Poll Do You Watch Law & Order: Svu?

[Symphony]

Someone I know mentioned that survivors are more likely to watch shows like SVU because it's like watching the trauma happening to someone else, someone other than them.

I wonder how many of us watch this show (or similar shows) for similar reasons? For me it's the only thing that keeps my mind off of what I went through and is even therapeutic in a sense... because (in some episodes) justice is brought for the victim/survivor. It's the only way I'll get to feel that satisfaction of justice.

 

[shimmerz]

No, it is triggering to me as there was much legal stuff involved in my trauma. However, I also am not interested in 'stories' where everyone lives happily ever after.

I realized very early in my trauma that I watched WAY too many Disney movies.... and it skewed my vision of what the world really is. I want the truth... which is why I do documentaries mainly. I have no interest in scripted shiest anymore.

 

[MisterCatLady]

I can't watch anything with rape, DV, or abuse scenes. I pretty much just don't watch tv right now. Hopefully one day it won't trigger me as much. I used to enjoy watching that show.

 

[Ronin]

it's like watching the trauma happening to someone else

The opposite reasons. The shows I watch / stick with, that aren't plain entertainment value for me, I watch for re-associating things that happened to me, because I grok similarities that happened to someone else and already overdo 'that didn't happen to me' about my own trauma.

True, also often leave me puking, because plain weeird angles get quite easily explained if I join the picture up, and spacing out the things I'm watching as I was too busy using the similarities.

 

[mamachick]

I watch it often but am not sure that it is good for me.

 

[Hanala]

I can't watch it for so many reasons

• The graphic nature guarantees a flashback
• I feel immense guilt and shame over not reporting/staying silent
• I find it annoying when they catch the person and it's all neatly tied up and fixed
• I find it even more unbearable when it isn't neatly tied up because it confirms my bias that 'they always get away'
• I feel jealous of the people who get closure
• I feel a sort of empathetic trigger-pain from the people who don't get closure

I just can't watch it no matter how things play out in the episode

 

[Gs172003]

No, it is triggering to me as there was much legal stuff involved in my trauma. However, I also am no...

I love documentaries! And cooking shows lol

 

[Gs172003]

I don't watch any violent shows of any kind anymore. Haven't in a long time

 

[FauxLiz]

I watch it regularly and have watched it in re-runs for years. Sometimes episodes trigger me and are so hard to watch that I have to do so in pieces but mostly I tend to disassociate watching it. My brain screams because it is so unfair that 1) others have friends or family that support them, 2) that others get to confront their rapist/abuser. 3) because I am jealous that others have the courage to report what happened to them when I still struggle with just tell my T.

 

[Iamsensative]

Its strange certain violent movies i cannot even begin to watch. SVU wins over the abuser so many times. i am drawn to movies or shows where the victim or heroine gets justice, anyway that has to happen justice or death. I dont show anger much, i still internalize it all. The Hunger Games, The Girl with the Dragon tattoo. The women show strength and i need to feel that. My power was stolen and seeing women win gives me hope.

 

[Abstract]

I did (and still do some) a lot of obsessively watching triggering stuff for a long time. Including SVU. I still don't know all the reasons. Some of it is about connection in the way that Ronin mentioned. And feeling less alone. Speaking in a way and connecting things in my brain. My life and brain are so compartmentalised and I don;t speak to people about this. So much feels unreal and there is always an internal war going on about what is real or isnt. But it can also feel retraumatising to an extent. Like I am following something automatically when its bad for me. Like other behaviours have been in the past.

I can't watch SVU anymore though. Find it too triggering now. Can't watch Criminal Minds either which I loved. Also cannot watch real life type reenactments. Too much. I am deeply affected by documentaries about abuse but watch them compulsively. I watch a lot of other tele series which cover crime and therefore abuse in general. There is an element that is cathartic whilst being triggering although I can't always put my finger on what it is. It does feel compulsive.

I also avoid like the plague anything triggering just aimed at entertainment. Some things that say something important I will watch and deeply appreciate. Would never do 50 shades of grey but did watch Mysterious Skin for example.

 

[Finding My Voice]

My answer is a mix of yes I find it therapeutic and yes but I find it hard to watch. Sometimes I can't watch it due to it being too triggering. I mostly find it... sort of therapeutic in a way because a lot of the episodes have a beginning a middle and an END/resolution. I particularly find it therapeutic when someone steps in before the abuse happens/escalates because I like to imagine that happened to me although it never did. I also find it helpful when they chase down the Perpetrators and get them for what they've done. I know it's fictional and that it's not very much like real life but its kind of helpful for me in a strange way, makes me feel less alone. I think a lot of it is because it's a tv show and it isn't real so it kind of helps me keep my stuff seperate.. in a way, but maybe that's not helpful now that I think about it. I don't know, I'm rambling sorry.