Sometimes life gets overwhelming, and all you need is a simple solution. If you’ve ever had a comfort show, you know you can turn to when you need to take your mind off things or relax. If you haven’t, let me tell you why you should!
Comfort shows or even comfort movies have been shown to provide feelings of safety due to your brain’s familiarity with them. Studies found the psychological phenomenon called the “mere exposure effect,” explaining our attachment to certain media that may remind us of happier or more stable times. Watching new shows can be stressful and sometimes unenjoyable with twists and turns. Chivonna Childs, a psychologist for the Cleveland Clinic, explains, “Often with comfort shows, [we resonate with] people. [The] stories we resonate with, or [they are the] stories we wish we could resonate with. The [stories] give us a break from the normal things that are going on in life right now.” I agree with Dr. Childs; I find comfort in familiar stories and characters.
With repetition, our brain knows what to expect and finds comfort and reassurance in knowing the outcomes. When you are distressed or feeling down, focusing on your favorite show can help distract you from those worries and bring you back to a calmer mood. I personally have many comfort shows, but my favorite has to be Alexa and Katie. I can’t even count how many times I’ve rewatched my favorite episodes in that show, and no matter what, it always makes me laugh!
For some, too much repetition can become boring, which is totally valid. With many things, you need to have that option to switch it up every once in a while. If you find your comfort show developing into an activity you are no longer interested in, you can always find a new one. There are so many to choose from and many more to come in the near future. Even asking friends or family can offer you many ideas for what to watch.
There are so many types of media nowadays, and while I agree scrolling on your phone can be fun, watching a show over and over again can be more meaningful. It’s easy to get carried away with everyday life, so at the end of a long day, consider sitting down and turning on that special show; it might just give your brain the break it deserves and needs.
