Fans of The Block Australia 2022’s were shocked when Sharon Johal claimed to have “PTSD” after feeling “overwhelmed” and nervous speaking to Scott Cam.
During the October 11 episode, Sharon joked that she experienced post-traumatic stress disorder after being confronted multiple times by Scotty.
In an interview-to-camera, Sharon and Ankur Dogra explained they were nervous about chatting to the house about their progress because they were never sure how the conversation would go.
Trigger Warning: This article will reference PTSD as a result of various trauma and abuse. This may be triggering to readers with similar experiences.
‘Whenever we hear Scotty’s coming for a visit, we get really anxious,” she said.
Before Sharon added: “We’ve got PTSD from the last couple of visits that we’ve had”.
Fans had previously agreed that Scotty appeared verbally aggressive and questioned whether he was “bullying” Sharon and Ankur in recent episodes.
But they were furious that Sharon used a mental health issue descriptor for her nervousness.
Viewers took to Twitter to speak out against Sharon mentioning PTSD so flippantly.
Some argued that the conversational use “diminished the value of the term”.
According to the Mayo Clinic, PTSD can last months or years, with triggers that can bring back memories of an unrecovered trauma accompanied by intense emotional and physical reactions.
The Block Fans Call Out Contestants Who Have Used Mental Health Issues as Descriptors
Sharon certainly isn’t the first contestant to use a mental health diagnosis to describe a situation on The Block.
In fact, it has happened so often that fans have pointed out that while using mental health terms is problematic, it is more concerning that The Block‘s editing team allowed it to remain in the final broadcast.
Multiple contestants have described themselves as being “OCD” across different seasons.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a commonly trivialised disorder in the public eye, according to rethink.org.
There seems to be an implication Blockheads “have OCD” because they want everything to be perfect or needs everything to be a certain way.
Fans on Twitter have also regularly suggested they have OCD when tweeting about the show. They often used the term when they haven’t liked the placement or design of certain furniture.
Social Worker Sarah-Jane Wilson Used Bipolar Disorder as an Adjective on The Block
Sarah-Jane Wilson previously described Sharon and Ankur’s house as having “bipolar” during the September 20 episode.
“This house has bipolar. You never know what you’re going to get depending on their mood,” the social worker said of the variously themed rooms.
Bipolar disorder can be defined as a condition where the person can experience intense mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs.
Fans were shocked that somebody who professionally works in an allied-health field would so flippantly use medical terminology as a problematic joke.
Other viewers were concerned that The Block editors didn’t remove the audio. This made some believe the show was being performative in its support of causes focused on mental health and disabilities.
Nine chose not to comment on Sarah-Jane’s terminology.
The Block 2022‘s Sarah-Jane Wilson Makes Cruel Comments About Season 11’s Andrew Simmons For Showing Emotion
During the October 11 episode (yep, this one was a doozy), Sarah-Jane described former contestant Andrew Simmons as “annoying” and a “wuss”.
She claimed he was “sooky and couldn’t do anything [sic]” because he often cried.
The Block‘s Facebook fan group were horrified that they “named and shamed” a man brave enough to show his emotions on national TV.
“I thought it was unnecessary to keep in the part where they were teasing a previous male contestant for being a “wuss” and crying due to stress,” one fan wrote.
They added: “We need to encourage men to show their emotions.”
If you or anyone you know is struggling and needs support, call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or Lifeline on 13 11 14, both of which provide trained counsellors you can talk with 24/7. You can also speak with someone confidentially at Headspace by calling 1800 650 890 or chat online here. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.
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