How to calm those post-scary movie jitters

That post-scary-movie feeling? According to psychologist Kristen Lindgren of the University of Washington, that’s not fear, that’s anxiety.

“Anxiety is when that fear response goes off at a time that isn’t actually dangerous, but it’s seeming or feeling like it’s dangerous,” Lindgren says.

Shaking off the post-horror-movie anxiety is a matter of changing the way you think about the scary images.

You can start by confronting the fear.

How likely is it really that a murderous, vengeful witch is lurking behind the shower curtain?

Watching behind-the-scenes footage or blooper reels from those movies can also re-contextualize them, further cementing the fact that the images are not real.

You can also change the story in your brain. Imagine that zombie movie suddenly turning into a Michael Jackson music video!

Finally, repeated exposure can help, too. Watch the movie again, and see how it leaves you feeling the second time around.