Research Bbc Query - Ptsd And Social Media

[SamBBC]

Hello all,

I'm a journalist with the BBC and we're looking into a new study that suggests PTSD could be triggered by viewing graphic content on social media.

We're hoping to talk to people who may have experienced this.

We're aware of the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria which states that PTSD can only be induced by exposure to media when it is work related.

If you would be happy to talk on the radio about your experiences, please send me a DM.

Many thanks,

Sam

 

[greenleaf]

Hello; it occurred to me that some people might find it unclear whether you mean PTSD that already exists being "triggered" by such social media content, or PTSD being initially caused by such content -- perhaps you could clarify.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Where to start with this one....

You're doing a HUGE disservice to the advancement of PTSD by even suggesting that what we experience can be caused by viewing graphic content on social media. I'm a bit appalled that this sort of thing is even being suggested, as if to compare combat or rape to "simply" viewing graphic content on the internet.

Someone can have previous trauma (that is indeed a DSM-V qualifier) that is then triggered into going full blown, but viewing social media alone? No, that's not enough to cause PTSD and anyone who suggests that it is does not know the fundamental nature of this disorder and what it entails.

I honestly think that its pretty.....disheartening.....that with SO much that needs to be learned within the scope of PTSD that "researchers" are going off on these dang bunny trails when there are more important things to be discovered about the disorder.

But social media alone? Sorry, not enough to cause PTSD. I don't doubt that its enough to cause anxiety, depression and such, but its not the sort of "shock to your system" trauma that is needed to cause actual PTSD. (And I say "trauma" in a loose sort of way as viewing graphic content isn't actually traumatic.)

ETA

If you are referring to social media merely "triggering" previous trauma into full blown PTSD, this research is completely unnecessary. Anything under God's great sun can "trigger" previous trauma into going fully symptomatic and becoming PTSD.

 

[Anarchy]

The guys have already made it clear:

• Cause new PTSD, no
• trigger flashbacks or other symptoms of existing PTSD, sure,

but there is absolutely zero chance that you will ever avoid triggering someone at sometime, so IMO, it isn't even worth trying.

The policy here is "no trigger warnings", it's each user's responsibility to take care of their own triggers, as there is no possible way that everyone else would ever be able to guess them all. For example, I used to be triggered by custard...

In terms of the science, Bessel van der Kolk, in "the body keeps the score" cites an attempt to induce PTSD, and dissociative amnesia in volounteers by having them watch "faces of death", which is about as upsetting a set of imagery as you'd get past an ethics committee. No PTSD resulted.

Forensic reviewing of say; child porn, snuff movies or recordings of torture or military damage, as a day job, probably could traumatise, in just the same way that therapists risk vicarious traumatization from prolonged exposure to the accounts of their patients' experience of trauma. Short of those levels of material and exposure times, I think it would be pretty exceptional to traumatise the mythical average person, and sensitive people know that they are sensitive, and avoid exposure.

 

[Underdog]

I agree with greenleaf in that a clarification needs to be made here.

 

[SamBBC]

Hi Greenleaf and Underdog,

Thanks for making that distinction. I'm interested in discussion about both, but more specifically I'm asking about PTSD being caused by that type of content, as opposed to triggered.

Thank you,

Sam

 

[Underdog]

I've certainly been triggered and still am by media and news when it comes to certain things, such as the Ferguson, MO issues, civil rights issues and gay marriage opponents. But PTSD isn't caused by just merely watching TV or social media. It may induce anxiety among other things, but not the disorder itself, but I think others made that clear. I'd be willing to talk about my being triggered, but I doubt you will find anyone willing to talk about it being created by social media here as we all know it doesn't work like that.

 

[Fadeaway]

but more specifically I'm asking about PTSD being caused by that type of content, as opposed to triggered.

Nope, absolutely 100% no. And to suggest so is a mockery of what happened to us to need this forum. Viewing any type of media content no matter what it is can not cause PTSD. Bullying via social media can not cause PTSD (had to throw that one in since it has been coming up a lot lately.)

Can viewing such content cause someone with PTSD to be symptomatic or even triggered? Well, for me personally the content has to extremely close to what I went through. To be honest I am also super picky about what I watch, so the chances of me running into something that is going to trigger me is pretty low.

That said I love a good horror flick. As weird as it sounds, they give me an outlet for my anxiety.

 

[Anarchy]

That said I love a good horror flick. As weird as it sounds, they give me an outlet for my anxiety.

I know what you mean there.
van der Kolk did a trial with some of his Vietnam War guys. He had them see how long they could keep their hands in buckets of ice water while watching an action packed clip from a war movie, compared to a control of holding their hands in iced water while watching something bland.

He reckoned up the amount of morphine required to give the same amount of pain tolerance, and came up with a shot of about 8mg, or about as much as you'd get in A&E for broken ribs.

While writing this, I've remembered about an Irish friend who jokes about having been traumatized by “The sound of Music”; she went to a convent school (frequent enough in Ireland) . Whenever it was raining at breaktime (which is very frequent in Ireland), the nuns would coop the kids up infront of a TV, with a video of… Oh yes, every single wet breaktime for 7 years.

 

[digger]

traumatized by “The sound of Music”

Now that one actually is entirely plausible I reckon......:playful::laugh:

 

[Namenotdiagnosis]

I totally agree with itskismet, I find your whole new study extremely insulting as a Cptsd sufferer. I suggest you take your study elsewhere !!! How many I'm more than happy to do a talk on how society perceive it's sufferers, how there isn't a single support group in London , how you have to wait two years on a waiting list to get a diagnosis , or what Ptsd REALLY is and how it affects our lives on a daily basis !!!! Interested??? Didn't think so!!!

 

[Neverthesame]

I have started writing about 10 drafts of this comment so far. I really am not sure how to say what I am thinking.

I would like to ask one simple favour of you. Please bear in mind, you are representing a broadcasting company of worldwide renown and esteem. Whether it is deserved or not, the fact is. Anywhere in the world you go, there is the BBC on some television somewhere. Your company has the reach of billions of people, you have an opportunity to do proper good.

A great many people on this site, and in every corner of the globe, have been through proper hell. They have seen and experienced things that cannot be understood from a story or picture. Most will never get better in any appreciable way. Many of them will never seek help, for fear of being labeled as crazy, eccentric, malingering and weak. Another great many, suffer in silence out of fear of being humiliated, made to leave a career, losing their families from outdated backwards stigma.

As one of those people who have had to live with what I often wonder is something I can live with. Please don't make yet another silly mockery of something so poorly understood, yet so painful and permanent.