When I’m having a hard time falling asleep, there’s one show that will, without fail, make me pass out on the couch: The Walking Dead. We’re talking mouth-open, limbs-akimbo, deep, wonderful, much-needed sleep. I could chalk it up to the zombies’ ASMR-like growling, clawing, and gurgling, but there are deeper reasons why a genre intended to get your heart racing has the opposite effect on me—and might for you, too.
I first tuned into The Walking Dead when I entered the workforce and was struggling to acclimate to adult responsibilities—a coworker was secretly assigning me his work while he applied to jobs, and I was apartment hunting in a new state, on an entry-level publishing salary. The stress that had taken root years earlier as a perfectionist navigating coursework and socializing bloomed into full-blown anxiety and panic attacks that threatened my well-being. Fortunately, that’s when I stumbled upon The Walking Dead.
Years before I ever sought therapy or listened to a self-help book, Rick Grimes, Daryl Dixon, Michonne, and crew were my role models for surviving anything. If this deeply wounded found family could master the apocalypse and live among un-dead “walkers,” surely I could find the strength to stand up for myself at work, find a new job, or sign a lease—all of which I eventually did.
My appetite for stories about everyday people overcoming incredible odds didn’t stop there. Even though I now opt for soothing Sleep Meditations when I’m struggling to catch some Zs, and I have developed healthy coping mechanisms through therapies such as CBT, I still find myself turning to survival entertainment for inspiration to get through a hard day. After finishing The Walking Dead, I sought out other avenues of relief, leading me to my all-time favorite survival subgenre: Nature survival. Listens such as Into The Wild, Life of Pi, and most recently A Marriage at Sea have gotten me through some of my toughest days.
Stories about intense survival situations—in which characters are jolted from their everyday lives and the enemy is the outside world; situations I’m unlikely to experience or be affected by myself—help me to cope with whatever issue is troubling me that day. The responsibilities that come with work, chores, family, and a social life pale in comparison to facing an immediate need to find food, water, shelter, and medical attention. Simply put, I have found immense mental and emotional relief in immersive scenarios where my problems wouldn’t be real problems anymore. Not to mention that experiencing danger—without actually being in danger—and seeing how characters persevere through every odd gives me a sense of hope and confidence that I can, too.
A point of clarification: There are many survival stories that I don’t seek comfort in. Stories about navigating abuse, assault, war, poverty, violence, or any harm caused by one sentient human being to another (unless, of course, they were about to turn into a zombie) are not survival stories I can relax to. But make the source of disaster a storm that’s overturned a ship, a bear looking for its next meal, or even a mutated virus that brings people back from the dead, and I’m ready to cozy up with a cup of tea, comforted by the knowledge that I can witness and learn from people overcoming danger without being in danger myself—and find community in the fact that we’re all at Mother Nature’s mercy, no matter how much we try to be in control. In other words, survival stories give me the permission I’m subconsciously seeking to feel validated in my stress, and the inspiration I need to push forward.
My favorite part of any successful survival story is the triumphant return to normalcy—with trauma, sure, but also a profound perspective on what matters most. By contrast, the hardest part of being a fan of this genre is, of course, when someone fails and pays the ultimate price. After all, I’m not a monster; I just enjoy stories about them.
Survival stories help me manage my anxiety
As long as I'm just listening, I find apocalyptic zombie tales and other life-or-death sagas to be oddly soothing.
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