You are completely familiar with the storyline, and you know the characters inside out, but you keep going back to your beloved television series nevertheless, even if it means watching it for the nth time. If this ‘screen-time behaviour’ is something that’s bothering you, well, you’re not alone—and if experts are to be believed, it might even be good for your mental health.
Such a series (or a book, podcast, music, or film, for that matter) is what experts call a ‘comfort show’ and, as the name suggests, could be anything that wraps you in a feeling of (you guessed it) comfort and helps you relax. Research shows that an increasing number of people are relying on their comfort shows to wind down after a long day, or at times when they are feeling anxious or stressed.
There are way too many dramas that fall in this category—Modern Family, Brooklyn Nine Nine, The Office, New Girl, Schitt’s Creek, Gossip Girls, Two Broke Girls, How I Met Your Mother, and Community, among others.
Dr Aparna Ramakrishnan, consultant, psychiatry, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai, says, “Comfort shows provide us comfort for a reason. They are funny and wholesome, sure. But there’s also a sense of familiarity, a ‘feel good’ factor, and the hope of escapism from our daily drudgery.”
Warmth & happiness
A huge factor in why we go back to certain shows is the feeling of warmth and happiness that surrounds them. Says Dr Ramakrishnan, “We have long days at work and so much uncertainty in our daily lives that the predictability of these shows helps us feel calmer and mirrors a sense of routine and grounding.”
Dr Kedar Tilwe, consultant psychiatrist, Fortis Hospital Mulund and Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, says that going back to your favourite shows, episodes, books, or even podcasts can also simply be a good way to relax at the end of each day.
There’s another aspect too. Dr Sheena Sood, psychologist and counsellor, PD Hinduja Hospital and MRC, Mahim, says, “We also rewatch certain shows to help us process things, which can be a very emotional task, and rely on a familiar narrative while we try and regulate our nervous system.”
Interestingly, says Dr Sood, people also get hooked to some characters because they are leading the life you wanted or the life you’re currently living and that helps build a strong connection, “They almost seem a reality and their future in the show seems to become yours as well,” Dr Sood explains.
Nostalgia is a major driver too. Remember when you first watched Friends and how young and naive you were to think that you could hang out with your friends in a coffee house every day? That’s probably what still draws you to it, says Dr Ramakrishnan, “the desire to live vicariously through these shows and remember a time when you were not adulting.”
A safety net
Beyond the comfort aspect, though, could be some harsh truths too. For instance, experts say too much reliance on a show to get a sense of comfort could indicate that you are anxious, and fearful of change and uncertainty. Says Dr Sood, “Someone who has a lot going on in their personal or professional life already may need a certain comfort show without any uncertainty as that’s their safe zone.”
“To some extent, rewatching certain shows feels good and sends a signal to your mind that you are safe. Stress is reduced and a sense of rejuvenation and relief set in,” says Dr Sood.
Dr Tilwe agrees: “The predictability and feel-good factor it ushers in allows an individual to avoid real-world stressors that they might find difficult to cope with.”
Also, doesn’t it get overwhelming that there are thousands of choices available on every single OTT and social media platform out there? How do you decide between watching the newest film that everyone is raving about and binging on the latest series that just dropped? “You do what doesn’t add to the stress—go back to the old and familiar that would make you happy right in the moment,” says Dr Ramakrishnan.
The dependence on comfort shows also thrives because we’re in an age when concepts like the ‘second screen phenomenon’ exist—which essentially refers to people watching something on a bigger screen (TV, laptop, etc) while continuing to scroll through social media on their mobile phones.
This, says Dr Ramakrishnan, is the perfect fit for those who watch their favourite shows on a loop. Says she, “There’s no mental energy that we need to invest here and there’s less attention required because we already know how things are going to unfold.”
Too much, too many
Indulging in comfort shows is as normal as a habit can get. But if you are constantly relying on these shows for the sake of feeling better, that might not be a good sign.
Dr Ramakrishnan says, “This could indicate that you’re getting too deep into escapism, which might be reflective of other mental health issues like depression or anxiety disorders. You can’t use your comfort zone to avoid certain situations or confrontations since it can impact your life, work, relationships, and productivity.”
There’s another concern that Dr Tilwe puts across. “If we keep watching the same show as a compulsion, we might get too involved in the plot and it might start dictating how we feel and think on a regular basis, which could even lead to us ignoring our real-world responsibilities,” he says.
The way to go ahead then is to detach yourself a little bit from your screen. Talk to people around you, reconnect with old hobbies, and try to find comfort in something more productive like going for a walk or hanging out with your close friends.
Dr Ramakrishnan adds, “If the reliance is severe, you should seek a professional and practice adequate stress management, emotional regulation, grounding techniques, and mindfulness.”