Movies That Could Help Cope With Anxiety

Yes, I've watched this movie, Bradley Cooper plays a man with bipolar disorder and Jennifer Lawrence was suffering from depression. I really liked it because the portrayal was honest, nuanced, and still positive.

Likewise. I’m a certified film addict, and I’ve come to think that’s partly due to constant anxiety.

I also love this movie, that's next on my list

For me, a movie filled with music and dancing cheers me up and gets me in a much better mood. try watching Singin’ In the Rain and The Sound of Music

My favorite mini series for dealing with anxiety, depression and paranoia was Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. It helped me get through some of my lowest times.

That's a great suggestion, I also love The Sound of Music and will give Singin' In The Rain a try.

In my little world, a good comedy usually sets my mind right. But not a Will Ferrell vehicle, for that would push over the edge.

Depends. Definitely musicals help for me because of the (in general) uplifting music. Mamma Mia! is a nice fun 'silly' film. Or a genre films- i.e. a generic romcom where you know what you're going to get. I find that for coping with anxiety it's good to have a predictable film because it provides a certainty and control you might not have in life at the moment.

In most cases I would gravitate towards something not set in the modern day country you live in because it just invites comparison with real life. So not necessarily a 'fantasy' film but set in a different time and/or country.

Totally agree that comfort movies can act like a reset button for your brain, something familiar, maybe a bit predictable, where you know nothing truly bad is going to happen. For me, it's older romcoms or cozy dramas set in small towns or the countryside. They don't ask much of you, and somehow that quiet, gentle pacing just helps when your mind's racing nonstop.

Alongside that, I've been exploring other ways to manage anxiety, especially when it starts creeping into sleep or appetite. One route that's actually gotten some proper structure in the UK is medical cannabis. There's a clinic called Releaf, where doctors can prescribe tailored cannabis for anxiety treatments based on your symptoms. It's fully legal, medical-grade, and handled through real consultations, not some random internet buy.

For anyone juggling the heavier stuff underneath the movie nights, it might be worth checking out.

Obviously Uncut Gems. ;-)

Seriously, I'm not sure a film can help with an actual anxiety disorder. There's no way you could focus on it when having an episode.

If we just want relaxing movies, I'd recommend anything by Merchant Ivory, especially Room With a View, Howard's End, or Remains of the Day. You just get placed in these rich worlds with beautiful music and scenery with what are mostly minor problems and challenges for the characters.

I'm not good at answering this. For me it's stuff that I enjoy except the anxiety, and even depression, come back after the movie ends, although I appreciate sometimes the film(s) stave off negative feelings for some time. Films that help are Good Bad Weird, Good Bad Ugly, the original Star Wars trilogy, Stray Dog, Bad Sleep Well, High and Low, Seven Samurai, really any Kurosawa film I enjoy, Psycho, North by Northwest, Suspicion, really any Hitchcock film I enjoy, any of my favorite Abbott and Costello vehicles, anything from Monty Python, my favorite Marx Brothers' films (especially Duck Soup), Big Fish, and the Godzilla films I like.

I know that isn't helpful. The point is that helping anxiety is hard, especially when I don't know the person's movie tastes. Feeling good isn't solved universally. One thing that seems to really help is exercise. Get the blood flowing. It can be as easy as just walking half a mile from your house, and then head back. Maybe walk to a restaurant and order an ice cream or some other dessert or buy a book or movie or video game or something. Walk to the library and look for a book to check out. That can be helpful. Walk to a book store and strike up a conversation with an employee and see if she can recommend a book to buy. Trust me; book store employees love to discuss books. Go to a specialized store, like I'd go to a hobby game store, and see about joining a group of like-minded people. Go for a bike ride whilst listening to your favorite bands and musical artists. Go to a park on a sunny day and enjoy sitting in the sun-drenched grass. Go to a batting cage with a pitching machine and bat a few balls, or rather strikes. That could be fun. Bowl a few games at the bowling alley. Play a board or card or video game with your friends. That could be fun, and the fact you're spending time with your friends helps anxiety go away tremendously. Design an obstacle course in your backyard and time yourself and see how well you do. Knock on everyone's front door in your neighborhood and ask to donate to the cause of justice by way of sugary beverages. Throw water balloons at passing cars. Play in traffic. Make voice-overs for random shows. See? Plenty of ways to combat anxiety.

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Films can help someone feel better temporarily but they won't solve an actual problem. Having an anxiety disorder is not solved by watching films. It takes actual treatment. I take a couple of meds for anxiety and am involved in treatment for it. It's nothing extreme. Don't worry; I'm doing fine. I just need frequent assistance.

Just rewatched this movie last night. Gets better every time I watch it.

As you say, exercise is the best thing to ward off depression & anxiety or at least cope with it. Get those endorphins going & seratonin & you will feel you’ve accomplished something when you’re outdoors. Or indoors with a Peloton works too.

One guy I knew was always talking about exercise, but never doing anything. I suggested he go to his front door & set iPhone alarm for 30 minutes. Close the door & start walking, doesn’t matter where. Just get going. When the alarm goes off turn around & walk home. Voilá, an hour of walking done. Easy.

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My friend says when he's upset he likes to don the headphones, turn on the music, and walk a couple of miles, and it really helps him. I know when I walk it helps me mellow out. It's kind of hard though when I have a hip injury...

Not sure any specific film acting as a salve in the moment... i know it wouldn't work for me. T.V. shows do help me. I'll play them in the background and get used to the same old voices and even repeat episodes, so i only really pay attention here or there but it seems to help.

> I take a couple of meds for anxiety and am involved in treatment for it. It's nothing extreme

I hear you. My Mom has a full-blown anxiety disorder. At her worst, her episodes would have her walking back and forth and repeating phrases exactly like those stereotypical mad people you see in movies...it'd turn her into a different person entirely, unable to focus on anything at all since there were a hundred ideas flashing through her head at once. Got pretty ugly at times and it took a lot to get her to go to a doctor. All she needed was the proper amount of meds to get her head straight (didn't even get that many sessions) and she's never had an episode that bad since. It's sad because sometimes a few pills are all someone needs to feel better and it took over a year of coaxing to get her to get help because the stigma against meds made her terrified of them.

Yeah it can be rough. I'm glad she's doing better. It took me a while to get the help I needed. I'm glad I got it though. Suffering through mental health issues is not enjoyable. It is nice to have a support system help you through them.

Interesting conversation with honest, thoughtful perspectives. I don't have anxiety but I imagine if I did I would feel better already