iStockphoto / SIphotography
Audio By Carbonatix
A new club has sprung up on the shores of Lake Michigan: Chicago’s Screaming Club. What started with a couple needing to release some bad energy has since morphed into a growing phenomenon.
The founders, Manny Hernandez and Elena Soboleva, have taken what was a cathartic exercise they came up with on the spot and turned into a healing ritual for hundreds every week. His story was recently featured by NBC Chicago as the Chicago Scream Club’s popularity has been rapidly growing.
According to Hernandez, it all began on the shore of Lake Michigan after a tough day. He and his partner needed a moment of release so he asked if she wanted to go scream into the lake.
Careful to not spook the people around them, he asked folks nearby if they wanted to join in. Naturally, they said ‘of course’ and everyone began screaming into the void over the waters of Lake Michigan.
Afterward, there was such a sense of elation that Manny Hernandez knew he was onto something and that it needed to become a regular outing.
The Chicago Scream Club Takes Off
Hernandez tells NBC Chicago is Scream Club can be broken down as “a bunch of people meet up at the lake and let go whatever stresses and anxieties and anger they’ve had throughout the week.”
Here it is in action:
Does screaming into the void work?
There is some science to support the idea that ‘Scream Therapy’ works. It is built on the idea that Catharsis, Emotional Release, activating the Vagus Nerve, and boosting endorphins all reduce stress levels. And all of that can be achieved through screaming.
The BBC Radio ran a story a while back on individuals who have underwent Scream Therapy and the results are pretty compelling.
As it relates to Chicago’s Screaming Club, Scream Therapy “can bring you a sense of community” according to their findings.
Dr. Rebecca Semmens-Wheeler told the BBC Radio “Screaming with other people could engender a sense of common humanity, which has been identified as a component of self-compassion.” Dr. Semmens-Wheeler added “This helps us to feel that we are not alone and recognizing this can lead to a sense of greater strength and ability to cope with challenges.”
This could explain, in some small part, why live sports is such an endorphin release for diehard fans who cheer at the top of their lungs.
A scream club near you…
While Chicago’s Screaming Club is the focus of the video above, the idea is taking off.
There is a subreddit, r/screaming, where people suggested the best cities for screaming. Those mentioned in the thread are Austin, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York, Houston, Orlando, Dallas, Tampa, Baltimore, and others.
So if you are not within a stone’s throw of Chicago on Lake Michigan, you can possibly still find a scream club of your own. In fact, I encourage each and every one of you to go out and start a screaming club yourself because why not? The world needs more weird!
Content shared from brobible.com.