Some version of "EMDR" incorporated in Stranger Things? (Season 4 spoilers, for those who haven't seen the show)

[QuirkyTofurkey]

AGAIN - SEASON 4 SPOILERS BELOW!

I don't know if it's weird to use TV shows as a way to understand PTSD therapy. But I watched Stranger Things season 4 recently, and felt strangely comforted by how much PTSD representation (and acceptance of PTSD) they have on the show. And to me it seemed that what Eleven goes through with the "Nina" project was a form of EMDR.

Sometimes when I do EMDR, I would (with the guidance of the therapist) project my older self into the memory. And this definitely happens frequently when Eleven's revisiting her memories. She's her older self, though in the mirror she still sees her younger self. Plus, originally she tries to resist and run away from the Nina project, but over time she returns again and again to confront repressed memories and process them. Only then can she regain her powers, and move forward to help her friends and family (and herself).

It's been on my mind for a while now, and haven't found any interesting articles talking about it the parallels between EMDR and the "Nina project", so thought I'd start a discussion forum here. Curious about others' thoughts and reactions to this.

 

[Gatha]

If someone would be kind enough to lend me their Netflix login just to binge watch it, I would be better equipped to comment ;)

 

[somerandomguy]

It was impossible for me not to notice when Eleven moved her eyes back and forth just before the massacre. But I didn't really get the other similarities to EMDR you talked about until just now. Very interesting!

 

[arfie]

beginning with the disclaimer that i am a certified nutjob, i don't think it's quirky at all to use tv shows/movies to help me better understand my mental health symptoms and find inspiration on how to cope with those symptoms. i'm not familiar with that particular series, but the "jessica jones" series even took care to include some professionally credited techniques vis a vis jessica's ptsd therapy. they worked when she worked them.

"black snake moan" was another which hit me with a few "AHA" moments.

while not mistaking hollywood as a valid source of psychotherapy, i take my aha moments where i can find them.

 

[QuirkyTofurkey]

If someone would be kind enough to lend me their Netflix login just to binge watch it, I would be better equipped to comment ;)

Haha I wish I had my own login to share with you! Great show :)

 

[Skywatcher]

The stranger things stuff made sense to me. So did Moon Knight. That was dealing with DID. I don’t have DID, but my work in emdr brings up parts. The storyline had quite a bit of self abandonment and protective parts explored. My husband was confused out of his mind and I’m sitting there thinking about how I totally got it.

beginning with the disclaimer that i am a certified nutjob, i don't think it's quirky at all to use tv shows/movies to help me better understand my mental health symptoms and find inspiration on how to cope with those symptoms. i'm not familiar with that particular series, but the "jessica jones" series even took care to include some professionally credited techniques vis a vis jessica's ptsd therapy. they worked when she worked them.

"black snake moan" was another which hit me with a few "AHA" moments.

while not mistaking hollywood as a valid source of psychotherapy, i take my aha moments where i can find them.

I found myself using Jessica’s grounding techniques during my flashbacks around the time I was watching that show.