Rotting or Healing: Why Reality TV is Good for You

Reality TV is for a niche audience. For some, it’s a guilty pleasure hidden in their “continue watching” section. For others, it’s a love that they take pride in by reposting TikToks publicly or referencing obscure one-liners that only people that watch would understand.

A lot of people think it’s just rotting your brain (other genres of TV isn’t, right?). But others consider it therapeutic and even nourishment for their brain. Some watch to put the drama in their own life in perspective.

Which leads us to why reality TV is so popular — because the people starring in it are the ones that are willing to have the worst of the worst in their lives televised. As a viewer, it can be comforting to look at your own problems and realize that you’re not alone and that maybe your problems aren’t so bad after all.

Here are some shows to delve into when you want to feel like your problems are a little smaller:

Keeping Up With The Kardashians: Season 15, Episode 12 – “The Betrayal”

In this episode, the family learns through the media that Tristan was unfaithful just days before Khloé gave birth to their daughter, True. The news breaks while Khloé is in Cleveland preparing for delivery and the episode focuses on her and her family’s reaction as they rally around her.

Going through a breakup big or small will always feel like the end of the world. You cry until you can’t breathe and swear off love until further notice. You never think you’re going to get through it in the moment. But you do. Just like Khloé. If Khloé can get cheated on on national television, find out hours before her daughter’s birth and still come out on top, so can you.

Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City

Arguably one of the best “Housewives” out of all the franchises. Though new, it has quickly become one of the most watched. The show is packed with friendship breakups, crash outs, addiction issues, arrests and everything in between.

Watching this show makes you question if you ever had problems to begin with. You see it all. With that, it can feel good to compare your tiny problems that may feel huge to their problems. Now yours don’t feel so large, do they?

Vanderpump Rules

Another Bravo classic, “Vanderpump Rules,” which started out as a show about struggling servers in their 20s chasing fame in Los Angeles, has turned into a pop culture phenomenon filled with the messiest breakups in TV history, makeups that are just as messy somehow and the kind of group gossip that will leave your jaw dropped.

Though a little insane, this show may be the most relatable. The entire cast is navigating their 20s without a clue in the world as to what they’re doing, just like everyone else. It can put into perspective that the early years of adulthood are insane and feel like the end of the world, but it’s not. You’ll figure it out just like the cast did — even if it’s the hard way most times — you’ll make it out.

What’s your favorite reality TV show? Let us know on Instagram @VALLEYMag!

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