Can you get post traumatic stress from watching tv or movies?

Question

Are nightmares a form of mild PTSD? if you watch entire seasons back to back and find yourself on edge due to the show, or viewing the world slightly differently due to the show,,, is that a mild form of PTSD? Obviously the show/movie must be really scary or violent or otherwise shocking.

Answer 1

You know- that's a really great question... and I have no idea!  I don't think you can get PTSD unless you've personally been through an ordeal that would bring it on.  But I think tv/movies can definitely disturb and warp a person's thinking process or outlook.  As for finding yourself scared after watching something, that's just normal.  People watch scary movies because the body reacts to the danger, while the mind knows that it's actually safe and sound.  Then there's all the adrenalin and all that scientific stuff that goes along with it... I'm not going to sort through that because I'll just sound stupid. :D

Anyway, I think nightmares are just an immediate result of the thoughts still occuring as we drift off to sleep. Watch a scary movie, get scared, go to sleep that night, think about it (even in the back of your mind), and then dream about it... That's my take on it. :) I'm sure you can get scientific about it though.

Answer 2

That's a really interesting question!  I'm not a psychologist or anything, but I would guess that it's possible - especially if the show is really real, or if young children watch shows like that.

Answer 3

Yes one can. But most people realize that those scenes horror are not in their lives. But their are some who cannot separate the two. The brain does many wondrous things to protect us and to help us find pleasure. You would be surprised at how our brains are hard wired for pleasure. But when some one will see something that is shocking they can have PTSD. PTSD ranges from mild discomfort like dreams and such to full blown panic and sweats. This also depends on the person and how emotionally developed they are. If a three year old watches a movie like "My Bloody Valentine" those dream and nightmares are PTSD.

Answer 4

I wouldn't call it a form of PTSD. In any case, if a show was causing someone to have nightmares why would they persist in watching them? I'm a very sensitive person to violence and I can't watch a large percentage of network programming because of all the violence.

Answer 5

I wouldn't think so--it would take your INVOLVEMENT in the happening.  As an hidden observer of the subject of the violence!  I suppose that if a more sensitive person watched violent movies a lot, they could have nightmares, but it would take direct involvement in the actual action--either as a object of the violence, or as an observer.  Nightmares, are your mind trying to work out problems encountered in your life!!  If you ARE experiencing stress after watching violent movies, I'd advise you to STOP WATCHING THEM!!

Answer 6

No and I think that would be extremley offensive to war veterans who went through h**l defending our country to have their mind state compared to somene that watched a scary movie.  That is unbelievably ignorant.