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capnshellheadI'm somewhat (okay, extremely) self-conscious about. I was interested in the concept of Steve Rogers having no clear concept of what PTSD is or even that it's a condition people can receive treatment for. I discussed it a bit on Tumblr.
I'm extremely nervous about it because it always makes me nervous when I actually use some of my psychology knowledge in a fic. I have a degree in it but, I feel like (somewhat ridiculously) my old classmates would read it and have a lot to say about how the condition is portrayed. And with good reason because, in writing fic, sometimes, the only way to get in a disclaimer about varying symptoms is to write it in the A/N (which not everyone reads) or have a character outright explain it. Which... is why I sometimes put therapists in my works because I want it to be clear that not every representation of mental illness is the same.
Something I've noticed on twitter (and sometimes tumblr) that really bummed me out, there's a mistaken idea that there's a right and wrong way to show symptoms of PTSD. As though, it's non-existent if a character doesn't look as though they're suffering. And, that's not only inaccurate, it's actually harmful. There are still several people in the world that don't know/believe they have a disorder because they've been told they "don't have anything to be sad about" or "they look fine". One of the hardest aspects of studying psychology was learning how many people had mild forms of a disorder they could actually get treatment for but, they don't because they've been told it isn't enough of a problem. It was actually heartbreaking because we live in a society that demonizes mental illness to the extent that several people have been forced to hide it.
So, with all of that, I actually tried to write something and I have that self-doubt wherein in I worry I might accidentally get on a soapbox and/or take someone out of the story with too much of the therapist's dialogue. There's also the fact that no two doctors are alike and, in my opinion, that's a good thing because I tried to imagine a doctor Steve would actually share with and it's fascinating how differently I approached that concept compared to the doctor I created for "if you leave".
But anywho, the draft is finished. I am nervous.
I like discussing theories about how different superheroes would respond to therapy and why certain ones have never decided to seek treatment. It's a topic that I actually really like reading about, too. I'm a psych nerd. That never really goes away.
I'm extremely nervous about it because it always makes me nervous when I actually use some of my psychology knowledge in a fic. I have a degree in it but, I feel like (somewhat ridiculously) my old classmates would read it and have a lot to say about how the condition is portrayed. And with good reason because, in writing fic, sometimes, the only way to get in a disclaimer about varying symptoms is to write it in the A/N (which not everyone reads) or have a character outright explain it. Which... is why I sometimes put therapists in my works because I want it to be clear that not every representation of mental illness is the same.
Something I've noticed on twitter (and sometimes tumblr) that really bummed me out, there's a mistaken idea that there's a right and wrong way to show symptoms of PTSD. As though, it's non-existent if a character doesn't look as though they're suffering. And, that's not only inaccurate, it's actually harmful. There are still several people in the world that don't know/believe they have a disorder because they've been told they "don't have anything to be sad about" or "they look fine". One of the hardest aspects of studying psychology was learning how many people had mild forms of a disorder they could actually get treatment for but, they don't because they've been told it isn't enough of a problem. It was actually heartbreaking because we live in a society that demonizes mental illness to the extent that several people have been forced to hide it.
So, with all of that, I actually tried to write something and I have that self-doubt wherein in I worry I might accidentally get on a soapbox and/or take someone out of the story with too much of the therapist's dialogue. There's also the fact that no two doctors are alike and, in my opinion, that's a good thing because I tried to imagine a doctor Steve would actually share with and it's fascinating how differently I approached that concept compared to the doctor I created for "if you leave".
But anywho, the draft is finished. I am nervous.
I like discussing theories about how different superheroes would respond to therapy and why certain ones have never decided to seek treatment. It's a topic that I actually really like reading about, too. I'm a psych nerd. That never really goes away.
no subject
Date: 2018-12-30 01:32 am (UTC)It's always so neat when people use their outside knowledge in fics. I know I was very self conscious that people would read my gentrification fic and critique it, but I kept trying to remind myself "you have a fucking degree in this shit." It works. Somedays.
Anyway, I can't wait to read your fic and see your point of view!
no subject
Date: 2018-12-30 03:57 am (UTC)It's strange, in some ways, I feel more secure writing about topics I know absolutely nothing about (military ranks, engineering, theories of interdimensional space travel) than I do writing about things I studied for years. It's certainly one of the more draining things I've written because it really gave me perspective on how unhealthy Steve's life was coming out of the ice. I mean, I chose to write about 616 but it also applies to MCU Steve.
616 I just latched onto because, in reading Tales of Suspense, I was struck by how many poor coping mechanisms he had canonically. Spending hours asking 15+ guys to beat you up for sparring practice wasn't exactly healthy :(
no subject
Date: 2019-01-06 03:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-01-06 09:26 pm (UTC)And I know what you mean about their coping mechanisms. It's why I'm honestly so surprised when writers actually have them go to therapy in canon. I think Silk and Tamaki's 2015 (16?) run of She-Hulk were the only recent comics I read where the characters went to therapy and it was discussed pretty heavily. To be honest, I would love to see both Steve and Tony have in depth series where they go to therapy.