story, you’re sharpening problem-solving skills, building emotional intelligence, and stretching your creative muscles.
So, Should You Start Writing Horror?
Yes. Absolutely. You don’t need to be Stephen King. You don’t even have to show anyone what you write.
But the next time you feel anxious, overwhelmed, or just stuck in your own head, try this:
Write a scary story.
Lean into the eerie, the unsettling, the unknown. Let yourself get lost in the nightmare – but remember, you’re the one in control.
And when you come out the other side, you might just feel a little lighter.
Because let’s be real: what’s scarier—the monsters in your head, or the fact that you might never let them out?
