PTSD On Screen

PTSD is a widely misunderstood mental disorder that is extremely prevalent among people who have suffered trauma. Originally, the diagnosis of PTSD was only afforded to men coming back from war, haunted by the brutality they had seen. This fuels misconceptions of PTSD to this day. In actuality, it is a much more complex disease than this archetype. 

PTSD can affect anyone who has suffered any form of trauma, and can even affect people decades after their traumatic experiences have passed. As our understanding of the condition grows, there have been more and more portrayals on screen in popular media, illustrating the complexities of the disorder. This kind of representation normalizes the condition and helps in disconfirming stereotypes. Let’s examine some famous examples from some of our culture’s most popular movies: 

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man, is one of the leading characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and in many ways is a stereotypical “superhero.” He’s also notoriously stoic and avoidant, which is why it’s so cool that Iron Man 3 explores a more vulnerable side of the character. 

The chronological predecessor of Iron Man 3 is The Avengers, during which Tony Stark has a near death experience. In Iron Man 3, we see the repercussions of this experience on Stark’s mental health. He experiences multiple panic attacks throughout the film, exhibiting many typical symptoms; a rapid heart beat, hot flashes, a sense of impending doom, and mental and emotional distress. 

Stark’s first attack occurs in a bar after a friend discusses the Pentagon being nervous “after New York,” a reference to the events that led to Stark’s near death experience. Breathless, he rushes out of the crowded room into his awaiting suit;

“Check the heart, check the… check the… is it the brain?” he asks, desperately. 

“No sign of cardiac anomaly or unusual brain activity,” replies J.A.R.V.I.S., his suit. 

“Ok, so it’s poison?” Stark probes. 

“My diagnosis is that you’ve experienced a severe anxiety attack.” J.A.R.V.I.S. declares. 

We see several more attacks throughout the film, most of which occur in response to triggers, including the mention of any reference to New York. Stark loses his breath, awakens from a nightmare thinking he is in danger and almost attacks his wife, violently pulls his car over to the side of the road in order to get out, and at one point runs away, quickly removes his coat, and shovels a handful of snow onto his face to cool down. 

It takes the whole film for Stark’s symptoms to reside, and eventually, he chooses to take a step back from being Iron Man in order to protect both his mental and physical health. This might seem like defeat, but actually, the film does a really good job of portraying how self care is exactly what has been missing from Stark’s life, and how damaging the absence of it has been.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

You might think a children’s movie is the last place you’re going to find depictions of PTSD or panic attacks. But children experience anxiety and trauma too, and introducing them to common mental health challenges at an early age helps to develop awareness and reduce stigma–one of the biggest reasons adults do not seek help–throughout their lives.

In Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Puss is down to his “last life.” Being a cat, he has nine, and until now has been careless with them. With the reality of his mortality and vulnerability looming, Puss develops extreme anxiety, which culminates in a panic attack towards the climax of the film.

Having been triggered by an explosion, we see Puss experience paranoia (he believes someone is chasing him), a rapid heartbeat, and breathlessness, in response to which he runs as far away as he can and hides. This is a common response to anxiety. The reason our bodies make us feel anxious is because they believe we are in danger and need to flee. Increasing heart rate and blood flow literally helps us to run more quickly!

What’s great about this depiction is that it not only portrays another “hero” experiencing mental health challenges just like anyone else might, but it also illustrates how friends and community can be supportive. Puss’ little dog friend, Perrito, finds Puss and, non-judgmentally, simply sits, resting his head in Puss’s lap. This helps Puss to remember that he is not alone, and not in danger, and enables him (and his nervous system!) to calm him down.

Forrest Gump, 1994

Forrest Gump is a much older movie than Iron Man 3 or Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. It was made during a time when many more people associated PTSD solely with veterans. However, the representation of Lieutenant Dan’s PTSD in the film is done in a relatively tasteful fashion. Lieutenant Dan is a Vietnam veteran who loses his legs, but survives, while most of the rest of his troop are killed. Recovering in hospital next to Forrest Gump, the main character, a troop under Lieutenant Dan’s command, and the person who saved his life, Lieutenant Dan first exhibits survivor’s guilt, stating:

“I should have died out there with my men.'' Later, this manifests as anger towards Gump, whom he blames for not letting him die.

“I had a destiny,” he tells Gump. “I was Lieutenant Dan Taylor.”

“You’re still Lieutenant Dan,” Gump replies.

Later in the film, Lieutenant Dan is shown to present continuing symptoms, exhibiting reckless, risky behavior and losing his belief in God. In one scene, during an insane storm on a fishing boat, he climbs up to the mast of the ship and starts screaming into the emptiness.

The depiction of Lieutenant Dan’s PTSD is somewhat stereotypical. However, the film also takes us along on his road to recovery. With the support of good friends like Gump, Lieutenant Dan is able to develop a healthy romantic relationship, succeed in business, and find a new destiny.

Conclusion

The examples here all depict strong, male characters – protagonists, superheroes, and soldiers, who suffer from the same condition. These depictions help to destigmatize PTSD, and reduce the shame surrounding it. Ultimately, this kind of destigmatization saves many people from suffering in silence.