Mental health has become a top priority in today’s global society. All around the world, people are beginning to take notice of the dangers that go hand-in-hand with stress and anxiety disorders.
Some people play sports in order to cope, others enjoy hobbies like reading and writing. But for me, nothing really works better than a little dash of reality TV. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that reality TV can actually be good for our mental health.
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Over the past decade, our society has shown drastic improvement when it comes to prioritizing mental health.
Up until the dawn of the new millennium, mental health was a taboo subject. It was something that was only mentioned in hush-hush therapy sessions, never to be brought to the forefront of our collective cultural paradigm.
Nowadays, mental health is something that’s discussed across all avenues.
According to a study conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, over 40 million adults in the US alone suffer from an anxiety disorder — that’s nearly 20% of the entire population.
So what can we do in order to improve our overall mental health?
Physical activity and a good night’s rest will do wonders. But for those looking for something more, the answer is staring your right in the face — reality TV.
Reality TV has it all. It’s exciting, endearing, as well as inspiring.
At this point, those uninitiated are likely snickering behind their keyboards, and that’s totally understandable. However, when you start to contrast your favorite shows/movies with some of the more iconic reality TV series, you’ll find they have a lot in common.
For instance, I’d put the Season 2 finale of ‘Cheer’ up against the most iconic sports movie, any day of the week.
The stories and struggles of the young athletes on Cheer stick with you. By the end, you’ll be screaming from the sidelines of your living room — cheering them on.
Haters of ‘The Real Housewives’ franchise might balk at the subject matter, and write the women off as entitled.
Clearly, you haven’t witnessed the tear-soaked goodbye/reunion between Teresa Giudice and her daughters, after she was carted off to/returned from prison for crimes her husband committed on The Real Housewives of New Jersey .
I’ll even concede how at first glance, watching rich people galavanting across the open ocean in ‘Below Deck’ might seem trivial.
That is until you also come to know the cast of seafarers, and hear their heartbreaking stories of the loss of loved ones and personal tragedies.
The point I’m driving at is that all reality TV shows, even the ones you write off at first glance, have many layers.
Watching Anthony Bourdain in Parts Unknown will help to educate you on the power of sharing a meal with a complete stranger , break down your insecurities, and inspire you to travel the world.
Crushing a series like ‘The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills’ will become like a security blanket over time.
One of the most daunting aspects of watching any new series is the understanding that it will come to an end. RHOBH has 12 seasons consisting of 250 45-minute-long episodes (and counting) — and that’s just one franchise.
Even a show with as simple a premise as ‘Is It Cake?’ will keep you guessing with delectable delight.
Attempting to turn off your brain isn’t always an easy task. Watching a team of bakers turn milk, flour, and butter into a cheeseburger before your eyes is a surprisingly cathartic experience.
These days, people get more than enough drama scrolling through their Instagram feeds.
I’m tired of people telling me it’s a “guilty pleasure.” Sometimes, it’s nice to watch something haphazardly and to not walkway feeling as if you’ve just suffered a panic attack. For all these reasons and more, that’s why I turn to reality TV.
