A highly unconventional form of stress relief has moved rapidly from a viral social media stunt to an international lifestyle trend: the rise of the "Scream Club."

Across major cities, people overwhelmed by the pressures of modern life are meeting in public parks, riverfronts, and hillsides to participate in group screaming sessions, creating what many participants call a safe space for catharsis and community.

A Collective Release for a Stressed-Out World

The phenomenon began in Chicago and quickly inspired offshoots in cities including London, Austin, and the Twin Cities. For many, the free-to-attend gatherings are a symbolic way to "release pent-up energy" from work, financial strain, or the constant hum of digital life.

Organizers emphasize that the most valuable part is not the scream itself, but the human connection it fosters. Participants report feeling refreshed, less isolated, and find a sense of camaraderie that is often lacking in large, lonely metropolitan areas.

Psychologists suggest that screaming can provide a temporary form of somatic release, activating the sympathetic nervous system before a calming "reset."

However, they caution that the clubs are a supplement, not a replacement, for professional mental health therapy.

While the trend is lighthearted, experts say its growing popularity is a clear reflection of the mounting mental health challenges, economic anxiety, and long waiting lists for therapy in many parts of the world.

By turning a normally taboo expression of rage into a shared, non-judgmental community activity, the scream clubs are giving a loud voice to emotions many feel conditioned to suppress.