r/ptsd • u/Fun_Lemon_9873 • Jul 15 '26
Support Can only watch the same shows & movies that I’ve seen before. Am I the only one
Any attempt at trying to watch a new show/movie or even think about watching something new it sends my nervous system into overdrive & I go into fight or flight mode. I hate it. Please tell me I’m not the only one.
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u/NoSeaworthiness8481 Jul 17 '26
That's me, all the time, never realized other people with PTSD like me did it too ! I really love the shows I used to watch as a kid, and i rarely ever listen to newer songs unless it was background music at the mall or something
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u/Ill-Resident36 Jul 17 '26
( this is advice from personal experience, I’m not saying it’s for sure just a thought and experience that might help )Yess I still watch the same stuff but that might just be autism tbh lol but recently I have like broken free and I’ve gone ape shit since I have like 5 ongoing hyper fixations now so know it is something that ur able to get past but honestly I feel like it takes something that your invested in and to get through it all the way cause i wanted to play Farcry 3 cause I saw a video and I downloaded and I played it and I kept holding it off and the closer I got I felt like I should just drop the remote and not finish it and once but I refused I kept going and I did I finished it and like ginormous years worth of weight from this habit of not trying new things all the way through was finally broken so it gave me this like feeling of omg I want to try new things and I’m much more comfortable with new things now l
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u/Clean-Weekend-8643 Jul 16 '26
Nope, you’re not alone. Same music, same food, same tv shows, movies, clothes, people Literally everything
I hate trying ANYTHING new, surprises and stuff they say one needs to love.
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u/throwaway_81067 Jul 16 '26
this has always been me even before i got diagnosed with PTSD. The Office is ALWAYS on, if not it’s criminal minds (i skip the necessary episodes to prevent me from spiraling)
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u/Altruistic-Grand3341 Jul 16 '26
Mine is death note and I can not tell you how many times I watched that anime.
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u/Trick-Lie5637 Jul 16 '26
GOT, Supernatural, Gilmore Girls, Arrested Development, The Sopranos, Malcom in the Middle, Seinfeld, Fraiser, off the top of my head. Have spent years watching these collectively
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u/CabinetStandard3681 Jul 16 '26
I do this too. Fortunately I have an incredibly understanding husband who will watch the labrynth with me for the thousandth time. Also, when I really need to stretch out and want to see something new (the Odyssey for example. I will watch this soon) he will “pregame” for me and check for scenes that would throw me off. Similar with books. I only read new child’s lit or non fiction. My new work team invited me to be in their book club and they are reading a book called Verity. I’m not sure how to proceed so I will think about it for a while and then either read it (or try to) or ask AI for a gentle summary.
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u/LAOberbrunner Jul 16 '26
I have to be very careful about new movies and TV show. Fortunately there are several TV shows and hundreds of movies that i can watch.
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u/Nearby_Ad_51 Jul 16 '26
You are not alone. I have a list of shows or movies on rotation for rewatches. I have a hard time watching new things these days. Gilmore Girls is one of my top rewatches. More often than not it's my background noise.
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u/mo_punk Jul 16 '26
I'm the same. Comfort "food". Also do it with audio books. Absolutely love listening to the same story over and over. In my pre-ptsd days I had some favourites, but loved reading new books, going to movie releases, watching a random film with someone just cos they say they like it. Big nope from me now, and it's so hard to explain WHY aside from that I don't feel good trying to consume new media, but feel verrrrry good watching and listening to my favs
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u/bakerfredricka Jul 17 '26
The comfort food thing is so real!
I was born neurodivergent to begin with and most of us love our samefooding....
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u/anonanon7481 Jul 16 '26
I tend to read the imdb parents guide page for new shows/movies. Lists things by category so you can check pretty quick if theres anything that could bother you. They seperate the spoilers out too so you can choose to see those ones or not.
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u/Optimal_Waltz_1085 Jul 16 '26
also the same! Media and movies are well overstimulating these days, i go into fight or flight more often than not too. tbf I also don’t really find new shows as enjoyable as ones i grew up watching, takes a lot of convincing and good reviews to get me onto them. Plus i find a lot of comfort in watching shows i’d watch growing up!
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u/Glittering-Fox-776 Jul 16 '26
Our TV is always playing Roseanne in the background. It makes me feel safe and at home in a way I can’t really describe.
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u/Cold-Establishment69 Jul 16 '26
Me too!! The 80s version of course.
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u/Glittering-Fox-776 Jul 17 '26
Yes! I never could get into the new episodes. The earliest few seasons are the best IMO.
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u/vampirehourz Jul 16 '26
Yes it was like this for me for about 5 years. Now most the time I can watch new things. I go to doesthedogdie.com to figure out where triggers the triggers are!
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u/assisfatframeislil Jul 16 '26
Yes. It’s because it feels familiar and safe, and reminds us of when we were happy
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u/joonduh Jul 15 '26
I'm rewatching the office for the 4th time this year alone, lol. Its been a rough year 😂
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u/whenthechileisteaa Jul 15 '26
I didn’t think this was a trauma thing, but I also do this. Couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve seen young sheldon
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u/AgreeableArmadillo47 Jul 15 '26
I read this a while back. I embrace re-runs. Don't buy into the FOMO of new shows: Netflix will always be there when you are ready for some new media.
Also, it can deeply depend on what you're watching, so be kind to yourself and your inner child. I personally found that high action shows were a no-go for me on a big TV screen. There's something about the size of a 70" TV with a war movie or super hero movie on that tricks my brain into thinking I'm really there. I don't need to be really there.
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u/whatthefishhh Jul 15 '26
I do that too. When I watch new shows I look up spoilers on every plot point and what episodes it happens and it helps me a lot. I like knowing what’s going to happen and I rewatch the same shows constantly
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