One of the best ways to relax and unwind at the end of a long day is by watching a movie. Movies create a myriad of emotions for people. They can be comforting, uplifting, surprising, or just plain entertaining. Often, movies are a great form of escapism. They provide us with a way of leaving our reality behind, if only for a couple of hours.
Movies can be incredibly helpful simply by giving individuals, couples, or families who are walking through a difficult set of circumstances the previously aforementioned way of escape. While life circumstances cannot be avoided, nor should they be pushed aside and not dealt with, watching movies that portray a positive message or evoke certain emotions such as joy, contentment, or happiness can be a healthy method of coping when used properly.
Sometimes, however, movies are created to take viewers into a different reality, one that does exist for many people. Such movies depict attention-grabbing stories of individuals with mental health conditions, such as attachment issues, addictions, anxiety, depression, low self esteem, and even more extreme personality disorders. Films that are either based on a real individual’s mental health struggles, or even ones that are entirely fictional but still give a glimpse into what mental illness looks like, are quite prevalent and give visibility to the conditions that millions of individuals suffer from that people might otherwise not be able to comprehend. Yes, sometimes escapism into a fantasy world or picturesque alternate reality is just what is needed, but for those who personally struggle with or have family members who have grappled with certain mental health issues, movies that accurately portray these experiences can be comforting and validating. These types of movies can open the door for deeper conversations with friends, family, and loved ones regarding the mental health struggles someone may be currently experiencing.
The power of movies to open the doors to discuss mental health should not be underestimated. Movies are one of the easiest ways to help individuals understand concepts which were previously misunderstood or overlooked by the average person, and mental health struggles are increasingly being shown in movies, thus giving greater insight to the viewer as to what it looks like to live with these struggles.
Storrie Denton, LPC-A
Seeking counseling can be incredibly daunting because of the level of vulnerability one has to display. My ultimate goal with each client is to make the counseling setting a place of comfort and safety, so that we can work effectively toward reaching goals and achieving true and lasting healing.
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