Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group
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I did a foolish thing this evening. I rarely go to movies, but an older student of mine, a guy I've known at the college for 2 years, offered to see a movie at the mall. He meant well, but his movie choice was a big mistake for me.
I didn't even think about which one he chose. Big mistake. I won't identify it here because, first of all, someone here may like it, which is fine. I'm just speaking for myself. Second of all, I don't really want this thread to be a movie critic discussion. I just needed to vent about what a mistake I make seeing this movie at this time. It had scenes of child abuse, kidnapping, and torture.
I have CPTSD because I survived child abuse in my home. Then there was kidnapping, killing, and torture in my neighborhood in South America during the 6 years of the civil war in my neighborhood. I survived there from age 9 to 15, not to mention the dictatorship after. Just when I thought it was all over, I was tortured at age 15 myself.
I went back to South America this past July and confronted the places those things happened, emailing here to DS PTSD every day. It was very healing.
This movie was not healing. I didn't think to question my student about what we were going to see. I think his choice was trying to impress me about what a thinker he is, as it was about good and evil.
My issue with most of these movies is that they stir up my PTSD for little new insighted gained for me in return. I'm just someone who has survived abuse and trauma at the hands of evil doers as many here have. Speaking just for myself, though, movies about evil abuse still seem to fall into sensationalizing the violence only to give serve up cliches when it comes to any new wisdom about it. So I wish I hadn't gone to this movie tonight. My mistake. I don't get out much.
The real thing is much worse than they seem to gather. Abusers smile and get away with it and go to church and seem a lot more like nice people than these movie villains. And that's scarier than any movie villain to me. Seems to me that those who haven't had even touch them directly don't quite know. How could they?
My mistake. It'll take a while to get my ducks back in a row.
Has anybody else made this kind of mistake here?
I didn't even think about which one he chose. Big mistake. I won't identify it here because, first of all, someone here may like it, which is fine. I'm just speaking for myself. Second of all, I don't really want this thread to be a movie critic discussion. I just needed to vent about what a mistake I make seeing this movie at this time. It had scenes of child abuse, kidnapping, and torture.
I have CPTSD because I survived child abuse in my home. Then there was kidnapping, killing, and torture in my neighborhood in South America during the 6 years of the civil war in my neighborhood. I survived there from age 9 to 15, not to mention the dictatorship after. Just when I thought it was all over, I was tortured at age 15 myself.
I went back to South America this past July and confronted the places those things happened, emailing here to DS PTSD every day. It was very healing.
This movie was not healing. I didn't think to question my student about what we were going to see. I think his choice was trying to impress me about what a thinker he is, as it was about good and evil.
My issue with most of these movies is that they stir up my PTSD for little new insighted gained for me in return. I'm just someone who has survived abuse and trauma at the hands of evil doers as many here have. Speaking just for myself, though, movies about evil abuse still seem to fall into sensationalizing the violence only to give serve up cliches when it comes to any new wisdom about it. So I wish I hadn't gone to this movie tonight. My mistake. I don't get out much.
The real thing is much worse than they seem to gather. Abusers smile and get away with it and go to church and seem a lot more like nice people than these movie villains. And that's scarier than any movie villain to me. Seems to me that those who haven't had even touch them directly don't quite know. How could they?
My mistake. It'll take a while to get my ducks back in a row.
Has anybody else made this kind of mistake here?
Well, the movie "Parenthood" sent me into a nervous/psychotic breakdown at 17. Does that count?
Also, "The Bridges Over Madison County" almost killed me after a breakup.
"Dying Young" was very difficult b/c I saw it the same time my brother was sick with cancer.
And then, let's not forget "Dolores Clayborn" by Stephen King. NOT for you.
So, don't be too hard on yourself.
Take care.
I thought I'd learned my lesson, but it has been a long time since I'd gone to the movies. I guess the good part is that I'm not paranoid and defensive, or I wouldn't have walked into this mistake again. But I forgot to be about my wellness on this one.
Thanks for saying I shouldn't be too hard on myself, Deli. Because I was truly kicking myself. After reading what you've been through with films and your telling me not to be too hard on myself, though, I'll stop. I really appreciate what you said.
War movies i just get a very deep sadness. I tend to stick to documentaries. The ones about abuse, I end up in a cross between sadness and intense rage. If torture comes up in a movie I leave the room, over 10 yrs of that but a "new technique" each time. I must say sir you certainly stirred the pot inside me, and it NEEDS to be stirred since I'm working on dumping that pain. So in a way some good came from that movies since you helped me find some much needed tears, and I Thank You for that. That pain was only given to me but I didn't have to carry it around with me for over 40 yrs. I think it's time to let it go...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2103085/
Actually it is a mini series. Great series. Good acting. It is about an abused 10 year old girl. I watched the whole mini series over a weekend. Made for a crappy weekend but I couldn't look away.
I don't think it was a mistake, or foolish ... it may have been just a 'happening'..
Yes, it set you off a bit.. that's ok.. you recognized it as such, and you'll work through it.
I innocently went somewhere recently that did the same to me. I had no clue that this would set me off. To boot, there was no escaping the situation once I was there. I had no choice but to wait it out.. deep breathe, and positive self talk.
However, I will double think that type of decision in the future...
I just hope I don't go into paranoia mode...I've done that, too.
I'm so sorry this happened to you Muji...I know all too well that frightful anxious feeling, and the time it can take to get our ducks back in a row after such an occurrence.
Learning curve, I call it. It may actually work into a good thing... giving insight, perspective, and a bit more strength should such an event take place again.
((Muji))
But feelings of it are still lingering. I usually watch trailers and read reviews, but this was a quick decision. I will review closely before the next one.
UUUGGHHH!. I felt trauma revisited, stuck in the seat with my friend.
We both wanted a break, but not that kind. I need a Disney or Pixar movie, now to get it out of my head.
I'd say pretty much every movie -- from Disney to Shrek, or whatever -- could trigger somebody, somewhere :-)
or .... :-(
Catastrophe, mind numbing... marshmellow "Sugarplum" content only.
Lol, just popped in my head Lilly.
You are right that I'm learning about what the movie upset in me. This movie was about severe child abuse, something else a lot of us experienced growing up. One thing that got me about it was how it portrayed adult survivors of child abuse. It only portrayed us as seriously mentally ill victims who were mute or spoke gibberish and were permanently weird, damaged, and completely unable to function in society.
While true as to the life long serious effects of child abuse, as to our different capacities to function it was not the image I have experienced of us here at DS PTSD. It was not the image of me and my daily life I've worked towayrd teaching at the college and in such things as speaking about us in public, which I did today at a church. So it was a hopeless image I objected to very strongly and wouldn't care to endorse.
This thread has more than made up for it, though. The real voices of hope from survivors and thrivers here. A variety of movies spoken of, different genres, and jokes, even, with Jewells and her PTSD rating warnings and the Tinkerbell channel. You are the best, my friends. Thank you.
The reality is ...Here I have found more highly intelligent people in one spot then I have ever encountered in real world.
Now if we can overcome our fears, run for governmental offices... Can you imagine the changes that could happen? ....................................................insert evil laugh...........
We would rule the WORLD!
okay Gerty back to your room....lol
I find it many times, not the content, but the treatment of it that sets me off.
What did the student think? Did you chat about it later?