Participants in The Screaming Collective gather for a communal scream in Houston.
Ana Khan/Houston Chronicle
Sometimes, you just need to scream.
That’s the idea behind The Screaming Collective, a new Houston gathering where participants come together for intentional group screams.
Organizer Xa Carter created the collective as a communal space for people to release built-up emotions and connect with others.
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“We got tired of screaming alone in our cars, so we built something better,” Carter said.
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What happens at a communal scream?
Participants write what they want to release on an intention board before The Screaming Collective’s communal scream gathering in Houston.
Ana Khan/Houston Chronicle
The experience involves more than simply showing up and yelling.
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The gathering starts with breathing exercises followed by three rounds of intentional screaming. Attendees can also write what they want to release or express on an intention board. Water, cough drops and snack packs were provided at the first gathering.
Attendance is free, with donations accepted through Venmo or Cash App. Participants are encouraged to bring water and can bring a pillow to scream into or earplugs, though both are optional.
Afrika Humble and David Garcia had been looking forward to the gathering since it was announced on Instagram. Humble said she arrived feeling tense but felt calmer after screaming.
Garcia, who recently got engaged, used the intention board to focus on something positive rather than something he wanted to release.
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“I was able to positively scream, you know, let that excitement out,” Garcia said.
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Communal scream groups are popping up across the country
Participants of The Screaming Collective gather after the group’s first communal scream event in Houston.
Ana Khan/Houston Chronicle
Houston isn’t the only city where people are gathering to scream.
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Similar groups have formed in Chicago, Austin and Seattle, each offering their own version of the experience.
What’s next for The Screaming Collective?
Xa Carter, organizer of The Screaming Collective, prepares for a communal scream gathering in Houston.
Ana Khan/Houston Chronicle
“We are hoping to work with other local organizations and businesses to continue growing the Screaming Collective,” Carter said.
Angela St. Julien, founder of Yes Mediate, LLC, and a sponsor of the first gathering, said she supports the collective as a space for people to release built-up emotions and cope with mental health challenges. St. Julian also participated, using the scream to release grief she was carrying.
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The Screaming Collective currently gathers once a month, but Carter hopes to offer more opportunities to scream throughout the month. Participants must register in advance to receive the location of each event. Updates and information about upcoming gatherings are posted on the collective’s Instagram page.