Stress is often regarded as the number one killer. The relationship between stress and health issues, like hypertension, heart attacks, decreased immune function, and sudden cardiac deaths, is well documented. Simply put, stress can wreak havoc on your physical and mental health. It can adversely affect one’s body and emotional and psychological well-being; however there are simple ways to deal with it.
No one, or no technique, can guarantee to eliminate stress from your life forever; you can prevent it from causing you harm by incorporating relaxing practices in your everyday life.
Everyone has a different coping mechanism to deal with stress. Watching movies and TV shows is a popular one, which means you can reduce stress with Thai dramas.
Can TV Really Help Reduce Stress?
You must have heard people saying how their favorite TV show(s) provide a great escape from reality and help them relax and refresh after a tough day at work and how they always get back to them when they are going through a tough phase. There was a time when these were just the personal opinions of a few individuals. But it’s no longer the case. Several research studies have shown that it’s actually true.
In one such study, Robin Nadi, professor of communication at the University of California, found that movies, dramas, and music can reduce cortisol levels in the body.
So, what you probably heard people saying or taking as a joke is actually a scientifically-proven fact.
Reduce Stress with Thai Dramas
Though there has not been enough research done specifically on Thai dramas; researchers have used Asian shows as a tool to study, discuss, and evaluate mental health concepts. According to Van Ta Park, Ph.D., MPH, associate professor at the University of California, San Francisco, “When you speak the language in terms of the values held by communities, in cultural groups such as Asians, they get it. They can relate to it, and it definitely has the potential to be therapeutic, even in just a short time period”.
3 Ways Thai Dramas Can Help Reduce Stress
Let’s keep scientific studies aside for a while and see what Thai drama fans say these Asian shows help reduce their stress (anecdotal evidence is also important):
1. They Give a Break from Real Life
Thai dramas are often criticized for their unrealistic portrayal of life. Though it doesn’t apply to all Thai dramas, even if it does, we all could do with a little break from reality, especially when it’s difficult and stressful. Binge-watch Thai dramas online to escape reality and all its stressors for a little while.
2. Thai TV Offers an Unlimited Supply of Mood Enhancing Rom-Coms
You may say they are clichéd or too cheesy, but you can negate the mood-enhancing effects of romantic comedies. Their light-hearted stories and positive endings do not just make you feel good; they are also scientifically proven to act as stress busters (we’re back to science again). Research shows that everything from those stares and sideways glances to awkward first conversations and heart-touching moments like the hero stroking the heroin’s arm can trigger the feel-good centers of your brain. The laughs they offer work like instant stress busters and are also good for your heart health. Moreover, as the story progresses and you actually start to like the characters, the empathy center in your brain gets activated, and your body starts producing the happy and love hormones dopamine and oxytocin.
There is also evidence that happy endings melt away all the stress hormones that may still be left in your body, and you get up feeling good and relaxed. And Thai TV provides an unlimited supply of these feel-good rom-coms with happy endings.
3. Seeing Someone Else Overcome Though Times Gives Hope
Life can sometimes get so stressful that you begin to lose hope. It’s hard to stay positive and keep your hope alive in such situations. Many Thai dramas show the characters going through similar situations and their lives turning bleak. But then they also show those characters displaying resilience, overcoming the odds, and fighting their way out of their problems. Keeping aside the debate over how realistic or practical those portrayals are, such dramas often hit home and give those of us going through difficult times in life a glimmer of hope that things can take a positive turn and they may also overcome their troubles with resilience and perseverance. It’s one way to keep hope alive.
Seeing others (characters) going through similar situations as you might be experiencing or have gone through in your life can also trigger a cathartic response, allowing you to release the feelings and emotions that you may be holding on to for a long time.
Conclusion
Stress can kill you, but only if you allow it to. You can’t eliminate stress from life, but you can (and should) find ways to deal with it effectively so it doesn’t interfere with your mental and/or physical health. Whether you already have a coping mechanism or looking to build one, you can reduce stress with Thai dramas. Register on Seesan TV to watch Thai dramas online. The platform offers a wide variety of new and old Thai TV dramas and allows you to watch old Thai movies, rerun Thai dramas, and watch live Thai TV. Seesan TV membership will be the perfect addition to your stress-busting routine.
Image Credits
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-white-shirt-showing-frustration-3807738/
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/happy-young-relaxed-woman-watching-tv-at-home-3768898/