LaurenRose
Silver Member
Hi. I was hoping to get some ideas on movies to watch that "touch" your experience with PTSD. I find watching these types of movies comfort me as I know that if someone is able to write them, then they have felt those feelings or have an experience with someone who has felt those feelings. It is a bit different than the comfort of hearing stories (although equally important), because it is a visual experience and I get to sort of "lose" myself for a minute. I run the risk of getting triggered, but it is an acceptable risk considering a lot of the time it gives me comfort as well as something to ponder - a new thought or idea that I then get to see if or how it applies to me. They are enlightening and definitely are an aid on this quest for recovery leading to a certain contentment within myself.
Funny, even as I am typing this I can hear my friend telling me that no wonder I am messed up like I am, I keep filling my head with stuff like this. There are times if I wonder that myself. Am I doing more harm? It seems like it is healing but I get so confused within myself as to what is healthy and what is damaging. hmmmm
To date, my favourite movie is Brothers with Toby McGuire, it deals with violence and life/death. It is about a soldier and life after he returns from war. I am not going to talk about it here as I don't want to spoil it for anyone who wants to see it. What if gave me was validation that the emotional upheaval in his life as a result of trauma was similar to mine. It "normalized" me. It also connected me with the fact that my emotional response to his suffering was compassion and empathy and a strong desire to get the help that was available to him. I forget that this is my life too, and that it is a hard road to walk but one that has a great potential for success. I watch the movie again and again (well maybe a total of 4 times) because it's like I get to see my PTSD through the eyes of another and it strengthens me, fortifies me in my own battle.
Another favourite that has been so very helpful is "The Unsaid" with Andy Garcia. It is about the impact of untreated trauma. This one has been so helpful, opened my awareness as to how my life got so f*cked up partly because of what has happened because this trauma was buried. It is a lovely combination of trauma and supporter. It teaches a path on how to heal from trauma, again for both the trauma person and the support person. You will understand the nature of it if you watch the movie. Very revealing, made me go "huh", allowed me to look at myself a bit more compassionately and gave me a hope (still have trouble with that word) there there is relief coming if I do the work.
There are others but I am exhausted in this moment. I am so hoping to get ideas from you, especially the ones which have touched you. Thanks for reading this, I very much look forward to your replies. Lauren
Funny, even as I am typing this I can hear my friend telling me that no wonder I am messed up like I am, I keep filling my head with stuff like this. There are times if I wonder that myself. Am I doing more harm? It seems like it is healing but I get so confused within myself as to what is healthy and what is damaging. hmmmm
To date, my favourite movie is Brothers with Toby McGuire, it deals with violence and life/death. It is about a soldier and life after he returns from war. I am not going to talk about it here as I don't want to spoil it for anyone who wants to see it. What if gave me was validation that the emotional upheaval in his life as a result of trauma was similar to mine. It "normalized" me. It also connected me with the fact that my emotional response to his suffering was compassion and empathy and a strong desire to get the help that was available to him. I forget that this is my life too, and that it is a hard road to walk but one that has a great potential for success. I watch the movie again and again (well maybe a total of 4 times) because it's like I get to see my PTSD through the eyes of another and it strengthens me, fortifies me in my own battle.
Another favourite that has been so very helpful is "The Unsaid" with Andy Garcia. It is about the impact of untreated trauma. This one has been so helpful, opened my awareness as to how my life got so f*cked up partly because of what has happened because this trauma was buried. It is a lovely combination of trauma and supporter. It teaches a path on how to heal from trauma, again for both the trauma person and the support person. You will understand the nature of it if you watch the movie. Very revealing, made me go "huh", allowed me to look at myself a bit more compassionately and gave me a hope (still have trouble with that word) there there is relief coming if I do the work.
There are others but I am exhausted in this moment. I am so hoping to get ideas from you, especially the ones which have touched you. Thanks for reading this, I very much look forward to your replies. Lauren
