No, I used "literal" perhaps incorrectly but to mean that it was physically difficult for me to read this article for an extended period of time; sometimes when I read or hear about injuries I guess I imagine feeling them myself and I become uncomfortable. I actually had to take several breaks from this article before I could finish it. I wouldn't say it's that I'm squeamish but more that I am sensitive to the thought of brutal injury. "Disgusted" is the wrong word as well. Perhaps "empathetic." Maybe just "sensitive" :) Sometimes if I apply light pressure to vulnerable areas of my body it makes my uneasiness subside a little, for instance I'll rest my neck in my hand or (this is I guess a little more unusual of a physical reaction) I'll hold my wrists with my hands. I guess it is a protective feeling. Even though I am not threatened when I read about physical violence, especially extreme or certain kinds (whoo let's not talk about shooting up please!) I still get physically uneasy. I had to walk away from this article more than twice. Clearly it was a good read though as I came back :)
I know what you mean. For me, it depends on which perspective I read/watch things. Before I started my studies in medicine, I would shrug from every picture of injuries I would see. But depending on how I am viewing the current thing, either from a normal point of view or from a professional/scientific point of view, I might find the same picture of a severe injury disgusting/painful or interesting... Reading this article was like reading a scientific article. I felt a mix of empathetic pain and interest or curiosity, like at this part: I felt her pain, but in the same etc. I was wondering what lead to this severe reaction to tiny drops of rose water on her skin. Does the drops trigger something?In moments of sheer desperation, when even the soft sounds and scents of the deck where she lies cannot calm her, he spews rose water into the air above her bed. When it falls to her body below, Grace cries out as if it’s lava. “OW!!!!” she howls.
Frankly, when I'm on the spot and someone is injured I'm usually pretty steady - I think I don't have enough time to do anything but deal with the situation at hand. But some photos, some descriptions...Atul Gawande in his book Complications talks about a botched central line insertion and that chapter was very hard to read. I passed out watching a video of in vitro fertilization (just the needle and the egg, no blood or anything) once. It's probably mostly in my head.