• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Psychologist warns it’s a major red flag if you relax by enjoying true crime stories

Home> Entertainment

Published 19:44 7 Sep 2023 GMT+1

Psychologist warns it’s a major red flag if you relax by enjoying true crime stories

Fans of Netflix's Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story won't be happy

Anish Vij

Anish Vij

Featured Image Credit: Netflix

Topics: True Crime, Documentaries, TV and Film

Anish Vij
Anish Vij

Anish is a Journalist at LADbible Group and is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2025. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

X

@Anish_Vij

Advert

Advert

Advert

Sorry if you're offended by the headline... not sorry if you are a low-key psychopath.

If after a long day of work, you get home, stick the kettle on, put your feet up, and wack on a true crime doc to unwind, you are a serious red flag - according to a mental health expert.

That's right, a psychologist has warned that it’s a major red flag if you relax by enjoying true crime stories.

Mental health specialist Dr Thema Bryant featured as a guest on the The Mel Robbins Podcast to chat about how people can reconnect and heal themselves after experiencing hardship.

During the episode Dr Bryant revealed those who consume violent media may do so for a very specific reason.

Advert

Netflix's Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.
Netflix

She said: “If your idea of relaxing before you go to sleep is to watch three episodes of Law and Order, [then] I would encourage you to think about 'why is trauma relaxing to me'?"

So, if this sounds like you, then you may be in need of some pretty serious counselling.

Dr Bryant continued: "Some of us grew up in high stress [situations], so people mistake peace for boring. To come home to yourself you have to lean into the discomfort because it’s gonna feel unfamiliar."

And, well, her statements struck quite a chord with listeners on social media.

Advert

One user said: "It distracts me from the pain I’m feeling in my life. I don’t like it, it just redirects my anger."

A second added: "The trauma isn't relaxing to me - it's the justice the characters or real people often get that I never did in my own life."

A third chipped in with: "Damn. This really hits home. I used to watch so much chaos on TV, but after working hard on myself for the past two years I just can't anymore."

Another quipped: "Constantly feeding your subconscious mind graphic content DOES affect your mood and mindset. it’s impossible to heal that way."

Professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice Dr Elizabeth Jeglic explained to Crime Reads why trauma survivors may find true crime tales interesting.

"Anecdotally, some people are drawn to the study of psychology to understand themselves and heal themselves," the clinical psychologist said.

Advert

"We have many people in psychology programs who have a history of active mental illness.

"Similarly, I think it might be likely that people who have a history of trauma might be drawn to true crime to kind of re-experience those traumatic situations in a safe environment where they have more control."

So, if you can't sleep without bingeing on a few episodes of Law & Order, maybe it's time you did some soul-searching... for your sake, at least.

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
12 hours ago
14 hours ago
16 hours ago
  • 9 hours ago

    Oasis issue critical warning to everyone attending Manchester concerts

    The Gallagher brothers play their first homecoming gig at Heaton Park on Friday night

    Entertainment
  • 12 hours ago

    Every Scrubs actor who has died as reboot confirmed after 15 years

    The show is returning after 15 years, however some actors involved in the show have tragically died

    Entertainment
  • 14 hours ago

    Superman fans make iconic discovery after former actor brands new film 'woke'

    The most woke thing of all: Arguably the most famously American character of all time

    Entertainment
  • 16 hours ago

    Netflix viewers are being left constantly guessing by mystery mini-series you can watch in one sitting

    The Netflix series is a great binge with a bonkers plot twist

    Entertainment
  • Viewers Calling Netflix's Latest True Crime Documentary The Most Horrifying They've Ever Seen
  • Millions of people in UK to get free true crime and horror channels today
  • Is The Good Nurse based on a true story?
  • Timothy Spall praised for 'performance of life time' in BBC true crime drama that airs again tonight