NAMI Mercer County

Families Meeting the Challenge of Mental Illness

A New Perspective

Weekly blog series created by Summer 2025 Intern, Bella Santulli. Dedicated to bringing awareness to mental health conditions, talking about behavior connections between pop culture and psychology, and queer psychology.

Catharsis & Chaos

By

Bella Santulli, NAMI Intern

A fiction of fun that is well-known throughout the world, introduced in the early 20th century, is horror–my personal favorite. Is it so wrong that one of my favorite movies is Terrifier 3? Yes, a movie comprised of heavy gore, the annihilation of others, and psychological torture of the main characters is one of my favorite movies. Well, I am not the only one. Terrifier 3 well exceeded its quota, accumulating more than 73 million at the box office, dethroning larger productions such as Joker 2 in 2024. Still, the real question is, what is the psychology behind deriving pleasure from horrifying fiction?

Several factors must be considered when discussing the appeal of the genre, including underlying biological elements, cultural influences, and connections to fear, among others. Awareness of personal safety is a colossal contributor to enjoying horror movies. As sociologist Margee Kerr told The Atlantic, it is partially due to a biological phenomenon known as excitation transfer. After the physical reactions to fear, such as an accelerated heart rate and heavy breathing, wear off, viewers experience intense relief. Positive feelings intensify and, in short, “fear floods our brains with feel-good chemicals.” This cascade of ‘feel good’ neurotransmitters and hormones, such as endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline, that influence our brains and our bodies gives us a moment of relief or excitement. This, in turn, can serve as a break from an overly routinized and even mundane everyday life, or it can make us want to experience the “high” (adrenaline rush) again.

Here is a breakdown of the unconscious, wonderful ways of the human brain: 

  • The thalamus determines where incoming sensory data should be sent in the body.
  • The sensory cortex interprets this sensory data.
  • The hippocampus can store and retrieve memories and process stimuli to give context.
  • The amygdala determines possible threats and “decodes emotions” while storing fear memories.
  • The hypothalamus activates the fight-or-flight response.

Psychologically, we love to scare ourselves silly because when we make it through a terrifying yet safe activity, it results in feelings of confidence, competence, accomplishment, and success–a real self-esteem boost. Overall, horror offers a cathartic experience, allowing people to confront and release their fears in a safe and controlled environment. This can be therapeutic and help individuals process their anxieties, while also functioning as a controlled exploration of fear without genuine risk. Additionally, the horror genre is more than just a source of entertainment; it’s a powerful cultural tool that allows us to confront our fears, engage with social issues, and explore the depths of the human psyche. The individual traits/interests are also dependent on the enjoyment of the adapting genre. First spanning folklore and religious beliefs, it has evolved into numerous subgenres, as well as the modern slasher.

In the upcoming months of summer, various new horror movies are being brought to theaters, such as A24’s Bring Her Back, I Know What You Did Last Summer, 28 Years Later, The Conjuring: Last Rites, Saw XI, etc. Enjoy the adrenaline rush! 

Book of the Week: Hungerstone by Kat Dunn

A bite-sized masterpiece of gothic horror and sapphic romance that will leave you hungry for more. This story revolves around Lenore, trapped in a loveless marriage to steel magnate Henry, whose ambitions drag them from London to the shadowy Nethershaw manor. After a mysterious carriage accident near the manor, Carmilla enters Lenore’s life: vibrant at night, pale by day, and irresistible. As Carmilla awakens a deep hunger within Lenore, young girls in nearby villages begin to fall ill, consumed by a bloody thirst that hints at a much darker truth. Every page drips with gothic allure, every chapter pulses with tension, and by the end, you will be left starving for another taste!

Resources

  • NAMI Mercer Helpline Phone Number: 609-799-8994 x17
  • NAMI Mercer Helpline Email: helpline@namimercer.org

References

  • “The Psychology of Fear | CSP Global.” Concordia University, St. Paul, 13 July 2020, online.csp.edu/resources/article/pyschology-of-fear/. 
  • Carollo, Laura. “Horror Movies – Statistics & Facts.” Statista, 29 Oct. 2024, www.statista.com/topics/12896/horror-movies/#topicOverview. 
  • Cooper-White, Macrina. “This Is Why We Love to Scare Ourselves Silly.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 16 Oct. 2014, www.huffpost.com/entry/science-of-fear-why-we-love-to-scare-ourselves_n_5976266.
  • Hoffner, Cynthia A., and Kenneth J. Levine. “Enjoyment of mediated fright and violence: A meta-analysis.” Media Psychology, vol. 7, no. 2, May 2005, pp. 207–237, https://doi.org/10.1207/s1532785xmep0702_5.

Histrionic Minds

By

Bella Santulli, NAMI Intern

This May, as we recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, it is essential to emphasize less-discussed disorders such as Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) to encourage understanding, challenge stigma, and promote connection for those who feel overlooked or misrepresented.

So, What is HPD? HPD is a mental health condition that involves an unstable center of emotions as well as a distorted self-image. For people with this condition, their self-esteem depends on the approval of others, not themselves. Additionally, they desire to be noticed by others, often exhibiting erratic or impulsive behavior. Researchers estimate that approximately 1% of people have this condition, predominantly women, although more research is being conducted for undiagnosed men. 

The criteria for diagnosing this condition include five or more of the following behaviors.

  • Uncomfortable when not the center of attention.
  • Seductive or provocative behavior.
  • Shifting and shallow emotions.
  • Uses appearance to draw attention.
  • Impressionistic and vague speech.
  • Dramatic or exaggerated emotions.
  • Suggestible (easily influenced by others).
  • Considers relationships more intimate than they are.

It is important for those who have HPD to seek outside support, such as talk therapy or different support groups. Cleveland Clinic recommends these steps because gaining insight into their condition tends to have better outcomes and increased functionality in social relationships. 

Shedding light on Histrionic Personality Disorder, this Mental Health Awareness Month helps bring attention to often less-known or ignored conditions. By understanding HPD, we can build empathy and create space for people to seek help without shame or judgment.

Book of the Week: Boy Parts by Eliza Clark

This novel follows Irina in Newcastle, UK. She is a troubled photographer with a twisted view of herself and others. Her mind is chaotic—full of obsession, control, and confusion between what’s real and what’s not. It is a raw look at a woman unraveling and a powerful match for this week’s focus on Histrionic Personality Disorder. 

Resources

References

  • Lovering, Nancy. “Treating Histrionic Personality Disorder.” Edited by Jeffery Ditzell, Psych Central, 14 Oct. 2014, psychcentral.com/disorders/histrionic-personality-disorder/treatment. 
  • “Histrionic Personality Disorder: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic, 19 Mar. 2025, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9743-histrionic-personality-disorder. 
  • Torrico, Tyler J. “Histrionic Personality Disorder.” National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 20 June 2024, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542325/#:~:text=Introduction-,Histrionic%20personality%20disorder%20(HPD)%20is%20a%20chronic%2C%20enduring%20psychiatric,late%20adolescence%20or%20early%20adulthood.