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Media Mention • Only My Health • 2026-06-04

Your Brain Can't Tell It's Fiction — Neha Cadabam on Screen Content & Sleep

Only My Health feature with Neha Cadabam on how late-night horror and crime content keeps the nervous system on alert and disrupts sleep
Neha Cadabam, Senior Psychologist and Executive Director at Cadabam's Hospitals, explains why the brain responds to on-screen horror and crime as real danger — keeping the nervous system on alert and disrupting sleep — as featured in Only My Health.

Neha Cadabam, Senior Psychologist and Executive Director at Cadabam's Hospitals, was the featured expert in an Only My Health article exploring the neurological impact of late-night horror and crime content consumption.

The feature unpacks a counterintuitive truth: even when we know something is fictional, the brain's emotional processing centres respond to on-screen fear and danger as genuine threats. Stress hormones activate. The nervous system stays on alert. Restful sleep becomes harder to achieve.

As sleep disorders and anxiety continue to rise, this feature highlights why the emotional tone of our screen habits deserves as much attention as screen time itself.

At Cadabam's Hospitals, our team offers integrated mental health support for individuals experiencing sleep disturbances, anxiety, and heightened stress. If you or someone you know is struggling with restless nights or a nervous system that never quite switches off, our team is here to help.

Read the full story on Only My Health

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