Triggered By A Movie

[macbeth]

Tonight I curled up with my hubby to watch a movie I'd never seen before but had always wanted to see. We were watching the movie together and everything was fine until about half way through. In the scene the main character was stripped and lead to a room where clearly she did not want to go.

I totally freaked out. I had to leave the room and when my husband came and found me I was curled up in the corner shaky and crying. To his credit he reassured me that it was ok and he reminded me that I have no control over what triggers me and what doesn't.

I suppose I am wondering if anyone else has been triggered unexpectedly by a movie or TV program? Also when this happens I can't help but feel a little stupid because it happened. Has anyone had experience with those feelings also?

 

[billie]

Yes its hard, I can loose myself for days. I hope you are calmer now.

 

[macbeth]

Thanks @billie. It sucks doesn't it. I have calmed down a bit. It was actually my husbands idea to post on here about it to make me feel better.

 

[billie]

He sounds like a good person. It's hard to live in the now. I glad he is understanding of you.

 

[Caterpillar]

Yes. There's one particular situation which any mention of triggers me and it seems to show up in TV and movies a lot more than seems statistically probable. I'll either get very quiet or start berating the fictional characters outloud for being stupid and weak enough to end up in the situation. Obviously this is a projection of my anger at myself for ending up in that situation.

So yes, you're not the only one who gets triggered by TV. It sounds like your husband is wonderfully understanding and supportive, though.

 

[Deleted member 26314]

I have been quite a few times, often in the company of my boyfriend. Just the other night, we were watching one and I was triggered. I froze, couldn't look away from the screen and just started crying. He kind of put himself in between me and the screen and comforted me until I calmed down and came back. I usually just freeze when I am triggered by something like a TV show or movie and pretty much feel paralysed unless someone directly speaks to me or touches me.

It's nice to hear your husband is so caring and understanding. ^^

 

[Mina]

I suppose I am wondering if anyone else has been triggered unexpectedly by a movie or TV program?

Oh yes :confused: After I got diagnosed about 6 years ago, my husband didn't really believe it. Then one night we sat down and watched a movie that had a gratuitously violent and bloody scene at the beginning, and I got badly triggered. He believed in PTSD after that. Said he basically watched me "disappear" even though I was still sitting on the couch next to him. He stopped the movie and to this day, I've never watched it. It's happened with others since then as well.

Even with all the progress I've made, I don't watch a lot of movies (and we don't have TV channels) because disturbing images and scenes seem to burn themselves into my mind. That's always been the case with me, even pre-PTSD...they just also can be triggering now :rolleyes: My husband wears headphones to watch most movies, especially horror, and warns me so I don't walk into the room and see something that'll disturb me. I knock on the wall before going into the loft where he's watching a movie, and he stops it or pauses it on a benign scene while I pass by.

Great to hear that your husband is helping you when it happens! That makes a big difference.

 

[shimmerz]

@macbeth , approximately 30 years ago, long before I knew I had PTSD, I reacted so strongly to Robocop in one of the initial scenes when he screamed as he was being beaten up. OMG I could 'feel' that scream. I had no idea anything bad had happened to me until 7 years ago. NowI realize that it was a clue. Screams are a horror to me. I freeze on the spot whereas, before my rekindling of PTSD, I had no reaction to screams.

I have had every type of reaction to television to even the slightest of things (a look in the eyes of an actor, a word, and intonation, the list goes on and on) . I stare at the screen and silently cry, unable to move or blink, I run from the room, I throw up, I faint....the list goes on and on. I guess what I am trying to say is that this is normal, yes. They are clues. I have learned so much from my reactions, whether they be freeze, flight, fawn, etc. It is wonderful that your husband is so thoughtful. Sounds like you are in great hands. :)

 

[Justmehere]

I'm so known for being triggered by movies and TV shows my mother and my friends will now tell me things like, "eh, probably not a good movie for you." It's hard. :(

It's not your fault and it sounds like you both handled it very well.

 

[Yugogypsy]

I've been recently diagnosed and now most TV shoes and movies that I used to watch, I can't watch it now - Too many triggers so each time it happens, I change the channel. I have total control of the remote control and my husband doesn't watch TV. That helps. My choices have been limited to a few genres that I can handle without the anxiety attacks. When my tolerance level is good and I'm ready to try again to see if I can "stand" it without flipping out - I do that few times to build tolerance level. I get anxiety attacks with certain types of characters across the board.

 

[FindingMyself88]

First off I want to say it sounds like you have a wonderful husband! Sounds like he said just what you needed him to say :).

Secondly, yes I can get badly triggered by TV and movies. Normally if I am with someone, I will dissociate. Sometimes it gets so bad though that I break down and have to get alone. This happened the other day with a show my dad was watching. It mentioned a specific family sexual plot that sent me spiraling. I was luckily able to get to my room before breaking down (I don't do well breaking down in front of others).

I think anyone who has been through trauma and has PTSD would experience triggers if something is shown similar to it on TV or insinuates it.. :hug:s

 

[Sammyiam]

Hi Macbeth,

Sammyiam here, I cannot watch TV at all maybe a few shows here and there, but my husband has the remote and screens what I watch, he even is at the stage where when he channel flicks and there are adds on he says or that's good we can watch them, I'm telling him that I have just replied to you and he's yelling out that even some of the adds I carn't watch. When I was little about 6 or 7 whenever the news came on I would run out of the room screaming every night for years. Wouldn't you think my parents would have noticed, they still don't know anything or even that I have PTSD, its a very hidden secret.

Isn't it a shame that we feel that we have to hide all of this stuff from family and friends, well at least that is what I feel, I'm not sure how others feel.

I have been very brave over the last two days and told my husband about this site and have talked about it to him, I was to scared to tell him, I have kept all of this to myself and have just started to talk to him how I really feel, not just pretend and say I'm ok it's nothing.

Maybe Macbeth your husband can start to screen your tv and make sure you don't get triggered like that again, it really helps me, I know it sounds stupid but your husband sounds really nice. I wouldn't be able to watch anything if he wasn't there to help me.

Take care Macbeth.