Please note: I highly do not recommend this as the only way of treating an anxiety disorder. For mild anxiety, it can be an easy relief but if you are struggling to the degree as myself, I do recommend getting help. For more help in what anxiety is, when it's a problem and how to self-help yourself in other ways: please go here.If anybody wishes to talk or ask about my anxiety, you are more than welcome to leave comments below or to message me. Hey everyone, it's Lydia! I am back and returning with more of my long-ass articles, yay! Some of you may or may not know that, just recently, I have been suffering with a lot of anxiety problems over the last few months. Luckily, it is now calming down and I am seeking help for it. However, for a long time, I had nothing - no medication, no therapy - and I was in a constant state of panic attacks. What got me through this was a lot of Netflix and television. For me, TV and films have always been a form of escapism - a way for me to get lost in other people's adventures, relationships, even just their plain old lives. Although it doesn't get rid of the anxiety, it offers a way to distract it temporarily. For myself, I frequently used it as a way to occupy myself through panic attacks or I would listen to it through earphones as a way of shutting my brain down as I went to sleep. Thus, I have decided to share with you some of the shows that I found best to help me and distract me. I selected these shows on the fact that they are calm and, to put it bluntly, nothing big happens. By this I mean, nothing that will cause adrenaline or the fight or flight response - thus, making it easier to dull the anxiety. But this isn't to say that they also aren't interesting or fun to watch. Some of these, I started watching normally and then found they were good during panic attacks. Vice Versa, too. So, even if you don't suffer from anxiety, give this a read - you may still find your new favourite TV Show.
Thank you to Krystle for the stunning layout !! <33
(2000-2007 + a 2016 spin-off)
Episode Length: 44 mins Seasons: 7
Available: Netflix UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden +
Stars: Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Melissa McCarthy, Edward Herrman, Kelly Bishop,
Milo Ventimiglia, Jared Padalecki
Gilmore Girls is focused around Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham) and her daughter, Lorelai (Rory) Gilmore (Alexis Bledel). At age 16, Lorelai gave birth to Rory and ran away from her privileged upbringing to raise Rory the way she wanted, away from the pressures of having to marry Rory's father. With nothing, she ended up in small town, Stars Hollow. Gilmore Girls focuses on the duos life, 16 years later, with Lorelai planning to open her own Inn with best friend, Sooki (Melissa McCarthy), and Rory looking to enter a prestigious high school. The show highly romanticises small town life and shall have you pining to live in Stars Hollow,
with it's picturesque scenery and tight knit community.
Originally, my friends and my sister all wanted me to watch this but I only got around 20 minutes into the first episode before I gave up. Why? Nothing happened. At all. HOWEVER - when I went through a period of panic attacks, my friend suggested it to me again and I tried again. That was when I realised that the beauty in this show lies in the fact that nothing happens. I can see you're all extremely confused so let me break this down for you: when nothing happens, there's no triggers. It was completely mind numbing but still interesting enough to keep me mildly entertained, later resulting in binge watching 4 seasons (each with around 22 episodes at an hour long) within around a month and a half. I am currently on season 7 and now mainly save it for when I'm having a rough day.
BOYS X GIRLS NEXT DOOR (2012 - 2014)
BOYS AND GIRLS IN THE CITY (2015 - 2016)ALOHA STATE (2016 - 2017)Episode Length: 30 mins Seasons: 2 Series': 3 Available: NetflixNow, before we start, I wanna clear up something - this is NOT a J-Drama (my sister made that accusation when she first saw it). Terrace House is a Japanese Reality Show. They currently have three series': Boys x Girls Next Door, Boys and Girls in the City and Aloha State. The latter two made in partnership with Netflix and so, can be found on Netflix. I am focusing on Boys and Girls in the City, purely because I have yet to watch Aloha State. Terrace House throws together three guys and three girls into one house with a car and then watch what happens. That is literally it. Doesn't sound like much, right? WELL. They also have a group of studio commentators (typically comprised of popular Japanese celebrites such as You and Reina Triendl) who comment on EVERYTHING that these people do. The best part about this panel? They get as invested into the inhabitants as anyone ever obsessed with a television show shall recognise. They'll squeal and giggle and playfully mock the housemates as they all try to navigate their way through the house and its new relationships. The show is very calm but still filled with some 'drama' such as relationships. However, it is drama that is resolved in a mature way, allowing for real friendships to grow. As the show progresses, new people gradually join the house with the original members slowly leaving. The housemates are not forced to stay, they are allowed to leave as and when they choose. Each series is set in a different location. Boys and Girls in the City is set in central Tokyo. For me, this show is actually really interesting. I've always had an interest in Japan and it's culture, so I was drawn to Terrace House as it gives real insight into a daily Japanese day. I enjoy looking at the similarities and differences between their culture and my own. I was also drawn to it because of my past in studying Sociology. As I watched the series, I realised the show also gave insight into topics such as: what is allowed in Japanese media, the way women are represented etc. Things that I found inappropriate - and would be inappropriate in Western Media - to have been said were seen as completely fine/normal. Terrace House has been raved about by various Western websites, being described as "genuinely likable people engaging in day-to-day interactions so soothing and evenly paced". This is what makes the show so perfect for anybody struggling with anxiety. I honestly urge you to check out the show. It's so difficult to explain because, although it's so mundane, it's so hard to stop watching ! You can relate to these people and find relaxation in getting to know them. Because I'm so terrible at explaining this show, HERE you can find a trailer to the show !
