I will always remember 2019 as the year I discovered how childhood bullying had unconsciously traumatized me and resulted in clinical depression. Having been picked on by other kids numerous times in schools growing up, I was scarred in ways that embedded many types of fears in me that I am finally unearthing and healing.
The 16-week day treatment program and psychotherapy I started in early 2019 was the catalyst for remembering the bullying I experienced (
Read more). I then began researching more about the wounded child and
Reparenting Therapy. Later on a close friend recommended a book called
Complex PTSD From Surviving to Thriving by Author, Pete Walker that had many tools he’d started to use for his own childhood traumas.
I’ve yet to read this book but it inspired me to research
complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) online and found a video interview with Saturday Night Live veteran Darrell Hammond who discussed this disorder and his own childhood abuse. I remembered his hilarious impressions of Sean Connery and Bill Clinton and was inspired by how his writing and work was part of his healing and therapy. I am also eager to see his documentary Cracked Up that details more of his childhood trauma. See trailer:
Cracked Up: The Darrell Hammond Story 2018 ‧ Documentary
Listen to interview:
The Long Arm of Childhood Trauma
With Saturday Night Live veteran Darrell Hammond, filmmaker Michelle Esrick, and Mount Sinai psychologist Jacob Ham, PhD
There was a fascinating and mind-blowing fact I learned from the interview where they brought up the true origins of Marvel Comic’s character The Hulk. They discuss that Bruce Banner/The Hulk was emotionally and physically abused as a child by his father and nurse which planted the seeds of rage and anger in Bruce that later unleashes as an adult. I found this amazing because I had no idea about The Hulk’s childhood traumas despite reading these comics as a child. It’s a bizarre, enlightening metaphor for the hidden facts about my own childhood coming to light.
Read more:
The Hulk & childhood trauma
Around this time I also saw It Chapter 2 and like the first film, It Chapter One, it was difficult watching the harsh and painful bullying that happens to the main characters both as kids and as adults. But because they learn to confront their demons these became examples of films that fill me with hope for facing my own monsters.
It Chapter One (2017)
The supernatural horror film, It Chapter One, is about a group of seven bullied kids in the summer of 1989 who band together to destroy a shape-shifting monster, Pennywise in their small town of Derry, Maine. The main cast includes: Jaeden Lieberher, Wyatt Oleff, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Grazer, Chosen Jacobs, Jackson Robert Scott and Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise.
See:
movie trailer
Watch now:
Amazon Prime
Based on the Stephen King novel, this movie is filled with some of the same fun and nostalgia of childhood friendships that I loved in his other film
Stand By Me. It also shows how they are all bonded by their shared experiences of being bullied. We then get to see them face their individual fears in some scary moments on screen. They learn the supportive power of teamwork and prove they are really winners despite calling themselves The Loser Club.
It Chapter Two (2019)
The supernatural horror film, It Chapter Two, is set in 2016, Twenty-seven years after The Loser Club’s first encounter with the evil clown Pennywise and must return to their hometown of Derry, Maine to stop his terrorizing once again. Along with the original child actors returning, their adult versions are played by Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Andy Bean and Bill Skarsgård returning as Pennywise.
See:
movie trailer
Watch now:
Amazon Prime
There are more terrifying scenes in this second chapter and it was also fun to see the adult versions of The Loser Club and how their personalities were still prevalent decades later. At the same time we see how each of their childhood traumas have affected their lives and relationships years later. For example we see Beverly (Jessica Chastain) married to an abusive husband continuing the abuse she got from her father.
These adult heroes show their deepest fears in facing Pennywise but also in returning to their childhood memories and traumas. And yet their love and support of one another allow them to have shining moments facing their inner and outer demons. These are the moments that empower me to do the same with acknowledging my history of being bullied and learn to confront hidden fears of my wounded inner child. It’ll take time but if The Loser Club can be free of the chains of their past then so can I.
The heroes in movies, both young and old, can help inspire us to face our childhood fears. They can mirror our inner strengths to overcome the negative voices in our heads and challenge these monsters once and for all. Just remember you are not alone in your struggles. Your inner child may be wounded but along with your adult self can become each other’s greatest allies!
Related Tips:
Tip#906:
Connecting with Your Inner Child, Part 1 - Top 10 Movies
Tip#1149:
Connecting with Your Inner Child, Part 9 - Rocketman
Tip#1154:
Connecting with Your Inner Child, Part 10 - Shazam!
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Remember How Movies Can Help You:
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C) Inspiration & Motivation
Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Award-winning Illustrator | Movie Blogger | Speaker | Foodie
Discover Movies As Inspirational Learning Tools!
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www.MoviesForMotivation.com
© Emmanuel Lopez 2019
