TV/film violence and heart health.

[Khonkaen]

I am generally pretty depressed with the current film industry, just one violent film after another and almost always without a proper story. A sausage machine of ever increasing violence, so I look through the current library and then turn to old films.

However, last night I thought I would give it a go and watched the latest Stallone film, "Last Blood", after all "First Blood" was okay, just. But things have got worse and just as I expected it was cheap continuous and gratuitous violence. All the real nasty stuff was at the end, so it didn't turn off as I have on many previous occasions, when it all kicks off, then it was time for my bed.

I was mentally rattled, had heart pains, sweaty and even had pins and needles in my hands, anxious too and needed a pill to sleep, so this cannot be healthy. But this and others like it is what population is watching. Even some of the kids stuff is violent.

This forum talks a lot about diet, exercise and lifestyle changes, well maybe this should be listed too. This stuff is not "kind" to our bodies.

Very occasionally I don't look at the news, Internet, TV, or indeed at any screen and it helps my mood a lot, but with not a lot else to do I soon revert back, look at the news, TV and become depressed and start to feel bad.

So for the next 2 or 3 evenings it is going to, dominoes and cribbage..even Portuguese monopoly and apart from checking emails, only for my business and friends, no screens. Tuesday is pub quiz night here, which will go with that vein.

I have always thought, well for probably forty years, that TV/film violence is mentally and subsequently physically damaging, but what do the rest of you think, am I right, paranoid, or just a grumpy old man, living in the past?

[Lezzers]

You've said before that violent films make you anxious, so why would you continue watching them?

[Khonkaen in reply to Lezzers]

Two reasons,

1. First blood was not that violent, with no deaths and was moderately entertaining, so I assumed this was going to similar, it wasn't at all, but most of the really gory stuff was at the end.

2. My whole recovery is based around experimentation and learning about me and the desease I have.

I get some info from certain people on this forum, but many people's veiws are limited to what the read and trust purely because they like and trust the messenger. That is not objective reasearch, plus first hand knowledge is the most trustworthy..

I posted this because I thought it may be useful to others who perhaps don't undestand the dangers. This stuff is not "kind" to the viewer and IMO is best avoided.

[Lezzers in reply to Khonkaen]

I think most people in the forum if not all, are adult enough to be aware of what they're watching, I'm not sure they're in any danger though. Like Dolphin14, I very rarely watch TV as I much prefer to read, if what you're watching affects you maybe be a bit more discerning in what you watch or read the film blurb before hand & if/when the action becomes disturbing, turn it off!

However your comments do say "just as I expected it was cheap continuous and gratuitous violence" so you were aware before the end that the film was not to your liking?

[Dolphin14]

I don't watch tv I prefer to read a book.

I read the news to keep up on things.

[AugustineciaranPaley in reply to Dolphin14]

📚💖🧘‍♂️🤔

[Dolphin14 in reply to AugustineciaranPaley]

Lol I do yoga too

Namaste

[Heythrop51]

A lot of films now put stunt scenes and violence ahead of a good storyline. I enjoyed the Bond films with Sean Connery but they became sillier when Roger Moore took on the role.

There is too much gratuitous violence but I am more worried about its effects on the young! At the end of the day there is always the off switch. When I was young I remember school friends used to watch the Daleks from behind the sofa and as I got older scare themselves with horror films like Carrie!

If you don't like it turn off but then I suspect you just wanted to post to get a reaction!

[Khonkaen in reply to Heythrop51]

I think the Bond films were and still are 1 or 2 on on the voilence scale, films nowadays are long gone off that scale and as you say the gore is a substitute for a story line.

The reason I posted was that it gave me heart pain from the anxiety it created,

[CPL593H]

You raise a good point. I personally fell better for leaving Facebook and therefore reducing screen time.

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Khonkaen

Perhaps you should consider adopting some stratergies to manage your anxiety and stress?

It is well known that heart patients have higher rates of anxiety and depression.

Turn the TV off it upsets you.

Join Dolphin and others in practicing yoga . Try Tai Chi

Some find exercise, group sessions, face to face counselling sessions with a clinical psychologists, mindfulness meditation help.

insighttimer.com/

🧘‍♀️

[Khonkaen in reply to Milkfairy]

Please read my previous posting, that this part of my experimenation that I have been doing from day one in order to learn about me and my disease.. I am only too aware about the anxiety I am personally suffering, which pre HA I had never encountered before.

Please also read my previouys postings that I am in NE Thailand, with no group sessions, no access to clinical psychologist, or cardiologist, indeed no councelling help at all.

I am doing what I can with what I have and posting what I have found. This may also be helpful to others who also find themselves on their own for whatever reason.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Khonkaen]

Why do you feel you need to respond in the way you have just done ?

You post again and again yet do not acknowledge some very well meaning advice by others.

[Khonkaen in reply to Milkfairy]

I assumed you hadn't read my previous postings. I do the same sometimes, it is often difficult to remember who has said what. Nothing sinister please be assured.

Very few people are in my position, having to do what I do.

