Going To The Movies With Ptsd

[titaniumdiva]

I'm sure I'm not the only person who has had the experience of being triggered by something they saw in a movie. I thought it might be good to talk about strategies people use to avoid such an experience.

One thing I have found very helpful is an iPhone app/website called Kids-in-Mind. I will read the parent advisory about a movie to try to make an informed decision about whether I should see it or not. I don't mind the spoilers because I would much rather know what happens in advance than sit frozen in horror in a theatre because of an unexpected trigger.

When we go to the movies, sometimes it seems pretty obvious just from the trailers that an upcoming movie will be a "NO" for me. There have been a couple of movies, though, that I rejected initially but my husband encouraged me to see them after he had gone to pre-screen, and they've turned out fine. He's learning over time the subtle nuances that make one thing a trigger, but another seemingly similar thing not a problem.

I think it helps that we have Netflix, as well. I don't mind missing something in a theatre if I know I can just watch it in a couple of months at home on TV. If I stumble onto a bad choice there, I can always just shut it off.

 

[JustBe]

Just the thought of being in a movie theater makes me anxious! :eek:

 

[Leah123]

I saw two lately, that I had an emotional reaction to, due to the PTSD.

The toughest one was Iron Man 3. I did not realize a lot of that plot revolved around the lead dealing with post traumatic stress. When he had some panic attacks and other symptoms, like hypervigilance and inability to sleep, and outbursts, it was actually pretty disturbing to me, to see my experience on screen, even though it was dramatized. I had a hard time with it.

I just saw Man of Steel and cried when young Clark Kent had an anxiety attack at about the age of 6 in his class, and how his mom came and basically rescued him. I felt so sad for myself, dealing with all my symptoms and not having help from my mother.

Movies are tough. There are lots that have affected me, but those are two recent ones. I hadn't thought about strategies for avoiding these reactions... I guess that the insights have actually seemed sort of a relief or helpful to have something to relate to, in the end. But, some movies I fear too much, like horror ones (was exposed to way too much horror and violence as a child) I just completely avoid them for the most part. The trailers usually keep me clear of those, or ones that might otherwise trigger me.

 

[titaniumdiva]

That part of Man of Steel affected me deeply, too.

The most recent triggers for me from movies were in 300 (but not for the obvious gore and violence) and Casino Royale (the newer one with Daniel Craig). Since that time I have been pretty careful to pre-screen things with my app. It really has been a blessing.

ETA: There was one movie that I knew would tear me up, but I felt it was important and a story everyone should see. We rented Precious on Blu-Ray and I watched it at home with my husband. Any time I'm watching something tough like that it really helps to have his shoulder to bury my face in.

 

[franciemarnie]

I never go to the movies because they have no captions and I am hearing impaired. But I love movies and use Netflix. I can pretty well choose what to avoid. I had heard so many fabulous things about Life of Pi but knew the beginning was horrific as to what leads up to this kid being stranded at sea. So I watched with peripheral vision until that part was over and then it was fantastic insofar as what it did for me - it gave me a self forgiveness for what I had to do to survive.

That said, I wouldn't want to recommend it necessarily because the beginning of the film is really horrific and could trigger people I think.

 

[Resilientbibliophile]

Hello,

My worst semi-recent experience was seeing Denzel Washington's turn in the film Flight. The film is doubtlessly well-crafted, well-cast and acted, but if one has memories of an alcoholic parent - stay away, far away from this hugely upsetting remembrance of things not quite past. For speaking to my sister, she too had to leave the theater at one point. Powerful yes, but mostly for triggering recall of the oblivious stupified waste that was our father, dead at thirty-nine and largely at his own hand. So too watch out for early depictions of addiction on screen, although The Man with the Golden Arm with Frank Sinatra is far better as contrasted to The Lost Weekend with Raymond Massey. The Lost Weekend is especially irritating for the viewer is to believe that love will indeed cure all from the temptation of the bottle - if only. The film Rush forms hard sledding, whereas addiction on screen is typically best avoided by us.