(2013 - Present)
Episode Length: 30 mins Seasons: 5 (so far) Available: Fox (America), E4 (UK), Netflix
Stars: Andy Samberg, Stephanie Beatriz, Melissa Fumero, Terry Crews, Joe Lo Truglio, Chelsea Peretti, Andre Braugher
Yes, I am going to include two American comedies on this - you're gonna love 'em ! Brooklyn Nine-Nine is an American police sitcom that revolves around talented but childish Detective, Jake Peralta, (Andy Samberg) who butts heads with his new commanding officer, Captain Ray Holt
(Andre Braugher), in the 99th Precinct of the New York City Police Department.
Throughout, chaos and hilarious antics ensue along with many recurring jokes. There is even a little romance in there for you hopeless romantics (aka me) between the "Will they? Won't they?" relationship of Jake and his Police Partner, Detective Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero).
(I really need to work on my explanations of shows - I'm terrible at this) Brooklyn Nine-Nine is the show on this list that I fell in love with first. It is easily the one closest to me and always there to get me through the tough times. That and the fact that Andy Samberg is just very very good looking (we were all thinking it, don't lie to me) *wink wink*. However, I can only comment on the show up to the end of Season 3 (the UK is terribly behind and it makes me sad. I need to know what happens !!). The characters are all rather 3D to me, which can be rare in comedies - where characters are often locked into one specific quirk (the sarcastic one, the humourous one, etc.). I mean, don't get me wrong, there is a quirk in all the characters (Jake and his immaturity, Amy as the workaholic ...) but they develop throughout. You learn why Jake is childish - yet very mature and serious in other matters. The relationship between Jake and Amy highlights why it would work
and why they need each other. All of this and it is just hilarious. Especially Terry Crews
- honestly, just watch it for Terry Crews.
(2016 - Present)
Episode Length: 30 mins Seasons: 2 (so far)
Available: NBC (America), Netflix (Most Countries)
Stars: Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, D'Arcy Carden, Manny Jacinto
I'm about to set the scene for this show. I found this show about a week ago (at the time of writing this article) - and I binged it in about 2 days. I absolutely love it. I was a little weary about the first episode but halfway through episode two, I was sold! 'The Good Place' is an American comedy show that has recently received positive reviews with many celebrating the: performances, writing, setting, tone and the first season's finale. In the show, we meet Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), a recently deceased woman who wakes up in a newly built neighbourhood of The Good Place, essentially where good people go when they die, almost like a Heaven but minus God and religion.
However, Eleanor realises that she doesn't belong in The Good Place - the only thing they have correct about her is her name and so, because of this, must hide who she really is - and was - in order to stay undetected OR risk being sent down to The Bad Place, where she really belongs. Along the way, she enlists the help of Chidi (William Jackson Harper), a Professor of Ethics who was initially supposed to be Eleanor's 'soulmate' in the The Good Place.
Again, my terrible explanation does no justice to this show. For me, this show is hilarious. I absolutely adore the shenanigans that the characters get up to and I love that the show also provides flashbacks to the characters lives, allowing us to find out things like: how bad/good they really were, how they died, etc. In terms of Eleanor, especially, this is one big show of character and relationship development, which is rare to find in TV Shows at times - let alone a show dedicated to it.
Also, as I mentioned previously, the show has been highly praised for it's season finale which reveals a big twist. It floored me. It took me a good five minutes to realise what had actually happened. It's just amazing and you should watch it. Even if you watch it just to hear Kristen Bell saying words such as 'fork', 'motherforker' or 'shirt' in order to replace our beloved blasphemy (because, of course, there's no swearing in The Good Place). Or, if you watch it just to watch the hilarity of Janet (D'Arcy Carden), an AI database that can be found in every Good Place neighbourhood. Trust me, you'll be laughing so hard, you'll be like "Anxiety who?" - and if not? There's plenty more episodes to watch !
❤
Thank you for reading this article !
Whether you use them as a distraction or simply find some new amazing TV Shows to binge watch, I hope I helped in some ways !
Also, if my explanations were as horrific as I thought, Google is your new best friend !
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