Posttraumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is a psychological disorder that can occur after experiencing or witnessing life-threatening situations like natural disasters, war, terrorist incidents, accidents and physical or sexual assault during childhood and adulthood. In the movie franchise "The Hunger Games" does the character of Jennifer Lawrence experiencing PTSD?
Many symptoms are showing by Lawrence's character, Katniss Everdeen in the movie and there is a big possibility that Katniss is experiencing PTSD.
Scenes from "The Hunger Games" showed that Katniss might experience PTSD, on the opening scene of "Mockingjay Part1". In the scene, Katnis was about to cry and hiding while reciting her basic facts like her name, age and how she was thrown twice in the arena to fight for her life. In the movie, Lawrence's character is also seen haunted by the brutality and life threatening experiences that she had in the games.
Now, the questions is does Katniss's behavior meets the criteria of PTSD?
One of the criteria is trauma and Katniss is definitely traumatized to the events that she experienced and saw on the games.
Katniss also experienced nightmares and flashbacks of her experiences in the arena and the misfortune events that she witnessed. Nightmares and flashbacks are criteria of PTSD.
Avoidance is another criterion of PTSD although Katniss didn't directly avoid the game but when she was forced to go back into the arena her initial reaction is to run away.
When Liam Hemsworth's character, Gale asked Katniss if she loves him, she said that all she can think of is how afraid she is and other feelings have no room. Having negative Thoughts and Mood are another PTSD criteria.
Katniss becomes irritable and often outburst with anger. She was also startled in some events in the movie. Arousal and Reactivity are PTSD criteria.
The experiences that Katniss had during the games can really give her a PTSD but she can still benefit from treatment.
In reality, PTSD can be treated by cognitive behavioral therapies like Prolonged Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapy.