[Lezzers in reply to Khonkaen]

You're obviously feeling quite isolated so why not be pro-active and start your own group therapy sessions. I believe the hospital that treated you is quite close to where you live so there will definitely be other heart patients around, although group sessions, yoga etc don't have to be limited to heart patients. I'm sure the BHF nurses would be happy to give advice on how to go about it,

[Khonkaen in reply to Lezzers]

True, I am isolated and yes, I live only 3km from the heart hospital, but where very few people working there speak any English and about 99% of the patients are Thai. I wouldn't know where to start even getting a group of two together. I spent 4 days in a bed there having my two procedures, met no one and was told nothing.

Also Thais are different, they accept their fate without question and live or die that way...and then get reborn. They judge a GP by the number a tablets they get, the more the better the GP...and I am not joking.

[Lezzers in reply to Khonkaen]

You've lived there for 10 years, maybe now is a good time to learn the language, I'm sure your Thai wife will be able to help there. Meanwhile, if language is a barrier involve your wife to act as interpretor, that'll keep you both out of mischief ☺ plus get your friends from the pub/quiz nights involved. Take a positive stance, as I said ask the BHF nurses for advice, that's how groups start in the UK.

[Khonkaen in reply to Lezzers]

Please don't tell me how to live my life, you have your own husband "well trained" be content with that.

For your information barely 1% of Farangs speak Thai, many of whom have been here longer than me. Why? It is both difficult and generally discouraged by the women.

The alphabet is totally unrecognisable and there are up to 6 tones used, which change the total meaning of a given word. To a dislexic like me it is impossible, plus we are both trying to learn Portuguese.

I would suggest you learn a language, which might keep you out of mischief.

Plus if you read my previous posting it wouldn't make any difference, Thais don't do group therapy, we have a HA/stent recipient as a near neighbour and he has no interest in talking to my wife about it. When his time is up that's it, on the bonfire ready for the next life. TIT, as they say here.....This is Thailand.

[Lezzers in reply to Khonkaen]

An unnecessary rude and offensive reply to what was a comment to help you in your isolation.

[Khonkaen in reply to Lezzers]

What was rude about it, you said you had you husband well trained?

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

I usually turn off because it bores me! As another poster has said the effect on youngsters is of greater concern - witness the rise in knife crime.

I am puzzled by that you class this as research. What next - a recreational drug?

[Khonkaen in reply to MichaelJH]

I agree with what you say about young people and usually watch a trailer and turn that off before even getting to the film. This one crept up on me somewhat, I may have even slept through part of it and woke up to witness the gory end. Then thought I would report on the stain it left. I don't have proper TV here, so films would normally fill that void, but they are now very hard to find.

Practically everything I do is an experiment, I have been trying many things to overcome my anxiety and avoid the accompanying heart pain, without reverting to the pharma I have managed to wean myself off.

I am certainly experimenting with my diet to try to make it enjoyable as well as healthy as possible. I now have something that I think is pretty good, but will not post it on this forum through fear of starting a row.

[Heythrop51]

Just wondering how do cookery programs affect you? All that unhealthy butter and cream, and the delicious looking desserts containing a packet of Tate & Lyle!

Why not learn Thai. It might be difficult but one friend has learned Japanese and two more Chinese. One of them had contracted in China and said the working relationships improved markedly once he started speaking the language. His social life expanded as well!

[Khonkaen in reply to Heythrop51]

Firast of all I don't get much TV here, I hate most cookery programs anyway (apart from Jamie) and I lost my taste for sickly stuff after my HA. I haven;t used refined sugar for very many years and I eat a bar of 75% cs dark chocolate each week.

I am treading water for this first year, concentrating on improving my health and fitness, helping my wife's family, learning a little Portuguese and leaving Thai stuff to my wife. Just like everyone else does, I can order a beer Thai and say hello and thanks, job done.

I don't, indeed can't work here and my relationship with my wife is as close to perfect as could be between two people.

I think some Brits have the guilt complex about languages, well I speak fairly fluent Danish, some German and can swear in 6 other languages. Did you know that one of the strongest curses in Danish is translated as "Cancer eat me"?

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Khonkaen]

You would probably feel less isolated if you spoke the language. And the cardiologist might be impressed and spend more time explaining thing...

[Khonkaen]

I think you guys should come out here, it is not at all what you think. The cardio speaks English well enough, but wants you in and out like a fiddler's elbow, along with all the others he has to see. He doesn't want his time wasted at all, if you have a pulse then you fine. He has his money now anyway and to fair has done his job.

Learning any language is hard when you getting on in years "old dogs new tricks", I am dyslexic too, Thai is, for the reasons I mentioned, very difficult and no one on the street wants to teach you, that is what you wife is for. Honesty learning the language makes very little difference, it is a completely different culture.

I know 2 English guys here who speak fluent Thai, one is a monk and the other a crazy rice farmer and ex-heroine addict, who spends days at a time, up a tree, meditating.

Now Portugal is a different matter, that's why this old dog is trying to learn that lingo.

I have lived in six different countries and have learned to get by wherever I am, except Russia and China, I have had my own business for most of my adult life and manage by asking lots of questions.