Have you ever encountered someone who claimed to have been traumatized by watching a scary movie?
As a clinician, it might be easy to dismiss their claim, but since what traumatizes us is highly subjective, it's actually possible for someone to suffer lasting effects if they become so immersed in the film that their brain perceives the danger as real. This can lead to a state of hypervigilance, causing more symptoms to develop as the person struggles to resolve their fear.
In the video I'm sharing here, I tried to answer this intriguing question and explore the complex relationship between frightening films and trauma.
Imagine watching a spine-chilling movie, your heart racing as you're engrossed in the suspense and horror unfolding on the screen. It's a thrilling experience, but once the movie ends, you can usually reassure yourself that it was just fiction and move on, right? Well, not everyone can resolve their emotional reactions without effort.
For some individuals, the fear doesn't dissipate so easily. For those truly traumatized by a scary movie, the fear seems to persist indefinitely. They might find themselves constantly thinking about the frightening scenes, experiencing nightmares, or feeling as though the horrors depicted in the film could happen to them at any moment in the real world.
So, what distinguishes a momentary scare from lasting trauma?
It's not just about feeling scared in the moment; it's about how individuals process and resolve (or fail to resolve) that fear and sense of insecurity afterward. If the fear persists and disrupts their life, causing dysfunction, then it's fair to say that the movie has traumatized them. The psychological mechanisms activated when we watch scary movies have the potential to cause long-term effects on our mental and physical well-being.
For those who are horror enthusiasts, remember that not everyone shares your experience! For those who prefer to avoid frightening films, your reasons are valid. For individuals already living in a state of hypervigilance, a movie can feel all too real. Movies have the potential to retraumatize viewers. Trauma is real, subjective, and not a joke or a fad.
Please like, share, and subscribe to my Youtube channel for more thought-provoking videos. I invite you to join me in exploring the complexities of the human psyche and the fascinating ways in which our minds respond to the world around us through my series titled: Understanding Trauma.