In 2024, the haunted house industry alone generated over $300 million globally. Horror films consistently outperform comedies at the box office. Ghost tours sell out across cities every autumn.

Clearly, we don’t just tolerate fear — we buy tickets for it. But why do we willingly pay to be scared, when we spend the rest of the year trying to avoid stress? The answer lies in how our nervous system responds to fear, and what those same responses mean for everyday stress and resilience.

Cheat Sheet (for skim readers)

• Fear as fun: Adrenaline + dopamine make controlled fear feel exciting.
• Nervous system regulation: Haunted houses light up the sympathetic nervous system but recovery is quick.
• Everyday stress: Same systems switch on, but without the off-button — leading to chronic stress.
• Resilience: Controlled fear builds recovery skills that help in real life.
• Takeaway: Learn to reset your stress response as quickly as you would after a jump scare.

For a deeper dive — keep reading…

Fear as Entertainment: The Business of Being Scared

Halloween isn’t just costumes and sweets — it’s an entire industry built on fear.

From immersive haunted houses to Hollywood horror, fear has become a cultural currency. We don’t gather to laugh at rom-coms the way we gather to scream in unison at jump scares. Fear unites us — and it sells.

But behind the masks and fake blood is something universal: the same stress response system that governs our daily lives. What you feel in a haunted house — heart pounding, breath quickening — is the same biology that kicks in before a big presentation or during financial worries.

Nervous System Regulation: Why Fear Feels So Intense

When you’re scared, the autonomic nervous system takes charge. Specifically, the sympathetic nervous system — the body’s accelerator.

• Adrenal glands release adrenaline.
• Heart rate and blood pressure shoot up.
• Muscle tension increases, readying you to fight or flee.
• Blood sugar (glucose) surges for quick energy.

These sympathetic nervous system functions evolved for survival. The haunted house isn’t a real threat, but your body still reacts as though the danger is genuine — like mistaking a plastic skeleton for something crawling out of the dark.

The Release: Why Fear Feels Good

The beauty of “fun fear” is in the comedown. Once the scare passes, the parasympathetic nervous system — the body’s brake — slows your heart, relaxes muscles, and lowers cortisol levels.

It’s the nervous system’s equivalent of the house lights flicking on after a horror film ends — proof the monster wasn’t real.

This swing from “high alert” to safety creates a chemical reward: dopamine. It’s why you scream, then laugh. And it’s why people often leave haunted houses or horror films buzzing with energy rather than weighed down.

Research suggests that this cycle of stress–release strengthens nervous system regulation, teaching the body it can handle spikes in adrenaline and then recover.

Fun Fear vs Everyday Stress

Context Is Everything

The difference between a haunted house and your work inbox? Control. In a scare you choose, your brain knows the threat is temporary. That sense of safety transforms the stress response into a thrill.

In contrast, everyday chronic stress keeps the stress hormones flowing without an end point. Cortisol levels stay high. And over time, that takes a toll:

• Digestive system issues (bloating, IBS).
• Hormonal imbalance in the reproductive system.
• Weight gain from disrupted blood sugar control.
• High blood pressure and higher risk of heart attack.

Think of it this way: “fun fear” is like walking through a haunted maze where you know the exit is just around the corner. Real stress is like being stuck in the maze with no end in sight.

What Scares Can Teach Us About Stress Management

The same systems that light up in a haunted maze can teach you how to better handle stress in daily life.

• Deep breathing: Activates the parasympathetic nervous system, lowering cortisol and calming the body.
• Physical activity: Burns off excess stress hormones and helps regulate blood pressure.
• Sleep: Essential for recovery; poor sleep keeps cortisol high.
• Healthy diet & lifestyle changes: Support long-term nervous system balance.
• Emotional support: Sharing stress (just like laughing after a jump scare) helps the system reset.

These small practices are like “safety rails” — ways to remind your body that not every bump in the night is a monster.

After the Haunt

Fear shows us something powerful: our bodies are built to survive stress. The problem isn’t the spike itself — it’s when the spike never ends.

This Halloween, when you scream at a jump scare or clutch your friend’s arm in a haunted house, remember: your nervous system is rehearsing. It’s learning to face stress, survive it, and return to calm.

And when the sugar rush from Halloween sweets fades, it can mimic the same crash as stress itself — blood sugar spikes, energy dips, mood swings. Swapping high-sugar hits for calming treats — magnesium-rich dark chocolate, herbal teas, or protein-balanced snacks — can support your nervous system instead of sending it on another rollercoaster. Shop our healthy snacks in The Scary-Good Snack Store.

Because the real resilience comes not just from surviving the scare, but from how you steady your system when life itself gets spooky.

Stress Less. Live More.