Psychologist warns against watching too much true crime

A psychologist has revealed the dangers of watching too much true crime drama.

After a long day at work, there's no better way to relax then a wholesome home-cooked meal, kicking back on the sofa, snuggling down in your pjs and turning on the TV to delve into gruesome murders and the lives of spine-chilling serial killers.

It's hard not to get hooked and lured into the intricacies of twisting and turning cases, the dark minds of murderers and the anguish of detectives as they try to catch the killers.

But what is our obsession with such horrifying and toe-curling tales? And should we be worried about our mental health?

Psychologist Meredith Fuller has revealed when binge-watching can get too much and what you should do to stop falling down a rabbit hole and getting too consumed - and even influenced - by watching true crime drama.

Like anything, it's 'all in the balance,' she tells News.com.au.

Fuller explains: "There is an interest in understanding those human dichotomies and darkness in human nature, but we need to ask ourselves, has it taken over my life?

"It upsets the balance of giving you an insight into evil. It’s like that argument that it’s not good for young people to watch a lot of violence because it can encourage an inner violence within them."

Rather than having to peel the remote away from your hand and cancel your Netflix subscription completely, fear not, because Fuller does believe in 'moderation'.

"Ask yourself what purpose it serves and ask yourself if you’re still happy to look at other genres," she says. "If you’re not, you might think, hang on a minute, something is going on."

A particular red flag to look out for is whether you can stop thinking about the murders and tragedy once you've switched off your TV.

If it starts creeping into your consciousness or even subconsciousness and dreams - giving you 'disruptive nightmares' - then that's when you know you may have taken it too far and should probably switch over to something a bit more mindless like Love Island instead.

If you have found yourself watching a bit too many crime dramas and even watching it to relax before bed, it could be a sign the trauma feels familiar to you.

If this sounds like you, according to Dr Thema Bryant, it's another red flag and it's probably a good idea to speak to someone about how you're feeling.

If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone