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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by deirdrehbrt on September 10, 2004, at 21:37:28
I was thinking about posting in 'students', but there seems very little activity there.
Today, in psych class, the instructor played a scene from "The Dead Poets Society". It was the scene where a student commits suicide after his father disapproves of his acting in a play, tells him that he will go to a military school, and then study medicine.
I didn't know right away if the scene would upset me, but I had an idea it might. It did, and it's been a bit of a chore keeping thoughts out of my head. I took my meds, and I'm waititng to go to sleep. I might take some more Seroquel if I can't.
Do you think it would be unreasonable, or would I seem wimpy if I asked the instructor to tell me if that sort of thing is coming up? I would feel stupid leaving a class for that sort of thing, but suicide scenes are a big trigger for me.
Thanks for your help guys,
Dee.
Posted by PhoenixGirl on September 10, 2004, at 22:37:43
In reply to A video in class today, posted by deirdrehbrt on September 10, 2004, at 21:37:28
Dee, you are well within your rights to request the professor tell you in advance of upsetting things like that movie. The professor is there to serve the students, and the whole point of class is to benefit students. You are probably even paying for the class. Also, you would be taking care of your health. You're worth it. A lot of us with mental health problems have a hard time standing up for ourselves and taking care of ourselves. Talking to your professor is a chance to practive assertiveness and get used to the feeling of taking care of yourself. Each time you practice something like this, the next time you need to stand up for yourself will be easier. You'll be laying the groundwork for a self-respecting life.
When you talk to the professor, you can word it your own way, if you would like to maintain your privacy about your mental health. You could just say that you don't like to see things like that, so you'd like the professor to tell you ahead of time if material like that will be brought into the classroom again. Whatever works for you and makes you feel comfortable. (((Dee)))> I was thinking about posting in 'students', but there seems very little activity there.
>
> Today, in psych class, the instructor played a scene from "The Dead Poets Society". It was the scene where a student commits suicide after his father disapproves of his acting in a play, tells him that he will go to a military school, and then study medicine.
>
> I didn't know right away if the scene would upset me, but I had an idea it might. It did, and it's been a bit of a chore keeping thoughts out of my head. I took my meds, and I'm waititng to go to sleep. I might take some more Seroquel if I can't.
>
> Do you think it would be unreasonable, or would I seem wimpy if I asked the instructor to tell me if that sort of thing is coming up? I would feel stupid leaving a class for that sort of thing, but suicide scenes are a big trigger for me.
>
> Thanks for your help guys,
>
> Dee.
Posted by ghost on September 11, 2004, at 4:01:51
In reply to A video in class today, posted by deirdrehbrt on September 10, 2004, at 21:37:28
DEFINITELY talk to your professor about this. Something like this is extremely important (as are you), and professors need to learn to be sensitive to issues like that. I'm surprised the prof didn't warn you ahead of time anyway. Sounds like he needs a reality check.
*hugs*
ghost
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 11, 2004, at 17:54:29
In reply to A video in class today, posted by deirdrehbrt on September 10, 2004, at 21:37:28
> I was thinking about posting in 'students', but there seems very little activity there.
FYI, I've reposted it there, too, just in case it might stimulate some activity...
Bob
Posted by Susan47 on September 11, 2004, at 18:05:18
In reply to Re: A video in class today, posted by PhoenixGirl on September 10, 2004, at 22:37:43
I realize I'm being obtuse but I just don't understand what possible benefit a movie scene could be to a psych class. It's a movie. There was a script. Couldn't the instructor "talk" his way through that particular subject, class, whatever? Gosh. It just seems insensitive of a psych instructor to do something like that. Sure s'he would realize there might be some intense negative reactions? Movies are *meant* to evoke emotion. I think he was a klutz, period.
Posted by Angela2 on September 11, 2004, at 19:13:07
In reply to Re: A video in class today, posted by PhoenixGirl on September 10, 2004, at 22:37:43
> Dee, you are well within your rights to request the professor tell you in advance of upsetting things like that movie. The professor is there to serve the students, and the whole point of class is to benefit students. You are probably even paying for the class. Also, you would be taking care of your health. You're worth it. A lot of us with mental health problems have a hard time standing up for ourselves and taking care of ourselves. Talking to your professor is a chance to practive assertiveness and get used to the feeling of taking care of yourself.
Phoenix girl is right.
Each time you practice something like this, the next time you need to stand up for yourself will be easier. You'll be laying the groundwork for a self-respecting life.
> When you talk to the professor, you can word it your own way, if you would like to maintain your privacy about your mental health. You could just say that you don't like to see things like that, so you'd like the professor to tell you ahead of time if material like that will be brought into the classroom again. Whatever works for you and makes you feel comfortable. (((Dee)))
>
> > I was thinking about posting in 'students', but there seems very little activity there.
> >
> > Today, in psych class, the instructor played a scene from "The Dead Poets Society". It was the scene where a student commits suicide after his father disapproves of his acting in a play, tells him that he will go to a military school, and then study medicine.
