The Chicago Scream Club
Discover how a weekly sunset ritual on Lake Michigan evolved into a global wellness movement, offering a powerful, communal release from the pressures of modern life.
Explore the PhenomenonThe Experience
This section provides a comprehensive analysis of the Chicago Scream Club, examining its core ritual, the powerful testimonials of its participants, and its rapid evolution from a personal practice into a viral, global movement. The analysis moves beyond a surface-level description to explore the specific elements that contribute to its profound emotional impact and widespread appeal.
The Ritual of Release
Gather
Participants convene at 7 PM at the North Avenue Beach Pier, gathering at a "little fork in the road" before walking out together, creating a sense of shared purpose.
Intention
On biodegradable, eco-friendly paper, each person writes down whatever they are "holding onto"—stress, grief, or frustration—and wish to "let go of".
Release
The papers are tossed into Lake Michigan, a powerful metaphor that externalizes internal burdens by casting them into a cleansing, seemingly infinite void.
Grounding
A certified breath-work coach leads a series of grounding breathing exercises, preparing the mind and body for the main event.
Scream
After a countdown, the group lets out a series of three intentional, collective screams, punctuated by moments of shared breath.
Voices from the Pier
"We needed this."
- The most common refrain from participants.
The Chicago Scream Club was born from a moment of personal need. Co-founders Manny Hernandez and Elena Soboleva were walking by the lake after a particularly "rough week" when Hernandez suggested they scream into the lake. What began as a personal ritual quickly resonated with others, revealing a deep, unmet need for a "safe place to let it out" in a society that often encourages people to "stay quiet, hold it together, and pretend we're fine".
A central element of the club's success is the power of the group itself. The collective nature of the event grants a crucial form of social "permission" to be vulnerable. This shared experience fosters a profound sense of validation and community, helping individuals realize, "you're not the only one carrying heavy things, and you don't have to carry them alone".
"It’s an outlet where I can get it out of my system. It made me feel happy at the end of it. The collective nature grants a crucial form of social 'permission' to be vulnerable... to realize you're not the only one carrying heavy things."
- Alexaner Ruvalcaba, Participant
From Personal Ritual to Viral Movement
The club's growth trajectory has been nothing short of explosive, evolving from a private act into a weekly gathering that draws crowds of over 200 people. This rapid expansion was fueled almost entirely by social media. The founders created Instagram and TikTok accounts (@screamclubchi), and their visually compelling content—capturing raw emotion against the stunning Chicago lakefront—quickly went viral, attracting the attention of local news outlets and a global audience.
Weekly attendees, growing from just two co-founders.
Growth fueled by viral TikToks & Instagram posts.
Cost to attend. The mantra "No cost. No sign-up. Just come as you are" removes all barriers.
The choice of location was a strategic masterstroke. Screaming into the vastness of Lake Michigan is far more cathartic than screaming into a pillow, while the photogenic backdrop of the city at sunset is perfectly optimized for sharing on visual platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which were the primary engines of the club's growth.
Central to the club's identity and success is its radical accessibility. The open-source model has positioned the Chicago club as a blueprint for a global movement. In response to worldwide interest, the founders are now developing kits for people in other cities to launch their own affiliated Scream Club chapters.
Why We Scream: The Cultural Context
The emergence and viral success of the Chicago Scream Club are not isolated phenomena. They are a direct and powerful response to the specific cultural and societal pressures facing modern American women, particularly Millennials and Gen Z. This interactive chart contrasts the old model of self-care with the new "primal wellness" movement the club represents. Hover over the bars to see the difference.
The "Mental Load"
The invisible, relentless cognitive and emotional labor of managing a household and family, fostering a pervasive sense of guilt and the feeling of never being "enough."
"Hustle Culture"
A toxic mindset that glorifies perpetual busyness, equates overwork with ambition, and treats rest as a luxury rather than a basic human need, leading to widespread burnout.
Social Media Pressure
Curated feeds demand the performance of a perfect, effortless life, creating an environment of constant comparison and promoting a "fear of missing out" (FOMO).
Cultural Touchstones of Burnout
The feelings of stress and burnout are deeply embedded in contemporary pop culture. The high-pressure kitchen in The Bear provides a visceral depiction of a toxic work environment. This shared understanding is reflected in language used by younger generations, with slang like "menty b," "stressy," and "depressy" normalizing mental health challenges. Internet memes dedicated to "adulting" use humor to address the exhaustion and absurdity of modern work life. These cultural touchstones validate the feeling that burnout is a collective, rather than an individual, problem. The act of screaming is a physical manifestation of these shared frustrations—it is where the "quiet quitters" come to be loud.
The Science of the Scream
Participants report a profound "cathartic emotional release." This may be linked to a biochemical response; the physical act of screaming may trigger the release of endorphins, leading to a sense of calm and reduced tension. Psychologically, giving emotion a physical voice can make feelings more tangible and easier to process. For those socialized to be quiet, screaming can be an act of "reclamation of voice," a powerful experience that reinforces a sense of agency.
It is essential to draw a clear distinction between the communal screaming practiced in Chicago and the formal clinical method known as "Primal Therapy." Primal Therapy is a controversial psychotherapeutic technique to re-experience repressed trauma and is not accepted by mainstream psychology. The Chicago Scream Club operates in a completely different framework. It is a community-led wellness group, not a clinical intervention. Its own materials explicitly state there is "no therapy, no judgment." By positioning itself as a "release ritual" instead of therapy, the Scream Club makes the practice accessible to a broad audience eager for a communal way to manage modern stress.
Get Involved
The appeal of the Chicago Scream Club extends far beyond the city's limits, inspiring a desire for similar outlets across the country. This section provides actionable, service-oriented guidance for individuals interested in participating, whether by joining the original group, starting a new chapter, or simply learning how to engage in this practice safely and effectively.
Join in Chicago
When: Every Sunday, 7 PM
Where: North Avenue Beach Pier
Cost: Free. No sign-up required.
For the latest updates, follow @screamclubchi on Instagram and TikTok or visit thescreamclub.com.
Screaming Safely
- Breathe from your Core: A powerful scream originates from the diaphragm, not the throat. Engage abdominal muscles.
- Use Less Air: Exhale most of your air just before screaming to reduce vocal strain. The vocal instrument is surprisingly efficient.
- Keep Your Throat Open: Relax the muscles around your throat, as if in a "silent laugh" or "silent sob," to create an open posture.
Conclusion: Beyond the Scream - Reclaiming Your Voice
The Chicago Scream Club, at its core, is more than just a quirky weekly meetup. It is a potent symbol of a generation's response to the overwhelming pressures of modern life. The act of standing on a pier and screaming into the void is a physical manifestation of a deep cultural shift—a move away from quiet endurance and toward loud, authentic, and communal release.
In a world that constantly tells women to "stay quiet," "hold it together," and perform a life of effortless perfection, the collective scream is an act of rebellion. It is a refusal to suffer in silence and a rejection of toxic "hustle culture." For every woman who has felt the pressure to be everything to everyone, the Scream Club offers a profound sense of validation. It confirms that her frustration is real, her exhaustion is shared, and her need for release is not a weakness but a fundamental human requirement.
Ultimately, this phenomenon is about empowerment and agency. It is about giving oneself permission to be messy, to be loud, and to take up space in a world that often asks women to shrink. The Chicago Scream Club provides a blueprint for reclaiming one's voice and finding strength not in silent composure, but in the raw, liberating power of a collective roar.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The practices described are not a form of therapy. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or before undertaking any new wellness practice.