Hi,

Last night I saw the movie Avatar and I liked it very much... but.... I am such a sensitive viewer or what?? When I saw the violent scenes of that particular movie I felt so overwhelmed about them. I was even about to leave the theater, but thought that that would have been embarrassing and, after all, that was fiction/animation, nothing real, right?

I no longer can watch the news or see certain scenes of some programs... I am starting to get so worried about being so sensitive... what can I do? can this be "fixed"?

Thanks for reading/replying to this!

- Cat

Hi Cat,

I don't know if you ever say "Sin City" which was released in 2005 (for your sake, I am hoping not), but I really, really wanted to leave during that movie, although I didn't because I was there with my new boyfriend (at the time) and I didn't know how to explain what I was experiencing. I do know that once the movie was over I could barely talk and needed to go home and go to sleep asap. I was miserable. I have not seen "Avatar", so I cannot relate directly to your experience of this movie, but I know exactly how you feel. I am pretty picky about movies I see in general now...I try to avoid obnoxious comedies that everyone else think are funny (to me, they aren't, and then I just feel like something is wrong with me).

Sorry I can't offer more insight into this...I am curious what others have to say about this as well. I know that I am sensitive to lots of stimuli (noise, crowds, bright lights) in general, are you?

[salukigirl]

I had to turn off The Hills Have Eyes because I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't watch Sin City either. I don't really want to fix it. I think its a good thing to be empathetic. There is nothing wrong with you. You just have such a big heart you can't stand to see others suffer. I see that as a good thing. I don't like people that CAN or even LIKE to watch stuff like that.

[Perna]

I think you have to do a little detective work and see exactly what you don't like about whatever you want to turn away from (me, it's anything at all dramatic because of the intense emotional feelings) and see if you want to "fix" that. If you literally just "don't like" violence, I can't see why you would want to fix that (unless you turn away from some situations you want to know about/be aware of, like the suffering in Haiti) but there is no reason that you have to saturate yourself in stuff if you don't find it pleasant, or any reason you have to feel ashamed.

I "make myself" watch some affective scenes, the one where the person is going to be rejected or is going to admit that they love someone, etc. because I want that in my "real" life. Some things do exist, including violence and pain. While we don't want those things, I also don't want to become insensitive to them from turning away all the time. I want to see what is "there" whether I like it or not.

[Stranger2]

I'm the same way with horror movies.. I feel like I am part of it.. I smoke and have to go outside to do it.. The whole time I am out there I am on guard after seeing Just part of a horror movie..I have even gone as far as to looking whats on the back porch that I can use as a weapon to protect myself..

[pondbc]

Hi Cat_eyes, I also have to be very careful what I allow into my brain or it will replay itself in an endless loop. I cannot watch any violence, any cruelty especially to children and animals or even meanness/nastiness/bullying. I have walked out of so many movies - can't count how many. My parents always said I was 'hypersensitive' and I guess they were right.

Originally Posted by harrietgate

Hi Cat_eyes, I also have to be very careful what I allow into my brain or it will replay itself in an endless loop. I cannot watch any violence, any cruelty especially to children and animals or even meanness/nastiness/bullying. I have walked out of so many movies - can't count how many. My parents always said I was 'hypersensitive' and I guess they were right.

I like the phrase "highly sensitive person".

Funny you should mention that Cat. I used to love slasher movies when I was younger and also documentaries about true crime and things like that but now I find myself changing the stations. I can not stomach certain things now. I get very emotional if I see stories where children suffer. Funny how we change over time. Peace - Dennis

Originally Posted by cat_eyes

Hi,

Last night I saw the movie Avatar and I liked it very much... but.... I am such a sensitive viewer or what?? When I saw the violent scenes of that particular movie I felt so overwhelmed about them. I was even about to leave the theater, but thought that that would have been embarrassing and, after all, that was fiction/animation, nothing real, right?

I no longer can watch the news or see certain scenes of some programs... I am starting to get so worried about being so sensitive... what can I do? can this be "fixed"?

Thanks for reading/replying to this!

- Cat

[possum220]

Yup, I know where you are at cat. Sometimes the stuff in our own heads is quite enough to deal with, let alone take on other scary info.

I too refuse to watch the news, scary movies, creepy songs etc. I didn't even watch Casper the friendly ghost (movie) when it came out.

I feel so responsible for the bad news. I feel guilt and fear. It just takes you into a system overload.

Yes cat you probably are sensitive, so try and take care of the information that finds its way into your head. Enough is enough. The world is moving at such a fast pace.