Why does everyone try to watch scary shows right before bed?

I swear half my feed is people bragging about binging true crime docs or horror movies at 11 PM. That stuff sticks in your brain and messes with your sleep cycle, I read a study that said even 15 minutes of stressful content can delay REM by 45 minutes. I personally stick to old Bob Ross episodes or those 8 hour rain videos on YouTube after 10 PM. It took me about 3 nights of bad dreams to figure out the connection. Anyone else notice their sleep quality tanks when they watch dark stuff before closing their eyes?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_sam23d ago

That study actually said 15 minutes of stressful stuff can delay REM by 45 minutes, not the other way around.

taylorellis23d ago

Used to think my 3am doomscrolling sessions were just a personality quirk but turns out my brain was just mad at me for watching that one video of a guy arguing with a seagull before bed. Now I gotta factor in a 45 minute buffer just for my own stupidity. Guess I'll start my bedtime routine at like 6pm if I ever want to see a full sleep cycle again.

the_joseph23d ago

Maybe it's a case of people trying to prove they're tough enough to handle it, like a weird badge of honor. Bragging about sleep paralysis from watching Sinister at midnight is just inviting your brain to mess with you for no good reason. Call me old fashioned, but I'd rather have a solid 8 hours than a story about how I almost saw a ghost in my closet.