Traumatic grief is an experience that no one is ever prepared for or should take lightly. Well-wishers may encourage us to move on long before our minds and hearts are ready to do so. Grief affects us all in different ways, but common symptoms of grief include denial, feeling empty, feeling angry, or even thinking that you can still see and communicate with that person.
Healing from traumatic grief usually requires close support from friends and family — and in some cases, therapy with a mental health professional. Although it may sound simple, watching a movie about what grieving looks like can show you that you are not alone in your feelings and how to get through it. Let’s explore two examples that teach valuable lessons about how we respond to traumatic grief.
Bridge to Terabithia
The Bridge to Terabithia is a Disney movie based on the book by Katherine Peterson. She wrote the book in response to her son losing his friend after she died getting struck by lightning, and her son wrote the screenplay for the movie. In the movie, the main character, Jess, loses his friend, Leslie, after she drowns in a creek swinging across a rope that broke.
When Jess first hears about her death from his dad, he denies it and thinks it is a lie. Then when Jess goes to the funeral, he thinks he can see Leslie there and tells his teacher that Leslie should go with them on their next field trip together as if she is still alive.
When Jess goes back to their favorite place together, it no longer looks special to him and he finally grieves his friend with support from his father. He decides to include his little sister in his special place with Leslie and make the best of his life. This movie shows that Jess had trouble processing his friend’s death but then decided to honor her memory through his sister.
The Babadook
The Babadook is an Australian horror film where a character named Amelia lost her husband on the day her son was born. This causes her to never celebrate her son’s birthday, as she thinks more about the loss of her husband rather than celebrating her son’s life.
Amelia and her son are both forced to battle a shadowy figure called the Babadook that torments victims when they are aware of its existence. It tries to consume Amelia and go after her son until she fights the monster off. At the end of the movie, the Babadook still exists, but it is trapped in a basement where they have control over it.
Grief will always stay with you, but it is important to find another place for it so it does not consume your life. These movies show that with the right support and mindset, you can rebuild your life after traumatic grief.
Movies are a powerful medium that not only tells a story, but can help you relate to the trauma that others go through when they lose someone. Cinema therapy is just one of many alternative treatments offered at The Guest House, where we believe in the importance of creating a safe place to forgive and overcome trauma. If you or a loved one are suffering from traumatic grief that is impacting your life, we can help. To learn more, call us today at (855) 483-7800.