Becoming obsessed with paranormal centric YouTube videos

As ghost hunters walk towards the dark and long haunted destination, my heart begins to race and my mind begins to panic. Although we are not sure whether they would catch an apparition or not, the anticipation is still there. These ghost hunters try to prove whether or not the paranormal is real. Then, they would go to historically horrific places just to prove them. And, of course, I am starting to become obsessed. 

I’ve never liked horror materials. But, here are a few of my favorites from scary paranormal centric YouTube channels:

Sam and Colby

I was scrolling through the YouTube rabbit hole when I saw Sam and Colby’s video about the Crescent Hotel. It features two of my favorite TikTok creators, Kris Collins and Celina Myers. The fact that Kris made a reaction video about it made me feel so intrigued. So, I watched Sam and Colby’s video.

And, it just started from there. I began binge-watching their entire channel – whether their joint ones or their personal ones. I watched every spooky and creepy video they had. And, enjoyed it. It was a surprise even for me, to even voluntarily start watching these kinds of content.

Mackie and Amanda

Then, when I saw them collaborate with Mackie and Amanda, I went to their channel and watched them. The two young women had personal experiences when it comes to the paranormal. They met through TikTok, having shared each other’s experiences through the platform.

They decided to make a joint channel where they would go to haunted places together. And, from what I have watched so far, Mackie has sensitive ears that allow her to hear light taps and knocks among others. Amanda, on the other hand, has a very special ability.

Amanda is a psychic. She communicates with the spirits of the dead. She has been able to do so since she was a kid. Aside from that, she can listen and relay messages from spirits using automatic writing or doodling. Mackie can hear physical sounds made by ghosts while Amanda hears them. That’s what makes their duo so interesting to watch. 

OVERNIGHT

TFIL is a group of friends traveling around the world in search of once-in-a-lifetime experiences and doing their best to help those in need along the way. Together, they created a new YouTube channel that revolves around creating content in the paranormal realm, OVERNIGHT. They created the channel to fully dedicate it to all things that live in the night. 

Due to my interest in which ghosts they could find in the Cecil Hotel, I watched their four-part series about the place itself. They contacted the ghosts of Elisa Lam who was last seen on the CCTV of an elevator in the hotel itself. They also made contact with Richard Ramirez, dubbed the Night Stalker, who killed people during his stay at the said hotel. 

So, why have I started enjoying these paranormal centric YouTube videos?

Although I feel scared watching these videos, I feel safe in the comfort of my own home. But, I began to wonder why people like this sort of stuff. Like, what gives? Why do so many of us go out of our way and consume frightening entertainment? 

Experts say that the brain doesn’t always distinguish between fantasy and reality completely effectively. It’s like when someone is describing biting into a lemon. Your salivary glands will activate and you will actually feel the sourness seeping into your tongue. 

The same thing can happen when watching horror movies.

The brain forgets that what you’re watching isn’t a real danger. Then, it charges up the physiological response that would remain appropriate if it were. So, your body goes into a fight-or-flight mode, flooding with adrenaline and euphoria-inducing brain chemicals like endorphins and dopamine. 

Much like I described earlier, I feel scared when watching Sam and Colby investigate haunted places. At the same time, I feel safe in my own home. I feel a rush of adrenaline from watching these scary videos. However, I know I’m not in actual danger when I’m watching.

Experts say that seeing scary things in a controlled environment and that’s something we all crave. It’s like when a toddler learns to walk.

They run away from their parent before getting to a certain point where it’s a little scary. Then, they would run back. It’s about playing with danger but with a sense of security.

Despite the absence of any real threat, many people still feel a sense of accomplishment when they finish a horror movie or a series of scary videos. It’s dealing with something that was outside of my comfort zone and it makes me feel like I conquered it. It gives me confidence.