Whiplash Movie And Ptsd Do Not Mix!

[Wen]

Last Wednesday I watched "part" of the movie Whiplash. It's the new one with JK Simmons and Miles Teller. It won a few Oscars, is highly rated, and etc. All I can say is this - I HATE THIS MOVIE! It triggered so much in me that I fantasize about taking a copy of the movie, bashing it with a baseball bat, then burning it to nothing. My past has emotional, sexual, physical abuse from exes, financial abuse (if there's such a thing) and 4 MVA's in a span of 10mo (Actually 5 but the first was extremely minor) that I was not liable for 5yrs ago. I've been diagnosed with Chronic PTSD and working with a counselor for the past year but I still suffer from anxiety attacks, panic attacks, depression, twitches, etc on a regular basis, but I'm learning to cope... most of the time.

Last Wednesday was not one of those times. This movie was awful! The teacher was horrible and there was so much emotional and physical abuse. I felt like it every name he called his students just clung on to me like a horrible sticky film. Then the car crash occurred. I screamed so loud and lost it. Mind you I wasn't "really watching" as I was playing on my computer next to my husband while he watched it on his computer. I would occasionally look but everything came at me in sound and the car crash was the hammer that smashed thru me, breaking any inner peace I had and pushing all of that horrible sticky film into me. My husband turned to earphones after that so I couldn't hear...but I could still see. I couldn't stop crying.

The feelings I have are so angry towards this movie and even today - a week later, I'm still reeling from it. I have these horrible tickles inside of me and I just hope someone can understand. I've tried talking to my friends, but they don't have my issues so it's hard for them to sympathize. One friend does try and will tell me "I understand how you feel", "I can see why you'd be so upset", but he doesn't have PTSD and the way he says it to me makes me want to scream "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, STOP SAYING THAT!" I know he's trying to help so I bite my lip, but I feel so out of control. I want to throw things, break things, and yell "YOU DON'T GET IT! THAT MOVIE IS EVIL!" I'm just not doing well today and I guess reaching out to the only place where I know people would understand. I just want the panic, tickles, angry, uncontrollable feelings inside to go away.

 

[Friday]

It triggered so much in me that I fantasize about taking a copy of the movie, bashing it with a baseball bat, then burning it to nothing.

Sounds like a good plan to me :)

 

[WildMermaid]

:hug: @Wen is there any way you could move your computer to another room until you two have figured out what will work best for both of you. Seeing things that hurt you to watch is not helpful and maybe he does not understand that. When you are both calm maybe try having a sit down and tell him how much that disturbed you and you can't be witness to things like that right now. Also, letting him know that you understand and value his right to view what he wishes, but find a way for it not to sabotage you.

 

[NayaZ]

Yes, there IS such a thing as financial abuse...and it sounds like the movie did to you what "Taken" did to me...and I'm SO glad there are two sequels. Seriously, if I ever meet Liam Neeson I'm going to f that poor guy up. I may not be the best in the advice category...but I found stabbing the dvd pretty helpful. It's just a DVD. As far as the symptoms that come from that movie, they suck...believe me, I've shaken so hard I couldn't even try to text my friend to say I was shaking!! But they WILL be over. Movies, the Internet, the news...they all do wonders for PTSD. grr.

 

[WildMermaid]

Quills did it to me. I still can't breathe if I see even a clip of that film. :(

 

[SeaQuel]

@Wen I saw this movie also. It was not what I was expecting at all, and there were many scenes that were pretty disturbing. It didn't have the same affect on me as it did you, but I can understand how it would. And you're not alone in this - do a search on movies and PTSD.

Maybe you could try writing down what you remember about the movie to get it out of your head?

 

[KwanYingirl]

Get a dozen eggs and throw them into the ocean --or woods.

 

[Matilda]

I'd take the cd outside, wear some gloves and safety glasses and obliterate the cd with a crowbar or any the item of your choice. It's helped me release pent up anger and frustration this past summer.

The one time I've ever had any sort of extreme episode from a movie was watching super 8. I'd seen it before and had enjoyed it so I didn't think much of it when my friends put it in on a late Friday night. At the scene where the dad is chasing his daughter with a car I completely lost it and barely made it out of the room. I started sobbing and could barely breathe and after a few minutes I started laughing out of nowhere. Only good thing from that experience was I witnessed 3 guys literally run for the hills because they were freaking out haha.
All else aside dear I'm sorry and send you a lot of hugs. If I were you I'd seriously consider speaking to your husband about it

 

[Wen]

Thank you guys for all of you support and insight. Hearing your stories about certain movies helped me feel that I'm not alone and crazy. The funny thing about my husband watching it next to me was he was asked to watch it by his counselor. He's very aware of what certain movies (especially car crash ones) do to me and will always watch elsewhere. This happened because he had no clue how bad it would be and the counselor (who is also our marriage counselor) apologized to me because she didn't tell my husband to NOT let me see it. She thought he'd watch it alone like he's done with previous movies. Lesson learned. Tho I will admit he didn't help at all afterwards by talking about other stuff I did not need to hear while I was still crying about the movie. We did talk about it, he apologized and like everything else, we're working on it. It's time like this I wonder if we can stay married without repercussions like we have.

I understand perfectly when you guys mention movies that have triggered you. I watched "Sleeping with the Enemy" during my 1st marriage and thought is was a great thriller. I watched it after the divorce and I totally lost it. Couldn't stop crying throughout most of the movie. It's amazing how much pain I fully realized was inside AFTER I got out of the situation.

I have to be very cautious now about movies, and be sure to at least watch the trailer first. If I get any "iffy" feelings I will avoid the movie... or find spoilers somewhere and read what happens to see if I can handle it. So right now I can't watch car race/chase like movies (no Fast and Furious for me) and dramas. Comedies and some horror are doable. People are shocked about the horror, but really... zombies and vampires just don't trigger me. They just want your blood or brains, not to emotional cut you down. Besides a stake thru the heart, a bash on the head and problem solved. I'd like to bash that teacher in Whiplash over the head. I think I will buy the move and destroy it, I may help :)

 

[WildMermaid]

I luuurve horror movies but can't watch rapes, child abuse, or some things where people are trapped. :hug: You're doing good work, and it sounds like your fellow understands your limits a bit better now.

 

[Wen]

Thanks @WildMermaid, and I'm just like you, I can't watch those types of movies either. My husband does understand my limits most of the time, there are just things about it that bothers him like when I can't watch certain movies he wants to watch with me. And he's not really into horror movies so I tend to watch those alone. Seriously, who could not love a zombie? :joyful:

 

[Born to Run]

So very sorry you got so upset about this movie. I have seen it too and it was intense and harsh, but the end was absolutely brilliant IMHO. The student, all the time looking for approval from this teacher, totally loses it and keeps drumming after he is screwed over for the last time in the final scene. Messing up the band program, and keeps going. Then the teacher is finally able to show his approval, as he can not accept other than that it is great drumming, and even starts to support him and let the rest of the band follow his drum lead. Probably you did not make it to that final scene :headphone: