TV Shows May Unknowingly Trigger Self-Harm
Growing up, I did not have a TV in my bedroom. Instead of staring at a screen for hours on end, I would climb the tree in the backyard or run around in the woods. I was the geek who would choose to write in a journal, over some movie marathon. Even now, I do not have one in my bedroom, but I do have a few shows that I obsessively follow.
It’s hard not to get hooked on a show if it grabs your attention for some reason or another. However, I’ve noticed that some shows seem to embrace the idea of self-harm without even realizing it. Shows that are set in different eras or in lands of fantasy may cut the skin of others or their own even if it is not for the reason many harm themselves for today.
Perhaps it is the fascination people have towards self-injury and scars. Maybe people oddly enjoy seeing blood or scars, especially those struggling to overcome self-harm. It could be possible that these scenes are put in shows simply because they are important to the plot.
However, I’m noticing this become more and more of a trend and for those suffering with self-harm, these scenes could easily trigger the addiction.
Prepare Yourself For Self-Harm Triggers on Television
I’ve recently become obsessed with a show called Salem. It’s a show set during the time of the Salem Witch Trials and sometimes I wonder why I watch the show because of how insane it is. There is a lot of magic, death, sex, mystery and blood on the show and for some people, that’s all you need to say to grab their attention.
Well, it sure worked for me.
A recent episode showed a barebacked woman who was carrying a message. The message slowly appeared on her back through scars and remained there for the entirety of the scene. There was another scene where a character had to cut his skin to “let out a demon” and some scenes where characters would scratch themselves so hard that marks were left.
For some people, these scenes are nothing out of the ordinary. However, for those trying to overcome self-harm, just watching scars appear on someone’s back may make them want to scar their own skin.
Set Boundaries For Yourself
It’s the littlest things that can make someone switch from going weeks without an urge to cut to needing that feeling of pain at that second. Salem is definitely not the only show that deals with scars and hints of self-harm. However, it is important to be able to assess your boundaries before watching a show that may affect you in unsafe ways.
Words and visuals can easily put you down a road you don’t want to be on if you aren’t prepared. Don’t put yourself in a position where you may turn to self-harm if triggers arrive. Prepare yourself and go from there.
You can also find Jennifer Aline Graham on Google+, Facebook, Twitter and her website is here. Find out more about Noon through Amazon.com.
APA Reference
Aline, J.
(2014, June 4). TV Shows May Unknowingly Trigger Self-Harm, HealthyPlace. Retrieved
on 2024, April 25 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/speakingoutaboutselfinjury/2014/06/tv-shows-may-unknowingly-trigger-self-harm