> >
> > I didn't know right away if the scene would upset me, but I had an idea it might. It did, and it's been a bit of a chore keeping thoughts out of my head. I took my meds, and I'm waititng to go to sleep. I might take some more Seroquel if I can't.
> >
> > Do you think it would be unreasonable, or would I seem wimpy if I asked the instructor to tell me if that sort of thing is coming up? I would feel stupid leaving a class for that sort of thing, but suicide scenes are a big trigger for me.
> >
> > Thanks for your help guys,
> >
> > Dee.
>
>
Posted by Angela2 on September 11, 2004, at 19:13:39
In reply to Re: A video in class today, posted by Angela2 on September 11, 2004, at 19:13:07
Posted by Angela2 on September 12, 2004, at 13:58:23
In reply to Re: A video in class today, posted by Angela2 on September 11, 2004, at 19:13:07
Dee,
I have been thinking about this lately and I just wanted to post again to say that I have had to do things like this in my classes...tell my teachers that I am sensitive to a particular subject and ask them to provide me with different assignments and stuff. It is scary because you think they might not understand but with me, it has been not a problem. Phoenixgirl said that it is about respecting yourself and being assertive, and it really is. Admitting who you are is a really liberating thing.
Angela
Posted by deirdrehbrt on September 12, 2004, at 18:52:59
In reply to Re: A video in class today, posted by Angela2 on September 12, 2004, at 13:58:23
Thanks, everyone.
I tried to write an e-mail to my teacher, but couldn't come up with the right words. I'll try to tell her tomorrow.
I do have a problem being assertive, and maybe that's why my e-mails sounded off to me. My teacher knows just a little about me, and likes the idea of taking care of myself, so maybe it will be a non-issue.
Thank you all for your wonderful advice, and for the positive feedback. Hugs to you all.
Dee.
Posted by gardenergirl on September 12, 2004, at 21:44:48
In reply to Re: A video in class today, posted by deirdrehbrt on September 12, 2004, at 18:52:59
Dee,
I hope you are able to talk with your instructor and that it goes well. I think it is a perfectly reasonable request. As someone who used to teach in a psychology dept, actually, I would be really glad if a student informed me that something I presented was upsetting. I would rather know that ahead so that I can help the student decide how to handle it in advance.Take care,
gg
Posted by JenStar on September 13, 2004, at 10:40:03
In reply to A video in class today, posted by deirdrehbrt on September 10, 2004, at 21:37:28
hi Deirdre,
I agree with the other posters that you should be able to talk to your teacher and ask for notification / alternate assignments if these things distress you. I'd also recommend having a "plan of attack" on how to get over being so affected by them that you can't sleep/etc.Do you have a therapist who can help? Do you know why this scene upset you so much? Do you have a plan for minimizing your stress response to this kind of scene over time? You'll probably be a lot happier and lose a baseline level of anxiety/stress if you don't need to worry about being suddenly surprised by upsetting stuff in class...and have the confidence to handle it if it DOES pop up (in class or anywhere...like TV ads, movies, etc.).
Good luck! I hope all goes well.
JenStar
> I was thinking about posting in 'students', but there seems very little activity there.
>
> Today, in psych class, the instructor played a scene from "The Dead Poets Society". It was the scene where a student commits suicide after his father disapproves of his acting in a play, tells him that he will go to a military school, and then study medicine.
>
> I didn't know right away if the scene would upset me, but I had an idea it might. It did, and it's been a bit of a chore keeping thoughts out of my head. I took my meds, and I'm waititng to go to sleep. I might take some more Seroquel if I can't.
>
> Do you think it would be unreasonable, or would I seem wimpy if I asked the instructor to tell me if that sort of thing is coming up? I would feel stupid leaving a class for that sort of thing, but suicide scenes are a big trigger for me.
>
> Thanks for your help guys,
>
> Dee.
Posted by deirdrehbrt on September 13, 2004, at 11:36:20
In reply to Re: A video in class today » deirdrehbrt, posted by JenStar on September 13, 2004, at 10:40:03
Thanks everyone...
When I went to class today, the first thing we did was to talk about the video. I sort of expected that, and it went well.Of course, my views, having attempted suicide more than once, were quite different than those of the other students, but the discussion, being expected, was much easier than the video clip, which was unexpected.
I did manage to gather up the courage to talk to the teacher about being triggered. I asked her to merely let me know in advance if something triggering is coming up. I think, like I said before, that the best thing for me is to know what's coming, and then I can prepare for it better. I probably wouldn't need to excuse myself from the class or anything.
Anyway, Thanks to all of you again, you really helped.Dee.
Posted by sexylexy on September 13, 2004, at 12:15:59
In reply to A video in class today, posted by deirdrehbrt on September 10, 2004, at 21:37:28
Dee,
IT would not be at all wimmpy, but strong of you to tellyour professor that those things are a trigger for you. You are doing an awsome thing by working to keep those thoughts out of your head as I know how intrussive they can be. Yo go girl!
LExySorry about the spelling, I am on a lot of sinus medicine and am total medicine head feeling
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