Disney film 'Dumbo'

Disney film 'Dumbo'

''I'd fantasise about having picnics in graveyards and I'd spend a lot of time watching horror films because seeing the zombies made me feel relaxed, like I was with family.''

A woman claims Disney movies saved her life.

Haley Smith developed a mental illness known as Cotard's Syndrome after her parents got divorced and became obsessed with graveyards and horror movies and believed she was dead until she overcame the illness by watching Disney classics.

She explained: ''I'd fantasise about having picnics in graveyards and I'd spend a lot of time watching horror films because seeing the zombies made me feel relaxed, like I was with family.''

Opening up about how she finally got over her dark thoughts, she added to the Daily Star newspaper: ''Watching Disney films gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling. 'The Little Mermaid', 'Aladdin', 'Sleeping Beauty', 'Bambi' - I watched them all. I asked by boyfriend Jeremy, 'How can I be dead when Disney makes me feel this good?' ''