Pondering other films, perhaps see or avoid The Butterfly Effect which right throughout is a metaphor for the experience of P.T.S.D. It's very hot and triggering given that the male lead, Ashton Krutcher I do believe, is effectively transported back in time for reviewing his childhood diary. Child sexual abuse, flashbacks, no control, and unsettling developments are found throughout, whereas do not see the alternate ending which, believe me, does the viewer no good at all. Also avoid the appallingly morose Will Smith vehicle Seven Pounds, which for reasons that still bewilder was released during the holiday season many years ago. Well-crafted much like Flight, but not what you want to input into a depressed state of mind. I'd relate the storyline, but trust me, you don't want to know!

This said, my 'best' experience of seeing P.T.S.D. depicted on screen is likely Robert Redford's directorial debute in the form of Ordinary People from 1980 with a young Timothy Hutton. Very sophisticated still, familial denial of the dynamic present within their son and decidedly not understood, etc. Quite beautifully done and worth the risk, whereas kudos to Mary Tyler Moore to embrace and run with a role that required her to be someone the audience could both understand and decidedly not like.

Going back in time, Rod Stieger in the Holocaust remembrance film The Pawnbroker is an early effort to depict the experience of P.T.S.D. on screen and is interesting to the extent of appreciating how such could be conveyed for technique. Something triggers him, and intercut into what he is observing are frames of atrocities witnessed - perhaps only two or three at a time. The director surely tried to capture the perpetual unease one feels within the experience of P.T.S.D., while the film should be better known. And lastly, interesting in terms of the loose supervision angle and shifting sexual values is Ang Lee's fine film The Ice Storm even if P.T.S.D. isn't strictly on tap for specific content. The story is a tragedy, but at least some artist could tap into the strange unease of the lifestyle experimentation of suburbia circa 1975 and point out shallow and irresponsible behavior for what it was on the part of parents absorbed in themselves. Thanks...


M.

 

[aka]

I avoid movies that I know will trigger me such as ones with intense drama or violence. Some movies increase my wanting to be in my dissociative fantasy worlds so I have to be careful even if I like the content. I always feel awfully alone when everyone else goes to see a movie that I know would be triggering.

 

[pathos]

You know, strangely, I never thought of having reactions in a movie theatre. It's strange mostly because I do have these reactions. But in most movies where I'd actually go see them in the theatre, I suppose, I already know what I'm getting - it's probably a superhero movie, or something like that, where I know it will be 'safe'. Of course things can still surprise you, but I don't really recall a time where I have been triggered in a movie theatre - at least, not PTSD-wise (I have other unrelated triggers). That said, I do rarely see movies in the theatre...

I think when I do go see movies in the theatre, I dissociate way more. I always dissociate to a certain extent when watching a movie/tv show in order to protect myself, and the amount varies depending on the movie/show, but it's definitely higher in a movie theatre. I realize now I've only been triggered when watching/reading things at home where my guard is down - even one time where I was watching a movie with my dad and brother and it was totally unexpected. That was a really terrible one, I hate when people see me crying.

 

[Misul]

Almost all movies released here trigger me. I don't really understand the extremes of American media (is Europe the same way?). I mean, I think we can get a point through to the audience without going so far. My dad watches Blu Rays in the living room and I avoid walking past the TV at all costs. Unfortunately, he likes action movies and turns up the surround sound so I hear it even with headphones on in my room. So I am barraged with explosions, screaming, arguing, and cursing (why is every other word the f-word in every single action movie????). These are all things I need to stay away from, but he's one of my abusers so I shouldn't expect much.

I like historical movies and a lot of slow paced Chinese films. I like innocent movies like Rataouille, which I saw three times on an overseas flight. Ohhhh the one Western series I love is Lord of the Rings. Those films are extraordinarily meaningful to me. Talk about PTSD (Frodo, anyone.. and poor Sam...). I identify with many characters and the journey through such painful times. And I like the end where Frodo leaves for the Grey Havens. It's much more realistic than "happily ever after in the Shire". I'm glad they didn't change how it ended.

I think I probably go to the theatre once a year; twice at most. As someone else mentioned, I'd rather wait for the DVD so I can turn it off if I'm triggered. The last movie I walked out of was District 9. A friend wanted to see it so I went with....... and walked out. Couldn't handle it.

Misul