Can a Group Scream Help With Stress?

The Trend: Work deadlines, news headlines, packed schedules, sky-high grocery bills — it can be enough to make you want to scream. Well, what if you actually could? Screaming as a stress reliever isn’t new, but screaming in a social setting as a form of collective therapy has become more popular recently. Scream Clubs, where people gather outdoors for breath work, intention-setting — and, yes, screaming — are popping up from Chicago to London.

What People Are Saying: Created by psychologist Arthur Janov in the 1960s, Primal Scream Therapy (PST) is based on the premise that our bodies store pent-up childhood traumas that need to be released. Some argue screaming may be able to reset our overtaxed nervous systems and move us out of “fight or flight” mode. Other experts say screaming out of anger and stress — which is why most of us probably do it — can actually push us into that heightened state. 

What to Know: Experts say there’s no solid evidence PST has long-term benefits. But when yoga or meditation just won’t cut it, scream clubs might be able to offer more than just a loud yell: social connection, time in nature, and a momentary “I needed that” release.