New Study Finds 'Friends' Helps Fight Anxiety

In a new study by clinical psychologist Marc Hekster, viewers noticed their anxiety lessened when watching the fan-favorite series, Friends, as reported by MarieClaire. (As if we needed more incentive to binge.)

Not only did the show relieve anxiety as people watched it, but it also presented the characters "fixing" their own problems during each episode. Simply by watching Ross, Joey, Monica, Phoebe, Rachel and Chandler work through their own problems, viewers alleviated some of their personal problems in their minds.

Hekster credits the repetition of the show and the emphasis on relationships as a key factor in reducing anxiety. "Having worked for over a period of 20 years with those experiencing anxiety, I can conclude that among other factors, it is the repetitive and relational nature of programs such as Friends and Big Bang Theory that will be doing the trick," he told Metro. 

Hekster went on:

"Anxiety is, in fact, the human minds' alarm system, indicating that something is wrong, and usually the result of pent-up and unprocessed feelings. If they can't find a way of being expressed, the alarm system triggers, and it is usually not very pleasant for the person suffering with anxiety."

So it's really about escapism.

What a perfect excuse for a Friends marathon.