My girlfriend is deadly afraid of the movie character "Chucky". She watched the movie when she was 7 or 8 years old and now over 10 years later she is still scared of chucky and sometimes dolls too. She runs and cries and hyperventilates at the sight of anything similar to that. I was wondering if there is anyway we could break her fear of this because it is all fake. She said maybe watching the movie would help her fears but i don't want to push her into doing anything she doesn't want to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
2007-12-20 03:57:57 · 8 answers · asked by WyteRyno 1 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
What you want to do is make everything about it as safe as possible.
So, all the lights on, you sit close and hold her, and keep the remote on hand to stop it if it gets too much.
Phobias are possibly the most amenable to therapy, so she might consider finding a therapist who specializes in phobias, instead.
But what they do is slowly expose the person to more and more of what they feat, always keeping the situation safe. They also teach relaxation techniques.
Um, it is all fake you say?
No it isn't.
The movie was made to scare people (and she shouldn't have seen it, obviously, as she was too young).
Her fear is real, though Chucky isn't.
It's also possible that the movie will seem silly to her, after she's seen it a couple of times. When I see things that scared me as a little kid, it seems funny to me now (the witch in Oz, for instance).
But be prepared to stop it if she asks you.
You can then try again another time, and, with repeated exposure, she can come to watch the whole thing, and it not effect her so strongly.
2007-12-20 08:09:12 · answer #1 · answered by tehabwa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's one thing to be scared by a movie-WHILE you are watching the movie.
She can't seriously believe at 17 or 18 that the movie itself can hurt her, or that there really are homicidal posessed dolls. That fear is completely unreasonable. Running and crying and hyperventilating? A bit of acting perhaps? If she was literally that terrified beyond all reason I doubt she would suggest watching the thing. Phobia sufferers will do anything to avoid the object of fear, and normally seek help only when it has detrimentally and extensively affected their everyday life.
Good for you for being concerned and trying to help.
2007-12-20 04:20:21 · answer #2 · answered by BillyTheKid 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
exposure to fears is what gets people used to them, so if she really wants to get over her chucky fear, she should watch the movie at some point.
maybe try starting out by giving her a small doll...like a troll doll, those things are weird. and have her carry it around in her pocket or purse or something...just to reinforce that it is just a doll and can not hurt her. baby steps, you know.....=)
2007-12-20 04:27:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In order to get over a fear, you have to be exposed to it. Also, explain to her that what would scare her at 6 or 7 years old probably wouldn't scare her now. But if she really insists on not watching the movie, don't push her.
2007-12-20 04:05:07 · answer #4 · answered by kittycarial 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm glad you want to help her dissolve her fear, but to help her you need to first understand what developed the fear in the first place. Then you need to keep reminding her that she has love and support. However it is very important to keep in mind that you don't want to excessively poke and prod at the issue, getting over a fear takes lots of time and patience. But I am confident that you will help her through it. It sounds like you care about her a lot.
2007-12-20 04:21:53 · answer #5 · answered by Luminous Mind 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If her fear is significant I would not suggest watching the film without getting some support or advice first. Her G.P. can refer her to a local psychology service where she can get support with an exposure programme. Hypnotism and relaxation therapies can also be very helpful.
2007-12-20 04:06:02 · answer #6 · answered by Andi C 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It does work me and my husband were really sacred of spiders but when i was a kid i owned a tarantula. He was the reason behind my fear as he reared and got his fangs out one time when i was holding him, I threw him off and was too scared to touch him after that and slowly my fear of spiders began. I would scream hysterically if one was on me and have to kill one as soon as i saw it in the house. I was pretty pathetic.
I decided that i wasn't going to be scared of them anymore and went to my pet shop to buy a tarantula, I knew it would be locked up in its tank and i knew it wouldn't need feeding that often and when it did i could just drop the food in. When i got to the pet shop i decide to buy two and when the man got them out to put them in a tub for me i felt sick and dizzy. On the way home i had them both on my knee and i could see the females fangs coming out and biting the tissue and the box. I was damn scared and wanted to put them down but it was all part of my therapy so i kept hold of them sweating and feeling sick. Once we got them home and into there big tanks i was getting shivers just by looking at them but over time i began to get really fond of them and started to feed them with tongs and put my hands inside there tank to fill there water bowls instead of just pouring it in.
I now own 11 tarantulas and love them all.
I know its not the same as Chucky but you get what im saying.
2007-12-20 04:12:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
definetly. each time you face your fear and do what you fear, it gets easier, untin eventually the fear is gonel Howeer, your girlfriend has a fear of a character that portrays pure evil.
I would don't ever watch it again, and to the Lord to take away the thoughts and fear of it.
2007-12-20 04:04:33 · answer #8 · answered by Jewel 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