Scream Day
Self care is important, but it doesn’t always mean good-smelling candles, bubble baths, and meditation. Sometimes you just need the catharsis of a good scream.
Position stress-relief products and wellness services as cathartic alternatives to traditional self-care, tapping into the growing mental-health conversation around emotional release.
- Scream therapy vs. meditation: which stress-relief method works for you?
- Playlist for primal screaming: rock, punk, and metal tracks that fuel emotional release
- Wellness brands celebrate Scream Day with soundproof spaces and stress-relief challenges
- The science of screaming: how one minute of catharsis can boost your mental health
For over 2000 years Eastern Medicine has enjoyed and promoted the health benefits of the scream. Dr. Lu, who is a master of Chinese Medicine, states that screaming helps with Liver Chi stagnation.
Primal Screaming has a long history too. Developed by Arthur Yanov in the 1960s, the primal scream was designed to help people release all of the tension and pent up emotions in a long, loud scream. The scream unlocks feelings deep down inside and allows them to be released, offering a sense of relief.
Currently there isn’t much of a history of Scream Day, because the day is fairly new. But in a few years, that might change! Each year there seems to be a lot of pressure on people, and from time to time, it is nice to let it all out.
Practice Screaming on Scream Day
As the name suggests, the most common way to celebrate Scream Day is to find a safe space and just let it all go. However, it is important to do this someplace where it is possible to safely make a noise, like the shower or the car or into a pillow. And be careful that it’s done in a way that doesn’t disturb other people. A great example is driving to a safe car park and taking a deep breath to blast out the biggest scream. This type of release may even give a person a release of endorphins which are positive chemicals in the brain that allow for a feeling of strength and a natural “high”. But what about those people who don’t have a car and can’t drive somewhere to scream? Don’t worry. The great news is that it is possible to practice that therapeutic scream just about anywhere.
Scream into a Pillow
It has been long said that screaming into a pillow is a great way to relieve stress and anger. Why use a pillow? The pillow dampens the noise, which is useful for people who are at home with family members or where other people can hear, so they won’t be worried by the sudden outburst.
Scream Along with Music
Find some music with shouty lyrics and join in. Certain types of music actually lend themselves to screaming along with them, including rock, punk and metal, which are more recent genres. However, in the longer history of music, screaming may go way back as far as the Nordic Vikings. Although this might not be as relaxing and as loud as a long, loud scream into a pillow or in the car, it can help a person get started and relieve a lot of stress pretty quickly. To get started, try out some of these rock tracks that have long screaming or wailing lines: With a Little Help From My Friendsby Joe CockerPiece of My Heart by Big Brother & the Holding CompanyDream Onby AerosmithImmigrant Song by Led Zeppelin Or maybe there is another song in mind that would be perfect for having a screamy sing along to and start driving that stress down.
Watch a Movie with Screaming
Of course, the horror movie genre had a lot to do with perfecting the use of on-screen screaming. And watching such films might be a great way to celebrate Scream Day and join in whenever it feels needed. Get started with some of these movies that offer great cause for screaming: Rosemary’s Baby (1968). This classic creeper was Roman Polanski’s first American film and it reveals the paranoia of a young couple as they move into a new neighborhood. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). The slasher film that started much of the new movement features the classic character Freddie Kreuger who stalks his victims in their dreams. Hush (2016). Partially based on real events, this slasher movie follows a blind and deaf woman who moves to a house in the woods looking for solitude to write her next novel. What Lies Beneath (2000). More of a supernatural thriller, this one stars Michelle Pfeiffer whose character feels a spirit in her house is trying to contact her–even though her husband believes she is simply having a nervous breakdown. Scream Day Timeline1892Edvard Munch paints The ScreamDuring a walk in the city, Norwegian painter Munch is inspired by a scene with a sunset where the sky turned red.[1]1951The Wilhelm Scream originatesThis famous screaming sound effect is named after a character called Wilhelm in The Charge at Feather River. It will come to be used in more than 400 films, including Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Toy Story.[1]1960Famous scream in PsychoThis film by Alfred Hitchcock, featuring Janet Leigh’s original screaming in the shower, will eventually become a classic horror movie.[1]1970Book, The Primal Scream, is released Written by American psychologist Dr. Arthur Janov, this book provides a look at the alternative Primal Therapy which channeled many Freudian ideas.[1]1996Scream hits movie theaters The beginning of this meta horror slasher franchise, Scream becomes the highest grossing horror film in the world for more than 20 years.[1]
Edvard Munch paints The Scream
During a walk in the city, Norwegian painter Munch is inspired by a scene with a sunset where the sky turned red. [1]
The Wilhelm Scream originates
This famous screaming sound effect is named after a character called Wilhelm in The Charge at Feather River. It will come to be used in more than 400 films, including Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Toy Story. [1]
Famous scream in Psycho
This film by Alfred Hitchcock, featuring Janet Leigh’s original screaming in the shower, will eventually become a classic horror movie. [1]
Book, The Primal Scream, is released
Written by American psychologist Dr. Arthur Janov, this book provides a look at the alternative Primal Therapy which channeled many Freudian ideas. [1]
Scream hits movie theaters
The beginning of this meta horror slasher franchise, Scream becomes the highest grossing horror film in the world for more than 20 years. [1]