Posted on Jun 29, 2015
SGT Ben Keen
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This past weekend, I took my children to go see Pixar's latest film 'Inside Out'. I'm a huge fan of Pixar and the films they make. Not only are they entertaining but most of the time they leave you with some thoughts on how you view the world and this movie was no different.

The movie is based on one girl and how her emotions control a lot of things about her. The film features five primary emotions, joy, sadness, disgust, anger and fear. These characters live in the little girl's head and are charged with helping to maintain the memories produced by the little girl on a daily basis. After the little girl goes to sleep, that day's memory as sent off to long term memory. Seperating the "Control Room" where the day's memories are made and long term memory is this deep pit they call "The Dumb". The Dumb is where all the faded memories, ones the little girl doesn't recall much anymore are thrown to make room on the shelves for new memories. Anyways, without giving any spoilers, the movie left me some thoughts when it comes to PTSD and the memory loss I deal with on a daily basis.

First, the idea of core memories shaping who were are is one of the main topics of the movie and I couldn't agree me. We all been through events in life that make us who we are. These core memories can go back to early childhood and impact us the rest of our lives. PTSD, to me, is sort of the same thing. The memories that I have stored now that are often recalled and classified as PTSD are in fact some of my core memories. They are memories that made me into the man I am today. They aren't always pleasant memories but nonetheless they are part of who I am.

As far as memory loss, as a result of my injuries, I feel that some of my long term memories storage has fallen off the cliff and into the "The Dumb" and that the pipe leading from my control center of my mind to that store is broken. Either way, the way the movie presents the thought making process is rather good and leaves you thinking.

So, to the RallyPoint community, has anyone else seen this movie yet? If you have what are some of the thoughts you had leaving the film? Which emotion do you feel is in control of your control center?
Posted in these groups: 78568930 PTSDC4304a0a MemoryImages Movies
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Responses: 6
SGT Signal Support Systems Specialist
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I've seen it twice. I absolutely loved it. I thought it was nice how they incorporated sadness and how it was "OK" to actually feel that feeling. Some people do get caught up on how they are "supposed" to feel as apposed to what you really do feel. I know I do.
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SPC Human Resources   Labor/Employee Relations
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No, I hadn't really seen much about it either. (During summer we have a TV limit and outside all day policy) Thank you for the heads up, now I think it might be a must see this weekend.
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SGT Ben Keen
SGT Ben Keen
9 y
Go check it out. It's worth the 93 minutes of inside time!
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CPT Laurie H.
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I haven't seen it yet, but I remember seeing the previews and thinking that I couldn't wait to work clips into resiliency training. It's great to hear that it hasn't disappointed in communicating some of these very tough topics.
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SGT Ben Keen
SGT Ben Keen
9 y
I think there are some great clips you can use from the film to use in resiliency training!
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