Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Can You Die From Fright?


Have you ever seen the movie The Ring? That is one scary movie... My husband and I rented it one night and decided to watch it after the kids went to bed.... Right after we started watching - my oldest daughter (she was 8 maybe 9) was convinced that she was worldly and mature enough to watch this movie with us.... We told her "no way" and then the whining starts and the "I'm a big girl" starts.. and the " Plllllleeeeeeeeeessssssssssseeeeee" that won't stop.... So my wise husband decides to teach her a lesson and allowed her to watch it with us.... The first scary scene (10 minutes into the movie) - my kid starts crying.... freaking out, really..... and runs out of the room....

That memory made me wonder - can people die from being "scared to death"? We all have said the phrase - "you scared me to death or that scared me to death" especially us mothers... My kids scare me to death practically everyday and I'm not kidding!

Recently ABC News did a study on this very question and they discovered - yes... A person can be scared to death... When a person is scared by an earthquake, a near miss car accident, or any other sudden adrenaline inducing experience they can die.... it's like a drug overdose of adrenaline. In most people the adrenaline goes away and their heart beat starts to slow down and they are fine.. a little shaken up - but fine and others ( a very very small percentage) their heart is so completely shocked by the adrenaline rush it that it literally stops.....

To reduce the possibility of dying from fright the experts say to be prepared - know what to do in an earthquake, car accident, and whatever thing that can cause fear... People who feel that they have some control over a situation are less likely to die of fright...

I thought this study was interesting....... and regarding my daughter - she still remembers that scene in the movie and my wise husband wasn't too happy that she slept with us that night.... she was too afraid to sleep on her own....

Below is a scary scene from The Ring..


10 comments:

  1. That movie was very scary. Since then, I have gotten so terrified of horror movies, I don't watch them at all. Seems that I am seriously scared to death. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. When I was a teenager, I used to love going with my friends to see a horror movie. But, ever since I had kids, I have a really hard time watching them. I am not quite sure why. The zombie movies really scare me the most. I hate zombies!

    ReplyDelete
  3. That is too funny.

    Thanks for stopping by...just became your follower.

    I NEVER watch scary movies. I used to with my parents when I was younger, but the music on Perry Mason scares me so bad that I just don't even attempt it any more. I am a wimp. So, my daughter hounded me for years to watch scary stuff because she loves it and watches stuff with friends when I am not around. I said "No No NO No NOOOOOO".

    During one of my weaker insane moments, she convinced me to rent The Ring. I kept covering my eyes through so many parts BUT...I SAW THE GIRL COME OUT OF THE TV AND THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE! Now, I am doomed for life!!! When I am in a room by myself and the TV is off, sometimes I get so scared I have to leave the room. Usually, I go find Alyssa and all she does is laugh and says that I am the nerdiest mom she has ever known.

    She may not realize it, but my nerd gene is in her somewhere lying dormant and it WILL pop out eventually.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The Ring freaked me out for a loooong time. The Others w/Nicole Kidman, also creepy, scary.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I hate scary movies, I am a scardy cat so I don't watch them. Now i can have a better reason, I don't want to die from being scared! I had no idea you could actually die from being scared, interesting

    ReplyDelete
  6. I haven't seen the movie, but I know some kids get scared more easily than others. My daughter was always the scaredy cat in our family.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I haven't seen the movie myself, but it sounds like something my teen daughter would watch with one of her friends.
    I had to laugh about your frustrations with your teenage daughter. I thought at one time I was the only one having to deal with that. I am so happy that I found out (in bloggy land) that I am not alone!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I bet someone could die from watching a scary movie. I know I've had the living HELL scared out of me. I just can't do scary movies anymore since Friday the 13th. Yes, it's been that long!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you so much for the sweet message...it's great knowing you too!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sorry for the second comment. I promise I am not stalking you :-)

    I received a blog award and I have been asked to pass it on. So I would like to pass it on to you! If you get a chance, please stop by and claim it.

    Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete

LinkWithin

Related Posts Widget for Blogs by LinkWithin