Binge watching shows can release 'feel-good' chemical in brain, doctor says

As long as there has been television, there have been couch potatoes, but with modern live streaming options, binge-watching entire seasons of popular shows can be done in one sitting.

There's a reason people will sit for hours to finish a season, though. Settling down to compress an entire series of shows all at once can actually provide people's brains with a feel-good high, says Cleveland Clinic psychologist Dr. Scott Bea.

"Our brain likes the chemical that's released," Bea said. "It's called dopamine. It's the feel-good chemical. Most pleasant activities release this brain chemical, and these streaming shows just can keep it alive."

Every day anxieties are often soothed by television shows, Bea said. They can help take people's minds off themselves.

However, Bea said binge watching can lead to feelings of depression and fatigue when it's all said and done. So, some people look for another comedy or drama series to binge-watch to get that good feeling back.

There may be no long-term harm in binge-watching, but Bea said doing it in moderation might be the best approach.

Bea's advice: If the activity gets in the way of physical and social activities and causes you to isolate yourself, take a break from the TV.

Bea recommends setting some limits before you pick up the remote.

"Say, 'I'm only going to watch this many episodes,' or, 'Hey, I'm going to stop halfway through this episode so that I don't reach the cliffhanger, but I'm interested in coming back to it at some point,'" Bea said.

Bea says people should be careful about how much they use TV or other entertainment to help them cope with stress, anxiety or depression. He recommends dealing with those issues directly.